Familian Islas Marianas Chamorros of Yap / Micronesian legacy

September is “Cultural Heritage Month” in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Thanks to the efforts of the NMI Council for the Humanities, the Guam Humanities Council, and Mr. Yoji Yamaguchi, the CNMI Museum of History and Culture will join others in promoting cultural heritage this month with an exhibit of historical photographs through Oct. 30, 1999.

Mr. M.A. (Toni) Ramirez of Guam will open with a public presentation on the research behind these exhibits Wednesday, Sept. 8 at the NMI Museum, 5:00 pm Admission is free.

The exhibit combines three separate collections. Photocopies from La Sangri Yama, a traveling exhibit by the Guam Humanities Council, focus upon 12 Chamorro families. It is the culmination of over 20 years of research by Ramirez. Snapshots spanning several generations are arranged to give the effect of a family scrapbook. All of these family photos illustrate the important role genealogy plays in documenting and remembering the past.

Selections from the Micronesian Legacy collection of photographs donated by Yamaguchi, depict the Carolinian community of Saipan during the first quarter of this century. Images show dancers, canoes, weaving, food preparation, and other candid and posed pictures of special occasions and everyday life.

Research for the Chamorros of Yap traveling exhibit of black and white photographs recently produced by the NMI Humanities Council, was begun in 1997 by Ramirez, who collected more than 100 photographs with accompanying narratives based on oral or written history; maps, letters, excerpts from a diary, and copies of church records from Saint Mary’s Parish in Colonia, Yap. Fifty photos were selected to tell the story of the Chamorros of Yap migrations which occurred as early as 1880 and extended until a few years after WWII, when the last remaining families relocated to Guam, Tinian and Saipan.

Visitor Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:00 am-4:30 pm and Sunday 1:00 pm-4:30 pm

PLEASE NOTE: The museum charges admission:
Adults $3
Children under 12 Free
Adults over 54 Free
Students age 12-54 $1
School Groups Free
Call (670) 664-2160 to schedule group tours or for more information.

Contact Person: Paul Oberg, Executive Director

Northern Mariana Islands Museum of History & Culture
Tel.: 664-2160
Fax: 664-2170
Monday-Friday 7:30 am-5:00 pm