By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor
Variety Features Editor

A LOCAL cultural group conducted a free one-day traditional tool-making and woodcarving workshop.
Sakman Chamorro Inc. conducted an outdoor workshop for the public at the Tronkon Da’ok Children’s Playground Octagon Pavillion on Saturday with Noel Quitugua demonstrating tool making and Manny Bermudes doing a wood carving presentation.
In an interview, Sakman Chamorro Inc. president Noel Quitugua said, “The Administration for Native Americans made this event possible. We got a grant for this workshop today.”
Through the Library Friends Children of Our Homeland Project, the cultural group received a $1,000 grant from the hefty $930,000 received by the non-profit library group.
According to Children of Our Homeland Project director Elizabeth Rechebei, the grant was awarded by the Administration for Native Americans to the Library Friends “to promote indigenous groups and improve their socio-economic welfare and one of the activities is to support projects like this (workshop).”
A huge chunk of the $930,000 draw-down grant was used for the purchase of books as well as renovation of the Children of Our Homeland Library.
Rechebei said the $1,000 grant given to Sakman Chamorro Inc. is inclusive of materials, supplies, and honoraria for the two demonstrators — Noel Quitugua and Manny Bermudes — and DVD production of the presentation.
“We will produce DVDs (of the tool-making and woodcarving workshop) and make those DVDs available to the schools,” Rechebei said.
Rechebei added that everything the library sends to schools is funded by the grant. She also said that they have distributed a lot of books to schools, especially books in the vernacular.
Meanwhile, Quitugua in responding to Variety’s inquiry regarding Saturday’s workshop, said: “What we were trying to do when I organized the Sakman Chamorro Inc., was to revive the ancient Chamorro canoe.”
“This project today (Saturday) is to showcase woodcarving techniques and my part is showing the traditional tools, and our ancestors’ material culture,” said Quitugua.
Posters showing ancient beads and the an ancient canoe as well as a series of other illustrations were on display during Sakman Chamorro Inc.’s workshop from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Octagon Pavillion.
With regard to the sakman project, Quitugua added, “We are trying to get a piece of land south of PIC to build a Chamorro canoe house where we are going to make the whole thing.”
Quitugua said they have been planning to do the workshop for two years and “hopefully we can do this again next year.”
Sixty-year-old woodcarver Manny Bermudes, who has been carving since he was 31 on Pohnpei, said that he is willing to teach young Chamorros woodcarving.
“I would really like to show our young Chamorros the basic techniques of wood carving. I would be very happy to teach them if they are interested to learn this craft. I am willing to teach for as long as I am still here so someone can take my place when I am gone,” said Bermudes.
Bermudes acquired his craft from the Polynesian people of Pohnpei during a residence there for six years. He said he carved and sold wood carvings to provide for his family which is based on Pohnpei.
The Shark is Bermudes’ favorite subject and according to him, a medium-sized shark figure fetches between $45 and $60.
Bermudes said he uses several tools to carve a shark figure from a piece of rose tree or dau. It usually takes him a day to finish one carving.
Right now, Bermudes keeps himself busy with teaching at the Arts Council to pass on the craft that only a few on the island know now.
“We are only a few wood carvers here — only those who came from Pohnpei. That’s why those who wish to learn should get in touch with us through Sakman Chamorro,” said Bermudes.
Bermudes has been working with Quitugua since he came to Saipan in 1981 and they have been working closely for the past six years for Sakman Chamorro Inc.
Children of Our Homeland Project director Rechebei expressed her gratitude to the supporters of their project.
“I am really grateful that people are supporting the project. It is happening because a lot of agencies and groups and individuals want to do something,” said Director Rechebei.
She also announced that they are a looking at collaborating with the mayor of Rota for a presentation on traditional fishing and she also mentioned that a symposium on traditional medicine is underway.