Effort to ID maritime heritage in waters off Marianas starts

A team of researchers from East Carolina University have entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to begin identification of maritime heritage in the waters off the Mariana Islands. The project, funded by BOEM, will incorporate a proactive and holistic process that involves working with the Northern Mariana Islands communities of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to better understand maritime heritage of importance to Chamorro and Carolinian communities, and to develop best practices guidance for engagement in the Federal review process for potential offshore renewable energy-related projects. The effort builds upon other successful community engagement programs in Hawai‘i and with U.S. west coast Tribal Nations and will continue through 2027.

Maritime heritage can be both tangible and intangible, including shipwrecks, canoe landings or navigation routes, fish traps, places related to origin stories, traditional fishing and gathering places, and other heritage related directly to Chamorro and Carolinian connections to the sea. The project will support and uplift existing maritime heritage programs like canoe building and navigation practices and includes financial support for existing educational programming to continue the tradition of passing knowledge to future generations.

The team is led by Dr. Jennifer McKinnon who has collaborated with community in Saipan for over 15 years and helped the Historic Preservation Office develop the WWII Maritime Heritage Trail on sites related to the battle for Saipan and indigenous communities liaison and marine archaeologist, Dave Ball, who led the BOEM Pacific Region’s efforts to develop guidance documents and best practices for engagement with the Native Hawaiian Community and west coast Tribal Nations. The team will be working with local collaborators from organizations including Indigenous Affairs Office, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, and Pacific Development Inc., among others.

There will be a meeting at Carolinian Affairs Office pavilion today, Aug. 13 from 4pm to 6pm. and all are welcome. This will be an opportunity for the team to share information about the project and gather interest in participation. For more information or to become involved in the project, email mckinnonje@ecu.edu. (PR)

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