Reburial of ancient Chamorro remains at IPI marks 4th year

The reburial of 800 ancient Chamorro remains dug during Imperial Pacific Resort’s construction in Garapan marked its fourth year last Aug. 20.

Local activist Liana Hofschneider recalled the reburial was rife with controversy that led her not attending the ceremony and she filed a lawsuit instead.

Her lawsuit requested for a proper internment facility wherein a rendition of the proposed internment site was provided. It was intended to protect the sacred site.

“We wanted to give that space a dignified and honorable space for them because they’re trading up their sacred site for that casino,” she said.

Hofschneider expressed her concerns about the then planned reburial such as doing it at the height of the pandemic, the concrete crypt not being suitable for the remains, and the remains potentially deteriorating due to improper conditions.

“You know it doesn’t seem like it’s an important issue but it’s very important. I saw the concrete crypt and they think that’s fine. I don’t think so. It’s even bad for the remains that they were going to reburied. By now [the remains have] probably become dust because they didn’t provide the right kind of environment.”

She also demanded the reports of the archaeologists—Marilyn K. Swift and Randy A. Harper of Swift and Harper Archaeological Resource Consulting—to be made public. Swift and Harper claimed that the remains were desecrated which means those who handled them violated the law and need to be held accountable.

Hofschneider also added that the Historic Preservation Office provided the wrong information about Swift and Harper’s archaeologist dig.

“There was misinformation because they put Swift and Harper’s archaeological number which you can see it says “SP” which is 2001 0762 if you look at that, but [what] your digging was 2015. Why didn’t you put the number because there’s a new number for scientific consultants digging, in which they said they desecrated.”

Providing a good environment in the preservation of the remains is very important, according to Hofschneider, as she shared there were archaeologists who discovered 2,000-year-old remains and DNA testing was conducted by Wright State University and Harvard University.

Hofschneider also expressed anger and frustration at that time when the remains of the deceased were improperly stored in coconut fronds, which are typically used for commodities like pigs, meat, and breadfruit.

She added that reburial should have been done earlier at around 2015. She shared with Saipan Tribune several engagements where they asked for input about the reinterment or reburial facility and structure and they received support from hundreds in the community. Their petition was forwarded to both the government and Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC.

The lawsuit for the proper interment was dismissed in August 2020, but the HP Act of 1964, which is the Historic Preservation Act, regarding proper treatment of ancient burials still stands and Hofschneider said she will focus on that issue now.

Despite the controversy, she still thanked and gave credit to former governor Ralph DLG Torres and Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, who was a lieutenant governor back then, for making a proclamation on that day to do a half-staff for the reburial of the 800 ancient Chamorros.

Hofschneider said last Aug, 20, they were there to commemorate and honor the ancient Chamorros. During the ceremony they asked for forgiveness for what happened to them. She also said they will continue to pay tribute and honor Indigenous culture by speaking to the spirits of the ancient Chamorros buried at the site and seek protection and strength as they fight for a respectable space for Indigenous culture.