September is declared Cultural Heritage Month

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres joins cultural heritage advocates in front of the Office of the Governor on Capital Hill after signing the proclamation declaring September as Chamorro and Carolinian Cultural Heritage Month. (IVA MAURIN)

September has been declared Chamorro and Carolinian Cultural Heritage Month to showcase the unique cultures and traditions of indigenous Chamorros and Carolinians in the CNMI and to educate and inspire the younger generations of the importance of the indigenous ways of living.

In signing the proclamation last Thursday at the Office of the Governor’s conference room on Capital Hill, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said that the CNMI’s culture and its language defines the CNMI and is one of the reasons why it draws tourists to the islands.

“It is important that we teach our children our language and our culture. If we lose that, it will be harder for the next generation to understand and speak the language,” he said.

Carolinian Affairs Office executive director John Tagabuel said the celebration is all about keeping the Chamorro and Carolinian heritages alive. That includes teaching the next generation how to speak the Chamorro and Carolinian languages to keep that part of the culture would alive and strong.

“Our culture and our way of life starts from home,” Tagabuel said.

Indigenous Affairs Office resident executive Roman Tudela, Jr said that parents should take extra steps to continue to perpetuate the language. “We are the generation that has been given the responsibility by our parents. They taught us the language, and now, as parents, it is our responsibility to pass it down. We don’t want to fail this generation.”

Rhe’ann Tudela, 15, agrees that keeping the language starts at home and that it is important for parents to enforce it.

“My parents made me do a lot of reading, and to keep practicing so that when I have kids myself, I can pass it on, and in that way, our language can stay alive,” Tudela said.

The proclamation also dedicated Sept. 23, 2019, as the day to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the 13 fishermen lost at sea, and Sept. 28, 2019, as the day to honor Chief Aghurubw, and all other traditional Samwool.

This September, the Carolinian Affairs Office has prepared a Women’s Conference, the Island Cuisine Night, educational outreach in schools, dance clinics, and cultural demonstrations. Also scheduled are the 13 Fishermen’s Memorial, Refaluwasch Youth Summit, Aghurubw Day, and the Sunset Uumw Night.