*GSC’s 2nd round of participants complete the hunter safety course with the Guam Department of Agriculture DAWR and volunteer safety instructors.*

With feral pigs continuing to threaten agriculture, gardens, and sustainable land use across Guåhan, Guåhan Sustainable Culture (GSC) announces the launch of Ginen I Halom Tåno, a program that trains beginner and youth hunters to cull pigs and process meat for the community.

*Guam Department of Agriculture DAWR, mentor hunters and Mr. Hamamoto scout areas for safe hunting at the GSC Food Resiliency Hub.*

“The 50 acres at the Guåhan Sustainable Culture Food Resiliency Hub hold tremendous potential for regenerative agriculture. Feral pigs continue to threaten this work. This program empowers local residents with the skills and knowledge to protect their land and help protect other lands across the island, provide food for themselves and the community, and actively participate in caring for our shared environment.”

— Michelle Crisostomo, Co- Executive Director, Guåhan Sustainable Culture

Funded by the First Nations Development Institute and in collaboration with Guam Department of Agriculture Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DoAg DAWR), Ginen I Halom Tåno’ has recruited 20 participants and is providing free hunter-safety training, mentorship and hands-on game-care instructions for new and youth hunters.

*Participant Minerva and volunteer instructor, Charlene, reviewing a “shoot or don’t shoot” safety test.*

DoAg DAWR and their volunteer instructors play a key role in delivering training and mentorship, ensuring participants gain the skills, knowledge, and guidance needed to hunt safely, responsibly and steward the land. Particpants will be mentored each month as they shadow and learned from experienced hunters at the GSC Food Resiliency Hub, culminating in an island wide hunting derby held in May, in partnership with the Guam Department of Agriculture. Guåhan Sustainable Culture is also seeking experienced hunters who are willing to serve as volunteer mentors once a month from January through May 2026. Mentors will support youth and new hunters during guided hunts, helping share practical skills, safety practices, and land stewardship values.

Additionally, GSC is seeking partnerships with grocery stores and markets that can provide surplus produce for use in pig bait traps, helping to maximize the effectiveness of its culling efforts. The launch of Ginen I Halom Tåno’ reflects GSC’s broader mission: empowering our island community to reclaim stewardship of their food systems and land in a way that honors cultural values and long-term environmental resilience.