Yo'åmti Donald Mendiola

 This coming week's episode of Fanachu! will feature an interview with Saina Donald Mendiola, a yo'åmti and CNMI Cultural Icon. I'm excited about this episode, where I'll get to learn more about Saina Donald's journey to becoming a healer, and also the recent recognition he has received in both Guam and the CNMI for his work in the community and in schools.

Below is an article from June in the CNMI.

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Senate resolution honors traditional healer, educator 

by K-Andrea Evarose Limol
Jun 21, 2022 Updated Jun 21, 2022
Marianas Variety

THE Senate on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution honoring traditional healer and educator Donald Benavente Mendiola.

Authored by Sen. Edith Deleon Guerrero, S.R. 22-24 acknowledges and honors Mendiola for his long-lasting contributions to the CNMI.

Mendiola has been practicing Chamorro medicine for around 47 years. He was 8 when he began navigating the practice of being a “suruhuånu” or “yo’åmti” under his grandmother.

He aided the CNMI community by means of traditional healing, and started offering simple treatments originating from crushed and boiled plants to citizens residing in Chalan Kanoa at the age of 9, and further brought his practice to a spiritual extent by adding incantations to the process associated with the preparations of his treatments.

He learned spiritual healing techniques from over 30 elders who supported his practices and instilled faith in the idea that he would carry on this legacy to aid those in need in the community in a compassionate and noble manner.

He also served as an educator with the Public School System for over 33 years, which resulted in the academic excellence of many CNMI youth, namely at Hopwood Middle School where he served as the only instructor concentrating on weaving and traditional healing.

Mendiola authored and published “Åmot Chamorro, a Historical Snapshot of the CNMI’s Medicinal Herbs and Shrubs” in 2009, which seeks to reach out to communities in the Marianas and future generations to further educate about local herbal treatments.

Determined to portray his capabilities as an expert in Chamorro language and a master weaver, he attended the Master Weavers Symposium in New Zealand, the Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association meetings, as well as the festival of the Pacific Arts.

Mendiola has attained numerous achievements and accolades due to his willingness to serve not only for his benefit, but also for the CNMI youth and the entire community.

This has earned him the Regional Heritage Award sponsored by the Consortium for Pacific Arts and Culture’s Regional Office in 1993, for which he was recognized by the House of Representative in the 9th Legislature.

He received the 1996 CNMI Indigenous Teacher of the Year Award, the 2013 Governor’s Humanities Award for Outstanding Humanities Teacher, and was also the first to be recognized by NMI Humanities as a cultural icon.

Mendiola was awarded an honorary degree of master of Micronesian traditional knowledge by the University of Guam Board of Regents on Feb. 24, 2022.

According to the Senate resolution, “Mendiola has made numerous noble and selfless contributions to the CNMI through his expertise as an educator, author, traditional healer, and master weaver which has inspired the youth of the community as well as the entire Commonwealth, and will serve as an example to future generations to come.”

All eight members present for the Senate session on Friday voted to adopt the resolution. Sen. Karl King-Nabors was excused.