Donald Mendiola, right, delivers the keynote address on the opening day of the Marianas History Conference. He delivered his speech in Chamorro which was later translated by Northern Marianas Humanities Council Executive Director Leo Pangelinan, left.
In the Crowne Plaza Tour Desk Room, Dr. Gerhard Scwab, a University of Guam professor of social work, presents research that he and Manny Borja of Saipan undertook regarding the orthographies of Saipan and Guam.
THE 6th Marianas History Conference, held at the Crowne Plaza Resort over the weekend, brought together over 300 participants from Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Guam, Japan, the United States, Spain, and beyond.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Healing the Wounds of History.” All topics that focused on the Marianas were welcomed with conference organizers curating dozens of presentations on the islands’ healing practices; healthcare issues; the prevalence of diseases that have plagued the islands; sources of environmental contamination; and “sources of historical division in need of remedy,” including the separation of Guam from the rest of the Marianas.
The Northern Marianas Humanities Council, the University of Guam, Humanities Guahan, and the Guam Preservation Trust collaborated to mount the event.
Northern Marianas Humanities Council Executive Director Leo Pangelinan said 350 people registered to attend the conference.
“The Marianas History Conference strives to be all inclusive in its selection of speakers and topics to ensure representation of diverse interests and perspectives from everywhere,” said Pangelinan. “For the people of the Marianas, including those that live in diaspora communities around the world, the stories that seem to matter most are those that give insights to who we are.”
The conference opened with a dinner on Friday, Sept. 1, highlighted by a keynote address from noted yo’amte/suruhuanu (local healer) Donald Mendiola, who spoke in Chamorro to deliver his thoughts on his background and experience as a healer, and the state of the Chamorro culture.
His speech was translated by Pangelinan.
For Mendiola, Pangelinan said, the “colonial influence on our people had been very destructive for us in terms of our culture.”
But Pangelinan said Mendiola’s message to us is: “Leave that behind, we can’t change that. We’ve got to think about how to be more positive about our outlook for the future and take stock [of] the healing power of coming together to do something positive.”
Pangelinan said Mendiola “also emphasized that our language and our culture will never be lost, and despite the fear that [it will be lost], there will be someone who will have that gift to bring it back if that’s what needs to happen for our islands and people.”
Hybrid format
On Saturday and Sunday, resource speakers delivered their presentation topics.
Amanda Blas, UOG’s associate director of global learning and engagement, said this year was the first time the conference was presented in a hybrid format — online and in person at the same time.
“We often talk about how the ocean separates the Marianas from everyone else, but in this case the ocean actually brought us together,” Blas said. “We saw everybody coming and flying in to be here in person as well as participating virtually, and it just shows how important our history and perpetuating that history is.”
Kianna Reyes, a resident of San Vicente, said she was at the conference because she’s interested in indigenous history.
“I’m from Saipan so it’s very close to my heart hearing people pass around stories,” Reyes said. “All our history is oral when it comes to our indigenous heritage. I was interested in hearing more about that.”
When Variety spoke to Reyes, she was waiting to attend a roundtable discussion titled “Stories from Gani,” which highlighted a research trip to the Northern Islands taken by Donald Mendiola, Keli Tenorio, Sheila Babauta, and Leila Staffler, prior to Staffler assuming her role as secretary of the CNMI Department of Labor.
History nerd
Mark Pangelinan was at the event because he is a self-described “history nerd when it comes to the Marianas.”
He said he attended a presentation called “Adibina Adibina. Riddle Me Back to My Nana’s Youth,” which highlighted riddles told in the Marianas.
“It was really a nostalgic experience because some of these riddles I have heard in the past, but it’s been so long and I’ve never heard them told for such a long time,” Mark Pangelinan said.
He said presenters Ray Barcinas and Carlos Madrid “emphasized the importance of bringing back the tradition of sharing riddles among our kids in Chamorro, because not only does it build up our heritage but it [also] strengthens our sense of community inafa’maolek among our people.”
Shuyi Cao, who was born and raised on Saipan, said she was at the conference with a newfound interest in the history of the island she’s called home her whole life.
“I want to learn more about local history and culture,” said Cao who is of Chinese descent. “I wasn’t so deep into Northern Marianas culture and history [until] I took Micronesian History at Northern Marianas College. I got hooked [into] the culture and I want to learn more about it.”
Aside from the presentations, the conference also featured experiential learning sessions, which included canoe rides with 500 Sails and a premier of the film “Attituyi I Åmot-ta.”
The conference concluded on Sunday with an Åmut Walk and a guided tour of the Garapan Heritage Trail.
The Marianas History Conference was held over the weekend at the Crowne Plaza Resort.
From left, Shuyi Cao, Kianna Reyes and Mark Pangelinan were among those who attended the 6th Marianas History Conference
Aside from historical presentations, the Marianas History Conference featured experiential learning sessions, such as canoe rides with 500 Sails.
The Marianas History Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza Resort. Presentations took place in the Hibiscus Hall, Azucena Room, and Tour Desk Room.
