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Exploring the ramifications of Marianas split in 1898
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Posted on May 17 2006
The NMI Council for the Humanities recently sponsored two meetings to plan a project that will explore and record a variety of social, cultural and political issues arising from the administrative split of the Mariana Islands following the Spanish-American War in 1898.
According to the Council’s executive director Paz C. Younis, a planning committee has been formed comprising scholars from Guam and the Commonwealth to develop overall project goals and objects. This committee met twice in April—first in Guam and then on Saipan—during which it developed a draft work plan.
Younis said that the project, entitled “Guam-CNMI Relations,” will include a variety of formats, including the preparation of a database of pertinent historical records and sources, the development of a website, informal gatherings to revitalize clan histories and story-sharing, and formal symposia and conferences during which local scholars will present academic papers on a variety of social, cultural and political topics arising from the split of administrations.
Guam planning members include, Eddie LG Benavente, Paul Bordallo, Dr. Keith Camacho, Dr. Anne Hattori, Dr. Marilyn Salas, Johnny Sablan, and Trini Torres. NMI members include Herman T. Guerrero, Florine M. Hofschneider, Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Lino M. Olopai, Dr. Elizabeth D. Rechebei, and Paz C. Younis.
Younis noted that project activities would start with a series of presentations at the Pacific Islands Bilingual/Bicultural Association meeting in Guam on June 20-23, 2006.
The Guam-CNMI Relations project is a component of a larger Council program entitled “From Colony to Commonwealth: The Northern Mariana Islands during the American Century.”
This program is supported in part by a $48,500 grant awarded to the Council by the National Endowment for the Humanities under its “We the People” program initiative.
It is intended to examine the shared history of the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States during the 100 year period (from 1898 to 1999) that has been referred to by historians as the “American Century,” and how this shared history has shaped the social, cultural, economic and political life in the CNMI today. (PR)
