Celebrate Ha’ånen Litekyan for Mes CHamoru | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Press Release

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Partners, Invite the Public to Celebrate Ha’ånen Litekyan for Mes CHamoru

Mar 14, 2023

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The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in partnership with War in the Pacific National Historical Park invites `public to celebrate Ha’ånen Litekyan (Ritidian Day) on Saturday, March 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Guam National Wildlife Refuge – Ritidian Unit. Community members are invited celebrate Mes CHamoru and Guam’s natural and cultural heritage at Ritidian, known as Litekyan in the CHamoru language.

Activities will feature a youth fishing workshop, displays of historic CHamoru fishing methods, wildlife viewings, environmental stewardship in Guam, tours of the Refuge, and more. The event will take place in and around the Ritidian Nature Center.

The free youth fishing workshop is open to children ages seven to 17-years-old. Participants in the fishing workshop will practice traditional fishing such as talaya net throwing, rod and reel fishing, making a fishing lure, and learn about sustainable fishing. Registration for the fishing workshop is limited to the first thirty youths that pre-register. Parents/guardians of youth workshop participants must complete the Ha’ånen Litekyan Fishing Workshop Registration Form and Waiver.

Visitors should bring water and wear sun protection. Registration is only required for the fishing workshop, but not required to visit displays or tours. Tours will be first come, first served. Ha’ånen Litekyan is also supported by the Guam Department of Agriculture Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, United States Geological Survey Brown Treesnake Project, and other community partners.

For more info, visit Guam National Wildlife Refuge - Events or contact Marybelle Quinata, park ranger, at marybelle_quinata@fws.gov or call (671)355-5096/(671)483-6084.

A collage that shows the events from Ritidian Day at the Guam National Wildlife Refuge 2022. The top left corner shows masked children digging in the sand. The top right shows children holding a browntree snake. The bottom left shows a group of people touching bins full of sea life. The bottom right shows two volunteers demonstrating net casting.

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