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Robert F. Kennedy Library

Sharing Island Wisdom

Robert F. Kennedy Library



SHARING ISLAND WISDOM

Defining Island Wisdom

Formally, Island Wisdom is the ability to:

Move fluidly and deftly through the confluence of local and modern visions of the world - between Micronesian island cultural and western frameworks - in a relationship based on mutual benefit in order to strengthen our communities and island lifeways.

Put simply, Island Wisdom is the ability to work seamlessly and effortlessly through two cultural frameworks and to be able to use both frameworks when making decisions or taking action so that these efforts strengthen our communities and island lifeways. 
 
This means our work at the University of Guam is to learn from both worlds and to use our knowledge to contribute to our community through our scholarship, through our research, and through the partnerships we make.  
 

 

The University of Guam sees that our region's success is built by people with the knowledge and drive to make a difference.  We also understand that our sustainability and progress must be based in the knowledge that has been shared by our ancestors for generations.  Island Wisdom sits at the center of these two ideas.  Island Wisdom is our way of life and our path forward. 

 

 

Finagayan
Master navigator teaching his students about ocean movements. Source: L. Raigetal
Photo of two people carving a canoe
Students in Yap measure the dimensions of a canoe. Source: College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Guam
Photo of yo'amte hands
Master suruhana and her apprentice preparing medicine at Litekyan. Source: UOG Press
Photo of two students carving a canoe
Master carver and his student carving at the canoe house. Source: L. Raigetal
Photo of carved wood that shows island elements
"The Unburdening," an ifit carving by Melissa Taitano, Ph.D.
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Resources for Faculty

Para Hulo': Strategic Initiatives & Goals


Ways of honoring Island Wisdom: 

  • Familiarize yourself with sources of traditional knowledge or where to find cultural expertise.

  • Visit with cultural practitioners within the community to learn about what they do.

  • Ask students to reflect on how they might adapt a lesson, concept, or methodology to help solve a problem the communities they hope to serve.

  • Work with community and regional partners to co-advance solutions and ideas to issues.

  • Engage in activities to increase awareness of available avenues for Island Wisdom on campus.

  • Design and teach courses that incorporate tenets of Island Wisdom and Island Sustainability.

  • Use research protocols that honor, respect and acknowledge indigenous knowledge or community-based practices.            

Directory of Micronesian Scholars

Content coming soon!

Gallery of Presentations on Island Wisdom

 

Content coming soon!

 

Content coming soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital Guafak Project

Research Projects:

  • Researching and Preserving Yo'Amte Practices (Lead: Tricia Lizama, Ph.D.)  
  • Reviving Traditional Navigation (Leads: Palu Larry Raigetal and Melissa Taitano, Ph.D.)
  • Sustainable Practices for Protecting Traditional Fishing 
  • Researching Coral Reefs
  • Ecological System
  • Freshwater Resources
  • Sustainable Agricultural Practices