Event focuses on water justice and native land stewardship at Litekyan

The island community is invited to a celebration at Litekyan for water justice and native land stewardship.

“We wanted to come together for a community event so we can raise awareness about some of the impacts on our water and community,” said Maria Hernandez May, Hita Litekyan. 

May is one of the main organizers of Walk for Water speaking at an event on Sunday, Oct. 13,  bringing together an amazing team of environmental and cultural justice advocates across multiple groups  for  a day of celebration and education at the beautiful  Litekyan beach.

“I am a descendent of Ritidian original landowners,  so it's a very special place for not just for myself, not only for our families, but for the wider community  because it's one of the oldest ancient settlements in all of the marianas where can go and connect with our ancestors,” said May. 

Taking part in the planning of such an event is Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua.

“Water comes from the land, comes from the sky, comes from the world around us. And we don't really make the connection about where our water comes from and what happens to us if the water gets contaminated, like if you built a big firing range over where your water comes from  and what happens if you don't control access to your water,” said Bevacqua. 

Walk for Water is sure to be a powerful and symbolic event that serves as a cultural and rooted reminder, how vital water is. 

Josh Laurente is a community organizer and activist and calls on all the diverse communities to partake in this event and stand in solidarity.

“We are very intentional with this event. To make sure that it is family friendly,  appropriate for youth and elders that everyone can feel welcomed in coming together to affirm our right to protect this island,” Laurente. 

The event begins at 8 a.m., with the walk set to begin at 9 a.m. and musical performances to start at 10 a.m.

“We're gonna have amazing musical performances, we have Jonah Hanom, Zodiac Nat, Angelina Santos, Maolek Mona, Dakota Camacho, and Teresa Laguana,” said May. 

All three invite the island community to come to walk for water, promising a powerful, spiritual, and inspiring event.

“This event is an important reminder, if we really want to thrive, if we want our island to be safe for our future generations, it means we need to protect water,” said Bevacqua. 

Bevacqua reminded us all of what is recited during the Inifresi

“What are the elements that make life possible and we have to protect? One of them is,  i hanom, i irie, i tano, i kottura, in lenguahi, all of these things make life possible,” added Bevacqua.