Making Waves IV: To Subdue the Big Fish, We Must Weave a Strong Net

You’ve probably heard the legend of the big fish that came to Guåhan, eating chunks of land with such overwhelming appetite it threatened to eat our island whole. After the men failed to subdue the fish with strength alone the women wove their hair into a net, and together they subdued the big fish and saved the Marianas. Today, when we think about the different ways colonialism continues to consume our islands and threaten our people, it is clear who the “big fish” is. 

Last month, Guahan Sustainable Culture (GSC) was graciously invited by our friends at Micronesia Climate Change Alliance (MCCA) to participate in the Making Waves IV Conference, held in Saipan for the very first time, with the theme “Mending Nets, Building Trust Across the Marianas.” Making Waves is a gathering of organizers, cultural practitioners, community leaders, and movement builders from across the Mariana Islands who share a collective vision of a thriving, decolonized Marianas, united together to defend our homeland against the big fish trying to consume us. 

A mixture of retreat and conference, Making Waves IV focused on discussing critical issues of colonialism and environmental injustice, as well as navigating conflict with care and compassion and mending relationships to build trust across the Marianas.  For three days we engaged in conflict resolution workshops, joined panel discussions on militarization and environmental injustice in the Marianas, and participated in restorative healing sessions that included sound bathing, reiki, chant, and mindful meditation. 

We got to visit the NMI Museum of History and Culture, where we got to appreciate some of the rarest artifacts in the Marianas and reflect on the connections between our past and the present. Each day ended with an intergenerational exchange where some of the eldest and youngest amongst us shared their learnings, reflections, and takeaways from the day, again emphasizing our across islands and generations. 

Participating in Making Waves IV was an honor and privilege for GSC. We remain committed to weaving the Marianas closer together, by building trust and leaning in to heal conflict, so that together our community is united and poised to defeat any big fish that comes our way.