Indigenous materials to be reprinted

The Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, the Public School System, and the Language Commission are coordinating efforts to inventory existing Chamorro and Carolinian print and non-print materials in the CNMI.

This effort aims to acquire, reprint, duplicate, and make the materials accessible for the public through the public libraries, the schools, and in the community centers.

According to public library director Kevin Latham, this project will make it possible for the library to provide access to indigenous materials as well serve as a venue for cultural activities, plays, readings, arts and crafts, and related activities to help bring together families and children.

Based on a preliminary review, close to 400 print materials in Chamorro and Carolinian are available at PSS and JKPL. These materials are mainly for elementary grade students. Other materials in the vernacular languages are available on CDs and videotapes in various offices or homes.

Project director Liz Rechebei said the project hopes to identify or acquire and catalogue these materials for public access at Joeten/Kiyu Public Library. It is also possible to cross-reference materials accessible only at certain locations, for example, the CNMI Archives housed at Northern Marianas College.

Effort to identify more materials in the vernacular languages is ongoing, said Rechebei; however, this will involve the willing collaboration and support of the general public, including individuals with such collections.

PSS Commissioner Rita Inos and Language Commission executive director Candido Taman have been working closely with the project.

“PSS provided the project with current list of vernacular language materials and are now discussing how to reprint them by leveraging limited PSS funds and support with that of the project,” said Rechebei. Reprinting of some materials will begin in Year 2 of the project.

Rechebei said that a committee consisting of vernacular and language experts and experts on the two cultures will help the project review materials for reprinting as well as new materials for publication by the project. The project hopes to provide support in the publication or republication of some of the materials once the guidelines for publication and copyright issues are in place, she said.

The committee members are David Omar, Lino Olopai, Carmen Taimanao, and Dolores Marciano. The project hopes to increase membership to include more volunteers who have the time, expertise and interest in this effort.

“Over the last few months, I have met or heard of individuals who are writing or have written stories or their life histories in the vernacular. I also saw the valuable collection of religious materials written in the vernacular at the recent PIBBA Conference, courtesy of Bishop Thomas Camacho,” said Rechebei. “It would be interesting to know what other materials are in existence at this point and what could be done to encourage people to write or produce more materials,” she says.

With the support of the community, the schools, and the various government and nongovernment organizations, the project hopes to achieve its goal to fill the new Center at the library with more materials promoting indigenous cultures and languages.

The Center will be renovated and expected to be ready for the public no later than early next year.

The facility can also be used by the community for cultural events, seminars, workshops, plays, reading activities, arts and crafts, to name a few.

For more information on this project, contact the Joeten/Kiyu Public Library at 235-7323 or email edrprojects@gmail.com. (PR)