CNMI celebrates humanities in October

To celebrate what it means to be human, whether through customs, culture, art, history, language, media and more, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang joined the Northern Marianas Humanities Council at the NMI Museum in Garapan yesterday to sign a proclamation designating October as the CNMI Humanities Month.

Joining Palacios, Apatang, and the NMHC were members and staff representing the museum, the House of Representatives, the Marianas Visitors Authority, American Memorial Park, the Department of Corrections, and the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, as well as many committed members of the community.

This year’s theme is “Strengthening Our Shared Heritage.” The proclamation states that this month’s recognition serves as a “call for the people of the Marianas to celebrate the many ways in which we have charted and preserved our own history and the spaces that allow our indigenous and diverse cultures to enrich our daily lives.” The proclamation also recognized the NMHC as a catalyst in this endeavor.

In his remarks, NMHC executive director Leo Pangelinan said this month’s theme implies in a sense “that we all have something inherited that we all share.” He used as an example the public parks, beaches, and memorials that have been maintained over the course of time. “The theme can be a call to regenerate these resources so that we can continue to enjoy the spaces for ourselves and for the next seven generations to come,” he added.

Pangelinan also extended his thanks to the NMI Museum and commended their work, but also pointed out that “unfortunately our museum has been on a holding pattern, struggling to maintain a snapshot of our shared heritage.” He said he does not want to take anything away from the museum, but his point is to stress that “…our cultural institutions need strengthening. They need caring and committed members of our community to bring attention to these things that we are missing and take action to protect and improve what we have.”

NMHC board member and vice chair Gretchen Smith noted that, even as a Filipino-American by blood, being raised on the island gave her shared experiences and personal history in the CNMI. “…Our shared heritage is not a single set of events. No. It is a culmination of individual life histories that have led us to this very point in time. To be sure, the history of the indigenous peoples of the Marianas is a sharply unique experience to be respected. In fact, that shared heritage among the indigenous peoples opens a window from the past, and into the future.”

She challenged the audience with these questions: “How can we learn from the shared heritage of those who traced their roots back to the ancient Chamorros? And how can those lessons blend with the stories of contemporary history so that we may strengthen our shared heritage?”

Pangelinan noted that the humanities define what it means to be human. “The humanities show up in the way we relate to each other and the world around us.” He said their goal at NMHC was to navigate and explore the identity of the CNMI through projects and education programs that examine CNMI history and culture, while also inspiring conversations and stories that honor the diverse experiences in the CNMI, and provide space for critical thinking and creative expression.

Palacios echoed a similar tone with Smith about the diverse culture of the CNMI. “We have a rich history and we have a rich culture. The Chamorros, the Carolinians and now the Filipinos, the Koreans, the Japanese, the Chinese that is part of our history, and the Americans [as well].” He called on members of the community to join together to “celebrate and promote the humanities and promote greater participation among the diverse communities in taking action for the humanities in their respective islands and villages.”

The humanities include history, language, philosophy, literature, culture, ethics, law, archeology, political theory, comparative religion, anthropology, sociology, and media.