Native Medicine Symposium expects full day of activities

The Inetnon Amot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch issued yesterday the program for the Native Medicine Symposium, to be held tomorrow, Aug. 9, 2008, at the Man’amko Center in Garapan, Saipan.

The Symposium will start at 8:30am and will end at 4pm. (Because of road closure, take the Sugar King Road and turn right on Husga Avenue to the Man’amko Center.)

The Saturday Native Medicine Symposium Program is as follows:

8:30am Singing of US and CNMI National Anthems
8:40am Brief Remarks

-Isidoro T. Cabrera, President of Inetnon Åmot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch

-Benigno R. Fitial, Governor, CNMI

-Juan B. Tudela, Mayor of Saipan

-Valentin Taisakan, Mayor of the Northern Islands

-Howard Macaranas for Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Melvin Faisao

Presentation of “Fusiños” to the Man’amko Center

9am Introduction of Healers by Manny F. Borja, ANA Grant Project Director

9:10am Panel Discussions. Lino M. Olopai, moderator

10am – 10:30am Break

10:30am Continuation of Panel Discussions to be followed by questions and answers

11:30 – 12:30pm Lunch break

12:30pm Presentations/demonstrations by Rota healers

1:30pm Presentations by Tinian healers

2pm Presentations/demonstrations by Saipan healers

3pm PowerPoint Presentation on Traditional Medicine Artifacts by Noel B. Quituqua

3:15 – 3:25pm Short break

3:25 – 3:50pm Break-up into small working groups

3:50 – 4pm Report from small working groups

4pm Acknowledgment by Manny F. Borja, ANA Grant Project Director

The Mistress of Ceremony is Anicia Q. Tomokane.

The panelists include Sen. Maria Frica Pangelinan, Dr. Daniel C. Lamar, Rafael Rangamar, Lourdes Manglona, Ignacia T. Demapan, Juan Q. Kapileo, and representatives from the Commonwealth Health Center, and the Agriculture Division.

The breakout sessions are to visit the issues of 1) How can we have legislation to protect CNMI medicinal plants locally? 2) How can we make traditional medicine practices a part of the CNMI Public Health System? 3) What are the impacts that developers have on CNMI medicinal plants? 4) The future of Native Medicine Association.

There is also an evaluation of the Symposium and attendees are asked to hand in the evaluation form before they leave.

This Symposium is presented by the Offices of the Mayors of Saipan and the Northern Islands, in partnership with the Inetnon Amot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch. This Symposium is funded, in part, by a grant from the Administration for Native American, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information, call 322-0278, or fax 322-0378. You may also visit www.amot-safey.org. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]