Stories of the people, places, histories, ideas, and cultural traditions that shape life in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Humanities That Surround Us is a publication of the Northern Marianas Humanities Council that invites us to pause, remember, listen, learn from one another, and discover the humanities present in our everyday lives.
FEATURE STORY
Lisåyu, Then and Now
Faith, Remembrance, and Honoring Our Loved Ones
At the heart of this issue is a feature on lisåyu—the tradition of remembrance woven through the Chamorro and Carolinian experience. Through the voices of an elder tetcha and a younger tetcha, we explore how faith, family, and cultural practice shape our collective memory. From home altars and cemetery vigils to the cadence of prayers and the sharing of food, lisayu remains a living bridge across generations. While some practices have adapted or become more challenging, the spirit of reverence and community endures. We invite you to read the full story and reflect on how remembrance sustains our cultural identity.
