Indigenizing Cultural Resources is the theme at PIALA conference

The Annual Pacific Island Association of Libraries, Archives, and Museums conference, or PIALA, is taking place here at the Guam Museum in Hagåtña. 

And for 33 years, PIALA members have continued to be advocates for preserving indigenous Pacific island culture and values in a rapidly technologically advancing world.

Erlinda Naputi is the President of PIALA.

“The importance of having the PIALA conference continues is because it’s a way for our people to share their rich culture, their languages, their traditions. As the institution of the libraries, archives, and museums, we are entrusted as, not gatekeepers, but guardians for these institutions,” said Naputi. 

The theme, "Indigenizing Libraries, Archives, and Museums in the Pacific".

“Why is indigenizing important? It's because of our people. If we don’t do it, then who will do it,” said Naputi. 

Naputi digs deeper into the issue of expanding cultural resources.

“Having our culture, most especially our language, and the history and the rich history that we have in each of our respective islands in Micronesia is unique and it is very important to try and preserve as much as we can,” she said. 

Cultural preservation and education is key.

Naputi used the latte stones that remain at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu as one example. 

Her husband, Martin, and a few representatives from the Marianas discovered the artifacts in disarray behind the museum more than two years ago.

“The importance of bringing them home, not only is the fact that it was illegally taken, but for our people to have closure and have what is rightfully ours back in our home islands,” added Naputi. 

The PIALA conference is happening here at the Guam museum from Dec. 2 to Dec. 6. Local artisans  are also on site, so be sure to get over here to do some Christmas shopping.