MATUA opposes HPO’s artifact agreement with BSI’s contracted archaeologist

The MATUA Council for Chamoru Advancement is opposing the agreement between the Department of Community and Cultural Affair’s Historic Preservation Office and Scientific Consulting Services, insisting that the indigenous people of the CNMI should first be consulted on what to do with any artifacts that may be unearthed from a proposed casino resort site.

In a letter addressed to HPO director and state historic preservation officer Mertie Towai Kani, MATUA president and founding member Liana S. Hofschneider urged Kani to immediately rescind the agreement “and to seek consultation first with the Chamoru on the disposition of the remains of our ancestors and artifacts.”

On July 13, HPO signed an Artifact Agreement with Scientific Consulting Services, the contracted archaeologist of Best Sunshine’s mother company, Imperial Pacific International LLC.

Hofschneider said the agreement “is blatantly irresponsible and disrespectful to our people in that it did not provide for any consultation with the rightful owners of the remains and artifacts—the Chamorus.”

With the agreement authorizing SCS to borrow anything found at Anaguan during their burial recovery archaeological work, MATUA said SCS is being authorized to ship “ancestors off-island.”

Anaguan, the site for the casino and hotel of Best Sunshine International, Ltd. in Garapan, is an ancient village and burial site as early as 1300 A.D., and is said to be where the Spanish-Chamoru War happened in the 1660s. As of July 31, a total of 596 human remains were exhumed in the site.

“It is disturbing and unconscionable that the agreement authorized SCS ‘artifact materials be destroyed to facilitate certain types of analysis.’ Since when is it appropriate for you to authorize SCS (or anyone for that matter) to destroy any object of cultural significance to our people,” their letter said.

“To this end, your office continues to disregard the significance of Anaguan; and the sacredness of this site to our Chamoru heritage,” it added.

MATUA also reiterated their position that HPO should work to include this site in the National Registry of Historic Places and under the protection of the National Historic Preservation Act.

The letter ended with a plea for respect for the Chamorus.

“We implore you to treat the Chamorus who are the indigenous of the Mariana Islands for more than 3,500 years with utmost respect,” MATUA said.