Guam Delegation visits Council of Indigenous Peoples

Taiwan's Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP, 原民會) Minister Icyang Parod received a delegation consisting of six leaders from the legislatures of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on Wednesday, Nov. 16, according to a press release from the CIP.

 Delegation members, led by speaker of the Guam Legislature Judith Won Pat, held discussions revolving cultural connections between indigenous peoples of Taiwan, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Talks touched on local lore of the Northern Mariana Islands' Chamorro indigenous peoples, who migrated to the Micronesian region from more northern islands, the CIP stated. Some say the Chamorro's ancestors were actually from Taiwan.

When examining Taiwanese indigenous peoples' traditional accessories and clothing, the delegation members also expressed interest in the cultural similarities between the peoples' culture and language, said the CIP.

 The delegation visiting Taiwan comprises Won Pat, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Legislature Senate Floor Leader Steve K. Mesngon, Vice Speaker of Guam Legislature Benjamin Cruz, CNMI Legislature lawmaker Joseph T. Guerrero and CNMI legal consultant Jose Bermudes, according to the CIP.