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Navigators conduct school visits
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Posted on Apr 26 2000
Participants of the Satawal and Polowat millennium 2000 traditional canoe voyage are conducting visits this week to 12 CNMI schools to share their educational experiences to students.
Fresh from a month-long sea expedition, the voyagers are also out to encourage students to learn more about the ancient Carolinian tradition and be part of it.
“We are narrating [to students] what went on the voyage. And if they show interest we’d also like to see them become navigators,” said Ray Towai, a member of the navigation team.
Yesterday voyagers conducted discussions with students from Mount Carmel and William S. Reyes Elementary schools, showing them video clips of the actual voyage.
Students asked questions about life at sea and how the voyagers were able to survive some 30 days without supplies they were normally used to.
Crew member and biologist Benigno Sablan said they mostly made do with several gallons of fresh water and plenty of coconut water.
Mount Carmel student Ethel Castillo said it was quite refreshing to hear experts talk on the subject of sea voyages and canoe building.
“It would be interesting to give [voyaging] a try,” said Ms. Castillo.
Today, crew members are set to visit San Antonio Elementary School, San Vicente Elementary School, and Tanapag Elementary School to conduct the same discussions.
Tomorrow Marianas High School, GTC Elementary School, Koblerville Elementary School, Marianas Baptist Academy and Northern Marianas College will follow.
The traditional canoe voyage has become a giant annual event which underwent a six-month planning period.
The historical voyage was meant to revitalize the ethnic group’s culture, as well as to make sure that the tradition is passed on to today’s generation.
