Sumongsong

Written by Kerri Ann Borja | December 2019

Land is Life | photo by ifit

Pulan : Sumongsong - season to repair nets, stay in the village

This was our first gathering held in the East Bay, at my apartment.  It’s always great for me to share my home with those I love and call family, to bless the space with their presence and spirit.  The CHamoru womyn who make up our Pulan collective are mos def family.  Two of these womyn I have known for over 15 years now, si Angela and Aunti Mart.  We were brought together by the deep Marianas Trench love of our island and peoples, through a group we once all organized with called Famoksaiyan.  Now, with this womyns’ collective, I have been blessed with three more che’lus, si Clarissa, Lehua, and Kayana, who also have that same deep Marianas Trench love for our island and peoples.  Shown and expressed in so many ways when we gather together with the stories we tell, the jewelry we wear, the laughs we share, and the food we cook.  

Since this gathering was during the holidays, we decided we would do a Brown Karabåo gift exchange.  This gift exchange is like a white elephant, but brown and with a karabåo sa’ we don’t have elephants back home and we’re brown nai!!  When you play this type of gift exchange, part of the fun and excitement is “stealing” other folks’ gifts and there is no guarantee that you will end up with a gift that you like.  At first, no one wanted to steal and most especially from Aunty Mart as she is our elder.  But she told us that we shouldn’t feel that way as it was all a part of the game.  I would be the first one to steal and I stole from Aunty Mart, which allowed for more stealing but with love.  In the end, we all received gifts that seemed perfect for each of us.  

• Kayana (ginen si Aunty Mart):  an ifit latte, was carved by the Master Carver Robert Taitano, Kayana’s uncle

• Angela (ginen si Kayana):  products from Kay’s work, Angela was the only person who knew that company and had used their products  

• Lehua (ginen si guåhu) - sihek feather earrings, created by me and was my last pair, Lehua had been having dreams of sihek birds during the time

• Aunty mart (ginen si Lehua) - art work and herb balm, both created by Lehua

• Guåhu (ginen si Angela) - woven bag and wrap from Papua, I have been trying to collect wraps from all over Oceania 

Our Sa’ipan sister, Gin, came through after our gift exchange and brought gifts of her own for each of us.  Aunty Mart would also give each of us a gift as well. 

Even if I didn’t receive a physical gift, this gathering would have been just as perfect.  Sa’ every time we gather together, I am always gifted with medicine for my soul.  Medicine in the wisdom and love given from each of these strong maga’hågas. I am blessed to constantly share sacred space with them and continue the traditions of our ancestors, creating new ways of decolonizing and resisting.  I look forward to many more moons in the new year and for always.

Menu

• pork adobo with cabbage

• salmon kelaguen with red chili and fresh lemon

• kale gollai hagun suni

• kamuti in coconut milk 

• sweet rolls 

• litiya

• baby banana and dark chocolate sweet lumpia 

• fresh papaya and asian pears