THIS is an old Chamorro proverb that my grandfather always say to me: “Na’ chaochao i tasi pago’, agupa’, agupa’ña, sa’ gi minanggao i atdao, kákalom is sakmang.” Stir the ocean today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, for the rising of the sun, the sakmang (canoe) will be coming. This fits what we waited for a long time! It is time to sail! This “kombalachi, yinaoyao, atborotu, enkebukao” won’t be happening today if WE only had a cultural village long ago and as indigenous people, where is our pride?! Where is our identity?!
For decades WE have waited patiently for a place FOR US to keep our culture alive and we are tired of asking our government to spare a designated place. All we are asking on behalf of the entire Chamorro people is to make our dream a reality and that is to have a beachfront public property for us to build our ancient village depicting our past and we want the area between Castaways Bar & Grill and Tronkon Da’ok Children Playground. And to all our elected leaders, we demand to have a place for us to practice, preserve, promote and protect our cultural heritage, traditions, language, customs and all aspects of our cultural identity as an indigenous people in the CNMI and a minority community on our own island as stipulated in the 17 principles set forth by the United Nations World Council of Indigenous Peoples.
Because our patience has run out, I am asking all supporters, families, friends, MVA, HANMI, elected leaders, the governor, the senators, the House members, the mayor of Saipan, our brothers and sisters on Rota, Tinian and Guam, our manamko’, visitors, students, parents and everyone who believe in our endeavor to join us this coming Saturday, May 11, beginning 11 a.m. to participate in a public rally at the basketball court in Susupe North of Castaways Bar & Grill right across Guma’ Hustisia.NOEL QUITUGUA
Chamorro Pro-Advocate
