Gov. Arnold Palacios, 2nd left, and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, 2nd right, are joined by Carolinian Affairs Office Executive Assistant Felix Nogis, left, and Indigenous Affairs Office Resident Executive Luella Marciano, right, at the signing of a proclamation designating September as Chamorro-Carolinian Cultural Heritage Month.
A MONTH of activities honoring local cultures began on Friday, Aug. 30, at the Carolinian Utt, where Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang signed a proclamation designating September as Chamorro-Carolinian Cultural Heritage Month.
The activities will be coordinated by the Indigenous Affairs Office and the Carolinian Affairs Office.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout this month, cultural practitioners will visit Chamorro and Carolinian language classrooms in various public elementary schools “to explore Chamorro and Carolinian traditional arts and crafts,” a media release stated.
On Sept. 10, the Northern Marianas Humanities Council will host the Marianas Values Forum, which will be a workshop-style gathering of Chamorro and Carolinian leaders and youth. They will discuss the findings of a recently concluded study examining community cultural values.
Sept. 6, 13, 20, and 27 will feature the Cultural Roadmap island tour, which will take Chamorro Language and Heritage Studies students to cultural sites for “place-based learning activities.”
In addition, there will be a cultural display at Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays to Thursdays; 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays; and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, Sept. 7 and 21.
JKPL will also host a public read-aloud of books written in Chamorro and Carolinian on Sept. 7 and 21.
On Sept. 8, 15, and 22, Project Liffang will be set up at the Carolinian Utt to sell local cultural art. Artists will be present to demonstrate mwaar-making, bead wear, carving, live music, and more. Uumw/Chahan Night is on Sept. 29 and will feature the use of an underground oven.
The 13 Fishermen Memorial commemoration takes place at the 13 Fishermen Monument on Sept. 13 at 4 p.m.
Sept. 28 is the date for the annual pilgrimage to Managaha for Chief Aghurubw Day.
IAO Resident Director Luella Marciano said celebrating culture should occur “every day.”
“We take our culture for granted and [Chamorro-Carolinian Cultural Heritage Month] is when we want to promote it not only for our tourists but to teach our kids,” she said.
