“The Directory of Traditional Healers and Medicinal Plants in the Commonwealth of the Marianas Islands” is written in English, Chamorro and Carolinian.
The directory explains how local healers make their traditional medicines, and contains colored photographs of medicinal plants.
Anicia Q. Tomokane, who was yesterday’s mistress of ceremonies, said the printing of the directory was made possible by a grant from the Administration for Native Americans of the the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as funding from the Legislature and the Marianas Public Land Trust through the efforts of Sen. Maria T. Pangelinan, Reps. Edward T. Salas, Ray A. Tebuteb and Justo A. Quitugua.
Tomokane said the book’s writers interviewed traditional healers on Saipan, Tinian and Rota beginning in March last year.
She said the traditional medicines in the directory are for personal use only and are not to be “commercialized.”
She said the printing of the directory was made possible through the efforts of project director Manuel Flores Borja with the assistance of Jose Somorang Ruppul.
Inetnon Amot Natibu president Isidoro T. Cabrera thanked all the healers and their families who shared invaluable knowledge and information that made the printing of the directory possible.
He said 1,000 copies of the directory have been printed and each will be sold for $35.
