SAIPAN – Community members across the Northern Mariana Islands are invited to participate in a series of maritime mapping workshops this July focused on preserving and documenting the region’s maritime heritage.
The workshops, hosted by East Carolina University (ECU), will take place from July 8–16 and July 21, 2025, and are part of a larger U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)-funded project titled Maritime Heritage of the U.S. Pacific Islands.
Led by Dr. Jennifer McKinnon, a maritime archaeologist with more than 15 years of collaborative experience in the Marianas, the project aims to identify and map non-sensitive maritime heritage sites and practices with the help of local knowledge holders. Community input will contribute to a secure, community-controlled database used to inform both future generations and federal agencies.
“We’re excited to return to The Marianas to document the islands’ rich historic and cultural resources,” McKinnon said. “This effort is community-centered and focused on mapping and recording with respect to community design and input.”
Heritage elements may include both tangible and intangible practices—such as shipwrecks, canoe landings, traditional fishing areas, sea routes, and sites tied to cultural stories and practices.
Workshops will include specialized focus groups such as fishers, navigators, artisans, boat builders, and the general public. One public session is already scheduled during the Saipan International Fishing Tournament on July 13 at 2 p.m. at Smiling Cove Marina. Additional workshop details will be announced soon.
No mapping experience is required, and all materials will be provided. For more information, contact Dr. Jennifer McKinnon (mckinnonje@ecu.edu), Gordon Marciano (gordon@pdi.com). or
Integrity Communications (cperry@integrity-communications.net).
