According to Chiokai, people are so busy with work and school that often times much of the traditional things that Palauan people used to do are shelved. Further, the traditional skills and knowledge directly associated with traditional activities such as fishing, gardening, dancing and others are not practiced; and those who posses the skills and knowledge are moribund.
“We are living in an era of catch-22,” Chiokai said. “We have to work to keep our children in school, and we hope that they would be as Palauan as we know when they grow up; yet we simply do not have the time or enough energy left to pass unto them the traditional skills and knowledge we want them to have at the end of each workday.”Chiokai further added, “no one is at fault, but if we believe in the conservation and preservation of our culture and traditional practices, we must make time and effort to ensure that our children are not only aware of our culture but practice it as well; otherwise, we are ignorant.”BMS is making an effort to provide for opportunities for youth, aged 10 to 16, to learn traditional skills through hands-on activities and to participate in the sharing of traditional knowledge and practice of traditional skills.“We have designed a Summer Camp that is focused on getting the youth to not only learn about Palauan traditions, but also be able to perform them,” Chiokai said. “We have enlisted help from competent individuals who will work with participants of the camp.”The BMS 2009 Summer Camp will begin on May 28, 2009 and will run until June 07, 2009.Chiokai said that participants of the camp would learn how to make and use traditions tools and items. They will participate in activities in which use of the tools and items they make is necessary.Chiokai further added that the camp is open to any interested youth. The campsite is BMS at Ibobang, Ngatpang. Anyone who has interest and wants to know more about it or is interested in supporting it is asked to call Kyoko Yuri at 488-4637 or Bedebii Chiokai at 535-1102 for further details.“We are looking forward to bridging the gap between our traditional past and now,” Chiokai added. “We hope to keep our youth linked with our traditional heritage.”
