Native medicine group names officers

The Inetnon Åmot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch (Native Medicine Association) announced yesterday the results of its new election of officers, as called for in its bylaws. The IAN/ASF is chartered in the CNMI in 2007 as a non-profit corporation and the bylaws call for election of officers every year.

The new Association’s president is Isidoro T. Cabrera. Cabrera was the vice president last year and he now replaces former Association’s president Emilio Ayuyu. The Association’s new vice president is Lino M. Olopai. The Association’s secretary and alternate secretary are Frances M. Sablan and Anicia Tomokane respectively. Both held the same position last year. Cynthia P. Reyes also kept her position as the Association’s treasurer.

The IÅN/ASF is composed of 15 board members and, in addition to the officers mentioned, they are: Emilio Ayuyu, Ben Borja, John Castro, Patricia Coleman, Vic Deleon Guerrero, Donald Flores, Dave Omar, Noel Quitugua, Liz Rechebei, and Gonzalo Santos.

The Association was organized to: 1) advocate, recognize and support traditional healers, 2) help protect habitats of medicinal plants through restoration, legislation, educational programs, resolutions, community awareness, conferences, workshops, 3) to document this cultural tradition in the vernacular languages, and 4) to publish educational materials, posters, brochures, and also to produce non-print materials such as DVD’s, CD’s, and TV programming.

The Association applied for a competitive federal grant from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), and was awarded a grant from ANA, under the title Enhancement of Cultural Self Sufficiency through Revitalization of Traditional Healing, to produce a directory of indigenous traditional healers in the CNMI, and to conduct native medicine symposia on Tinian (June 21, 2008) and on Saipan (Aug. 9, 2008). The directory of healers will include indigenous traditional healers from Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. The directory will also have identification of CNMI medicinal plants. The Association has contracted Manny F. Borja to work on the objectives of the ANA grant project.

In partnership with the Indigenous Affairs office of the Offices of the Governor and Lt. Governor, the IÅN/ASF is housed in building 1213, Capital Hill Road, on Saipan. The office telephone number is 670-322-0278, the fax number is 670-322-0378, the e-mail address ianasfnma@gmail.com, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 5374 CHRB, Saipan, MP 96950. The public is welcome to call or visit the office to learn more about CNMI native medicine. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]