More than just competition: CNMI off to Taiwan for debut in World Indigenous Games

The CNMI is set to make its historic debut at the 2025 World Indigenous Traditional Games in Taiwan from Dec. 6-16, and they’re showing up not just to compete, but to represent their island culture and exchange indigenous traditions.

The event is more than just competition–it’s a weaving together of indigenous cultures–and the CNMI team made up of people of Indigenous descent will be sharing pieces of the Marianas through traditional games, dance, and music. 

The games are hosted and funded by Taiwan, with 11 countries and hundreds of athletes partaking in competition and cultural exchange.

For the traditional sports and games portion of the event, the CNMI is fielding a young team–most of whom have competed in the recent Palau Pacific Mini Games–Derek Rangamar, Lia Rangamar, Antonette Labausa, Kaya Rasa, Erik Basa, Miles Borja, Maria Quitugua, Mayiah Duenas, Jenisha Dubrall, Lincoln Manibusan, and Gregory Iginoef are taking part in some of the games including traditional archery, log sawing, traditional wrestling, net casting, traditional canoe race, traditional road racing, and freediving sprint.

Rasa, three-time gold medalist weightlifter in the 2024 Micronesian Games, said, “I’m feeling super excited. I’m super stoked to head down there and represent the CNMI.” She is competing in archery, free diving sprint, and road racing with the team that has been training since June. “We’ve been very consistent, we’ve all been working really hard, so we’re looking forward to going down there and giving it all we got.”

The CNMI is also sending a group of dancers for the traditional music and dance portion of the event. They are composed of Glenn Ruben, Gregory Iginoef, Benusto Lisua, Tyler Fitial, Brian Ruben, Jack Ruben, Michael Olaitiman Jr., Ian Kaniki, Luis Tilipao (band), Frankie Limes (band), and Vincent Limes (band).

Felix Nogis, executive assistant for Carolinian Affairs and the CNMI’s official delegate to the Austronesian Forum in Taiwan, said the planning for this debut directly involved the late Gov. Arnold I. Palacios. With only 10 minutes allotted for the entertainment portion, the group chose to lead with the Carolinian stick dance and mass.

As for the sports side, Rep. Elias Rangamar organized the training and selection of the athletes. He looked into getting some representation from Rota and Tinian as well, but a lot of people pulled out due to different reasons. However, he’s confident in the young team he assembled—all of whom are of indigenous descent and have represented the CNMI in regional games such as the Micro Games, Mini Games, and Pacific Games. 

Rangamar called the CNMI’s debut “very significant.” He said he reminded the athletes that their role goes beyond competing, “but sucking in an understanding and maybe even reflecting our ancestors and hopefully take something from there and bring it back here and share with the kids.“

He added that the athletes have worked hard and are ready. Although he won’t be traveling with them, he said the team will be managed by Iginoef. “When they go there, the competition is only two days,” he said. “Then they get to travel to all the islands. There are festivals they’ll be attending, so it’s going to be an awesome experience for them.”

Looking ahead, they said they are looking into hosting CNMI’s version of indigenous games which will help prepare for the next regional one, or maybe look into the possibility of hosting the regional indigenous games on our very shores one day.