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Fire at sakman house dismays Saipan & NI Municipal Council
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Posted on Jun 14 2021
The 16th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal joins the CNMI community in expressing dismay and sadness over the recent scorching of the “Guma’ Higai Sakman,” in view of its role as a sacred traditional canoe house located at the traditional Chamorro village of “i Sengsong Katan Uda,” referenced as the Susupe Civic Center, site of the former Northern Mariana Islands District Legislature.
“The Guma’ Higai symbolizes our quincentennial or 500th anniversary of our cultural obligation to both honor our Chamorro ancestors and, through their undying guiding spirits, perpetuate our rich and unique Chamorro heritage as once world prominent master seafaring navigators and voyagers for thousands of years,” said SNIMC chair Ana Demapan-Castro on behalf of her colleagues, vice chair Antonia M. Tudela and councilman Danny I. Aquino.
“We share the feeling of loss with the voyagers and volunteers on the painstaking time in planning, investing both physical and financial, and implementing a revered cultural project aimed at reviving the lost traditional seafaring knowledge about 300 years ago, dating back to 1742 on the sketch of British Military Navy Commander Lord Anson, who made a brief stopover in Tinian for rest and reprovision.
“Taking into consideration all the sweat in the hot and humid environment and sacrifices of countless hours by some of our respected voyagers and volunteers under the stewardship of Master Navigator Tony Piailug and his student, John S. Castro, [this] make this unfathomable damage of the Guma’ Higai Sakman even more disheartening,” she said.
The council sends its heartfelt thoughts of grief to the voyagers, private and public sector partners, and volunteers for this tragic incident. Furthermore, the council offers its support to restoring the cultural project in collaboration with potential private and community non-profit partners. (PR)
