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CNMI's Commonwealth Day
By Joe Takai- Soil Conservationist / API SEPM from Concord, CA
Håfa Adai & Greetings to all APIO members! Thought you might like this info to read...
Today is a very important day on the island where I come from. As some of you know, I am originally from the island of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (C.N.M.I.). Saipan is about 125 miles north of Guam and is the Capital of the CNMI. Guam is the southern most islands in the Mariana Islands chain but is not a part of the CNMI. The natives of the Mariana Islands are called "Chamoru" or "Chamorro" and not Saipanese or Guamanian.
I moved to California back in FEB 2002 to fill the soil conservationist position. Before then, I was the first ever "Coop-Student" in the Pacific Basin to work for the Soil Conservation Service (i.e. through a Cooperative Agreement between my high school and SCS) in 1991. I worked under the guidance of Charlie Frear (my first DC and now is the ASTC-FO for Georgia) and Joan Perry (retired Pacific Basin Director of many years and former Regional Conservationist for the West Region). I then moved on to the Guam Field Office as a SCEP while pursued my degree. Now I'm here...
The following article was taken from the Marianas Variety Daily News:
TWENTY-NINE years ago today, President Gerald Ford signed U.S. Public Law 94-241 that established the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands in political union with the United States of America. This document paved the way for the "unique relationship" that the CNMI now enjoys with the U.S., commonwealth leaders said. "We have a unique relationship under the Covenant that we have as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. We enjoy these special privileges that other insular areas do not," Gov. Juan N. Babauta told Variety yesterday. Senate Floor Leader Paul A. Manglona, the CNMI's longest serving lawmaker, praised the Covenant negotiators, particularly the members of the Marianas Political Status Commission. "Today we remember where we came from, and we thank all our past leaders for what they have achieved," said Manglona, R-Rota. It was former U.S. Ambassador Franklin Haydn Williams, the head of the American negotiating team that said that the document should be called a "Covenant."
For more info on the Covenant & CNMI, see the sites below:
Information from Angela Biggs, APIO Secretary and Iowa SEPM,
on the Pacific Islands for your enjoyment . . .
Here is the next installment for the Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As promised this email will focus on the Pacific Islands. I always find it difficult to answer the question "where are you from" because I am from such different places both geographically and culturally. My heritage on my mother's side of the family is Chamorro or Guamanian. On my father's side, we are Iowans (definitely a melting pot with German, British, American Indian, and I'm not sure what else mixed in). So, I guess I call both Iowa and Guam home. Here is your opportunity to learn a little more about our Pacific cousins, and more specifically about half of my cultural heritage. Here are a few websites about Hawaii and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands(CNMI) courtesy of Gary Parks, AAPI Program Manager in Kansas:
They contain interesting information about the history of the peoples of these islands. Check out the additional links provided on each page for further information.
Guam is a US Territory and anyone born there is a US Citizen.
Here are some links for information about Guam, "Where Americas Day Begins" (Guam is across the International Dateline):
http://www.ezresult.com/article/GuamThe following website is the official Government of Guam website. It has information about language, culture, food, history, demographics and pictures of the island.
http://ns.gov.gu/The following site is a link to FOOD! :) Recipes I am sure you are all ready to try. I've looked them over and they look to be pretty accurate so give them a try and let me know how you like Chamorro food. If you have any questions about preparation or where to find some of the ingredients let me know.
http://www.chamorro.com/postings/cookbook.htmlI've attached the PowerPoint presentation with my pictures from Guam. I was there in March for a visit. I've also included a copy of the Pac Basin NRCS Newsletter which has a couple of interesting articles about conservation practices in the Pac Basin.
I hope you enjoy learning a little more about some islands in the Pacific and one of my "homes".
Angela Biggs
Asian Pacific Islander Program Manager
NRCS - Iowa
515-961-5264
