“I’ve looked at the way women controlled the narratives,” she says of her research. “But because I’m mired with these colonial eras, I was kind of wondering — what’s going on now? It’s what led to this interview project.”
On Aug. 26, the public is invited to see footage from her ongoing film project, “Mothering Guahan” featuring interviews from a variety of local mothers with different backgrounds and scholars who’ve also studied the matrilineal role on Guam.
“I need to finish the film and want to expand it and get more funding if possible,” she says. “But I wanted to get community input before it was done and not after. When a film is finished, people get to put in their opinions and perspectives, but it’s done. This is a chance for me to put it out there, start a conversation and get a poll on whether it resonates with you or if I’m missing something. I really just want to engage the public before I finish the film.”
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| Christine Naputi is one of the mothers who was interviewed for "Mothering Guahan," a film by Leiana Naholawa'a. The film is still in production and a screening of interviews will be held on Aug. 26 with a roundtable discussion. (Photo: Courtesy Leiana Naholawa'a) |
“I also wanted to have a conversation with women who were more invested in Chamorro studies and preservation, so we gathered at the MARC library to film that discussion,” she says. “That’s part of the footage.”
Naholowa’a, who also instructs a women and genders course at UOG, expects the film project to be completed on time for the upcoming Festival of the Pacific Arts 2016 hosted in Guam next year. Aside from Okiyama, she’s also working with Brian Muna who is the director of photography and lead editor, and Faye Untalan and Laura Souder who are project advisers.
The "Mothering Guahan" includes interviews mothers:
- Monique Baza
- Jill Benavente
- Ruth Flores
- Teresita Flores
- Lourdes Hongyee
- Tricia Lizama
- Christine Naputi
- Amanda Santos
- Mariquita Taitague
- Matilde Castro White
- Antonia Castro
- Evelyn Flores
- Laura Souder
- Rlene Steffy
- Faye Untalan
- Anne Hattori
- Sharleen Santos-Bamba
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http://www.pacificnewscenter.com//images/k57interviews/2015/082615_113400.mp3
Interview with Patti Arroyo on K-57
