Embracing Democracy: Vignettes from the Northern Mariana Islands

FAIN: BC-50326-06

Northern Marianas Humanities Council (Saipan, MP 96950-4336)
Herman T. Guerrero (Project Director: May 2006 to May 2008)
Debra T. Cabrera (Project Director: May 2008 to May 2009)

Humanities programs that explore the origins of democracy in the Northern Marianas Islands through several projects including the development of a digital print media database of local newspapers and periodicals, an oral history project that explores residents role in the Civil Rights Movement, and a digital photographic database of historic photographs held in local repositories.

The origins of democracy in the CNMI can be traced to WWII when the islands were captured by U.S. forces. Over the next 42 years, NMI residents were governed by the U.S. Navy and as a part of a UN trusteeship, before achieving U.S. citizenship under a self-governing Commonwealth in union with the USA. The Council will explore aspects of our democratic form of government through three humanities programs: The Free Press in the NMI; and The Struggle for Civil Rights; and Picturing Democracy.