Advocates slam HPO, DCCA
Chamorro cultural advocates slammed yesterday government leaders overseeing the disposal of 332 human remains and artifacts uncovered on the construction grounds of the Saipan casino in Garapan, complaining that they have tried and tried to obtain information from the local Historic Preservation Office on the “disposition and whereabouts” of these remains but with no success.
In a letter to the HPO and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, the Matua Council for Chamorro Advancement called for the resignation of HPO director and State Historic Preservation officer Mertie Kani and Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Laura Ogumoro for allegedly not taking the lead on the disposition of these remains.
The council also tries to paint these two government offices as unacceptably inactive in regards to the repatriation and re-internment of another 263 remains and artifacts discovered on this old Samoa Housing site by previous archaeologists 17 years ago.
Saipan Tribune failed to obtain comments from HPO, DCCA, and the Saipan casino, Best Sunshine International, Ltd., after receiving a copy of the council’s letter late afternoon yesterday.
The Matua council has repeatedly cried their dismay over the construction of a 14-story casino resort towering over the heart of Garapan and built on grounds the advocates believe is an ancient Chamorro burial site. Last February, HPO approved the casino’s archaeological project to enter 18 burial sites and exhume the remains of ancient Chamorros.
In her letter, council president Liana Hofscheneider writes for a “technical report” for Anaguan, the ancient site. She said the letter serves as a third time it has been requested. The report was due to HPO—after an extension given—last Nov. 30.
“…We need to have the information regarding the disposition and whereabouts of the 332 human remains and artifacts immediately as these historical resources are not your or the government to unilaterally dispense,” or for the location to “be kept in secrecy.”
“These historical resources rightfully belong to our people, the Chamorros,” Hofschneider said.
Other complaints
The letter goes on to urge that HPO rescind an agreement between them and the casino’s hired archaeologists to “borrow for one year or more the human remains, and artifacts, and anything found” at the site. This includes shipping the remains off-island, Matua claims.
The council also says the reason of “a lack of funding” to recover the previous 263 remains uncovered on site in the late 1990s was unacceptable.
“It has been over 17 years since our ancestors have waited to be given the honor and respect to be reinterred to their resting place,” Hofschneider said. This means it has been “17 years of budget requests that your office should have taken initiative” on. “The lack of funding excuse to this fiasco does not qualify as a reason to justify your neglect of duty.”
She said to give authority and disposition of the 332 remains to the casino archaeologists furthers “the insult to this issue.”
In calling for Kani’s resignation, the council also asks why office archaeologists Eric Lash and Jennings Bunn resigned in a span of six months in 2015, and why historian Ray Muna resigned also.
These agencies are only another political dumping ground for the people that the Govt cannot fit anyplace else.
Majority of the people that are in these agencies have no useful purpose while hindering the very few that actually are qualified and attempt to do their job.
No Kidding! I heard Mertie Kani is just a filing clerk and her NOSE grew so big to fit into her new position as the director for this office…no wonder the office is in a state of disrepair!
And Laura Ogumoro, is so racist just like her sister Rep. Felicidad Ogumoro…they are ANTI-CHAMORRO and Anti-Filipino.
Peace!
I have heard that a Chinese businessman has bought the rights to all of the remains found under the Best Sunshine permit, do you know if this is actually the case? Also, I have heard that there is a Chinese businessman trying to open a Mariana Museum and needs a local to front said project for him; and that he has made a deal with best sunshine to take on all artifacts found on their various sites. What say you? PS. this is just Godfather gossip
This is what ARCHAEOLOGIST are known for…GRAVE DIGGERS, PIRATES OF CULTURAL RESOURCES!
I am not surprised at this information. But definitely, they, CHINESE Best Sunshine or HAOLE Archaeologist Scientific Consultants Services from Hawai’i – DO NOT OWN OUR HISTORICAL HERITAGE!
CHINESE – Cai Ling, Jason Ji or Margaret and Haole Michael Dega do not have any business marketing/selling our historical heritage like it is their real estate.
Peace!
A word of caution, since you are new to the islands, be very careful about what you believe on what you hear from the groups at Godfather’s as most are just trying to outdo one another in actions and “deeds” and attempt to compete, profess more and more about what they do not know by interjecting their own wishes and twisted thinking into subjects, the more that they drink the more they believe it themselves.. Do not believe in anything you hear and only maybe halve of what you see from there.
Most of these same people used to hang out at another place called Coffee Care (a bar/ restaurant) with the same “boisterous results with little substance. There also used to be some attorneys in that bunch in the past.
Also many used to hang out at a place called Bobby Cadillacs (pizza/bar)
Years past it would be very amusing on a boring night to go to eat dinner and listen to all of the clowns and “know it alls” trying to out do one another
Coffee Care was the most entertaining. I don’t drink so it is quite amusing to listen t, especially as the night goes on, you should try it, go to Godfather’s and do not drink for a few days (tell them you are on medication or something) and listen to what is coming out of many mouths,then think about it the next day..
Spot on. Thanks mate. I’m trying to get the true picture here; it’s a most perplexing venue; is it not? To tell the truth , man. I’m rather overjoyed that my stay here is for now so long a time. This place isn’t quite to my fancy. We have , as all places do-corruption back home; but one would wish to think that its not as so overt, blatant and of bad taste as this small island. I, do so feel horrible about the island folks though, they seem so trusting of those in power. Its more the pity, I guess; since you state that its been going on for quite some time now. One would hope that right shall come about all this, but as i was once in Mali, when some French came to do some work there – it seems about on the same pattern. Might I ask, why do you remain here?
What is the point of rescinding the agreement which allows the casino’s hired professional archaeologists to do proper excavation in Garapan?
Professional archaeologists is the key phrase here. These people know what they’re doing. Allow them to do their work so that we may be able to have more information on our past. Excavation, research, etc. takes time. Patience is a virtue.
The archaeologists from 17 years ago are not the same archaeologists working on this project now.
Blame them, but give these new archaeologists a chance is all I’m saying, my friend.
Excavation is not the same as grave digging. Peace be with you and your spirit.