“How grateful we are that together with the traditional knowledge of native medicine that our indigenous healers have, we still also have medicinal plants on our islands for our use,” Cabrera said during the native medicine symposium sponsored by the Office of the Mayor of Tinian in partnership with the Inetnon Amot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch at the Tinian Youth Center on Saturday.
Despite the advances in western medicine, people in the CNMI are going back to accepting traditional medicine because it is effective, economical and body friendly, he said.
Tinian has abundant herbs with over 50 medicinal plants, Cabrera told Variety, adding that residents are encouraged to protect the plants from extinction.
During the symposium, traditional healers from Saipan, Tinian and Rota showcased their knowledge in native medicine.
Lino Olopai, Inetnon Amot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch vice president, talked about the benefits of native medicine while Noel Auitugua, board member of the group, dicussed traditional medicine artifacts.
Cabrera said their group is a non-profit corporation advocating and supporting traditional healers.
The group, he added, helps protect habitats of medicinal plants through restoration, legislation, educational programs, resolutions, community awareness, conferences and workshops.
He said they also document cultural tradition in the vernacular languages and publish educational materials on medicinal plants.
“What is more important is the realization of our indigenous population, as you have shown by your presence today, that native medicine is here to stay with us, as it has stayed with our culture and traditions for hundreds and hundreds of years. And is demonstrated today,” he told participants in the symposium.
He said the Inetnon Amot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch will work with the mayor’s office and other government agencies to promote the traditional knowledge and practices of native medicine “so that we do not lose sight of who we are as a great people and our culture that have survived and will survive for years and years to come.”
