Making Waves 4 opens on Saipan with focus on climate, cultural resilience

09/18/2025 - The Making Waves 4 summit opened last Sept. 17, at the Kagman Community Center, bringing together more than 60 participants from Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam in a three-day exchange on climate justice, cultural resurgence, and Indigenous representation.

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.

“This year, we focused on advocates from the Marianas. From Saipan, Tinian, Luta, and Guåhan. We're here to gather, to build community, to strategize, to deepen connection, and share knowledge. It's a wonderful gathering of traditional healers, cultural practitioners, community organizers, and community leaders. And we're just so grateful to have this space together,” said Community Solutions’ Sheila Babauta. 

Unlike a conventional conference setting, Making Waves 4 opened with ceremony rather than speeches. Participants sat in a circle, a deliberate choice meant to symbolize continuation and connectedness. 

“It represents continuation, it represents cycles, and it represents connectedness. It was really important to sit in a circle. Many indigenous communities sit in circles when we share, when we discuss,” said Babauta.

An altar was also created, with attendees asked to bring meaningful items to establish a sacred space.

 “Because the work that we do for our home, the work that we do out of love for our community, for our people, it's sacred work. So it's really important to us that we begin in a sacred way,” said the former lawmaker.

A highlight of the opening was the sharing of a bottle of coconut oil that had been blended during Making Waves 2023 from oils gathered across the Marianas. Participants applied the oil as a gesture of unity and healing.

“So that we can remember that we are one people, and that we have traditional practices that heal us, that protect us, and that can guide us in this work,” Babauta said.

Asia Hilario of Sagan Flores said the opening pretty much adhered to the summit’s theme, which  is “Repairing Nets and Building Trust.”

“I hope that it amplifies everyone's mission, which is the collective mission of protecting the land, protecting our people, and empowering our people. What we would love for everyone to leave with is a connection to people they've met throughout, and also a deeper connectedness to the mission of the organization.”

She also hopes Making Waves 4 would help heal whatever perceived differences people from Guam and the Northern Marianas still harbor against one another.

“Part of climate change is also giving the indigenous land back because indigenous people take care of the land, and we know how to take care of the land, and so when I mention that oppression is one of the strategies to get people not to work together, because when people are divided, they're not as powerful.”

Hilario added that this is essentially what the summit, exemplified by its theme, seeks to achieve. 

“There has been tension for decades between Guam and the CNMI, so it's really beautiful to have people from all over the islands to connect and to repair any tension that is here from decades ago, and maybe even new tension, to build more trust and connection to empower the mission.”

For Frances Sablan, the gathering underscored the importance of both environmental stewardship and cultural survival. “The event is very important for the environment, for the nation, and for the world,” she said. “It is important for our culture, and it is important for our language.”

Afternoon sessions shifted into skill-building and reflection. Over lunch, participants tackled guided feminist discussion questions at their tables, followed by a workshop that encouraged critical self-reflection and group dialogue. Attendees then journaled on lessons learned before traveling to the NMI Museum of History and Culture for a tour and discussion activity.

Looking ahead to Day 2 today, Sept. 18, participants will turn their attention to navigating conflict and building solutions. The morning features a conflict workshop series with a panel, group activities, and reflection. 

Afternoon sessions will include a sustainable wisdom workshop, a feminism-focused session with Babauta, and a sound healing practice led by Hilario. Like on Day 1, Day 2 will end with intergenerational exchanges and closing reflections.

Report by Mark Rabago and Thomas Manglona II