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Bayogo dolls as cultural art
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Posted on Nov 10 2005
In response to the public notice printed in the newspaper: The bayogo, pronounced bo-jo-bo in Chamorro, is a seed native to the CNMI island of Rota and its tropical rainforest. The seed is not found elsewhere in the CNMI. The Bayogo “Wishing Dolls” are a cultural art and have been part of the Chamorro heritage for generations! Locals harvest the seeds and sell the “Bo Jo Bo” Wishing dolls, with the local legend, for a modest price, and have supplied businesses throughout the CNMI and Guam for decades. The Bo Jo Bo craft is taught in local schools.
Recently, a law has been passed forbidding the sale of seeds to other islands because Saipan businesses have long been buying only the seeds and making the dolls themselves. And while the copying of the dolls went uncontested, this was unsettling the frail economy of Rota, for which the law was passed to protect.
Now we see greedy enterprise, unsatisfied with mere profit, attempting to place a trademark on this ancient Chamorro cultural art, and we have Mr. Smith claiming that the indigenous peoples must “cease and desist” from their cultural rights and livelihood! Mr. Smith would have us believe that his clients, Philippine nationals, and their Saipan company are the originators and have sole rights? We demand that these perpetrators cease and desist!
Attorney F. Matthew Smith and his Philippine clients are in violation of law #5014 and #5015, concerning Bo Jo Bo wishing dolls, and are guilty of misleading representation of facts in attempting to rob the Chamorro culture and appropriate a trademark under false circumstances.
Victoria Ann Abraham
Rota Venders Association
President
