Elders share wisdom on conflict, healing at Making Waves 4

09/19/2025 - Day 2 of the Making Waves 4 summit turned deeply reflective last Sept. 18, as elders and community leaders led a morning workshop series on conflict and healing at the Kagman Community Center.

The session brought together elders Lino Olopai, Frances Sablan, Susan Taitano Aguon, and Lourdes Toves Manglona, who shared traditional ways of resolving disputes, rebuilding trust, and restoring harmony within families and villages.

Olopai recalled how elders once held a central role in conflict resolution, stepping in only when parents could not resolve disputes at home. 

“Our elders in our community are well known, and they were the ones who addressed those. If the issue cannot be resolved at home, mom and dad, then we have these elders in our community who have that status, and a lot of us listened to them,” he said.

Sablan spoke about forgiveness as a cornerstone of reconciliation. 

“One way, especially for the perpetrator, is to ask for forgiveness. If they have wronged or they have caused some disconnect, then they ask for forgiveness. They look the person that they need the forgiveness from in the eyes,” she said. “Because when you look away, sometimes the honesty, the truth, is not there. But if you look straight into the person's eye and ask for forgiveness, then there is that truth. There is that honesty.”

Manglona defined healing as extending care even toward those you may be estranged from. 

“Healing is sharing a story of a person you don't get along with, and when the person is sick, you may make a medicine for that person, or how the person does not believe in herbal medicine, or lacks the resources, or because western medicine does not work for them,” she said.

Aguon reflected on how militarization and external systems have altered traditional approaches to conflict. 

“We are people of the land, the air, the sea, and we have been disconnected by them. Only we have to pray really hard that the tools that are given to us can be used to help them, and help ourselves, especially to understand and come to an agreement, because we do have to share the lives for all to come. And the ones that are coming behind us are the ones that are necessary to be protected,” she said.

The elders also spoke of values lost in the face of conflict—respect, patience, courage, honesty, and dignity—and offered stories of reconciliation through music, family gatherings, and compassionate listening. 

Olopai recalled a near-violent clash among Carolinians that was defused when his uncle broke into song, prompting both sides to dance instead of fight.

“I witnessed a conflict between two groups among the Carolinians, and they stood up and they were ready to hack it out. Then my uncle stood up in the middle of them and sang a song. That brought peace to both groups. Instead of hacking at each other, they started singing and dancing, and it brought peace.”

In the afternoon, participants joined a sustainable wisdom workshop, followed by a feminism workshop. The day closed with an extended sound healing session, where participants reflected on lessons shared and the role of intergenerational exchange in carrying them forward.

The summit concludes today, Sept. 19, with the second part of the conflict workshop series, followed by a military panel discussion exploring the impact of defense activity in the Marianas. Participants will also join a reiki healing session, a talaya fishing workshop, and travel to Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan for cultural workshops and a 500 Sails boat tour. The gathering will close with ceremonial chants, next steps for sustaining momentum, and a community dinner featuring live music.

The event is hosted by Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, Community Solutions, From Luta, For Luta, Gi Matan Guma’, Sagan Flores, and Tinian Women’s Association.

Report by Mark Rabago