September 18-21, 2024
As part of an ongoing partnership with the University of Guam (UoG), faculty members from BSU were invited to speak at a research symposium on Indigenous Health Practices of the Cordillera and the Pacific. The team includes Stanley F. Anongos, Gigy G. Banes, Ruth S. Batani, Karryl Mae C. Ngina, and Tecah C. Sagandoy from the College of Social Sciences, along with Estrelle M. Daclan, head of Gender and Development. The exchange provided unique opportunity to forge lasting connections and partnerships aside from exploring the intricate tapestry of indigenous healing modalities.
Since 2018, BSU through the College of Social Sciences (CSS) and Institute of Social Research and Development (ISRD) together with the Gender and Development Office (GAD) and International Relations Office (IRO) and University of Guam (UOG) have maintained a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on issues related to Indigenous health, gender, history, and culture.
The team met with the President and Senior Vice President and deans of the University of Guam to explore opportunities for further collaboration. They were also introduced to the University’s “Sharing Island Wisdom” program, specifically the project on Reviving Traditional Navigation project.
Already on it’s 7th year, the faculty-student program facilitated BSU’s hosting of UoG’s visits in 2018 and 2023 respectively, while UoG funded and hosted this recent visit and a previous visit back in 2019. This program was initiated by Liza Linda Natividad of UoG under the Department of Social Work and CHamoru Studies and Gigy Banes of the College of Social Sciences, BSU. The partnership was first conceptualized by Gigy and Lisa during their participation in the Global Leadership School (GLS) of the Foro Internacional de Mujeres Indigenas- International Indigenous Women’s Forum (FIMI-IIWF) in New York City on April 2018.
