Remembering Teresia
REMEMBERING TERESIA
We at Humanities Guåhan are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Dr. Teresia Teaiwa, preeminent Pacific scholar, activist and poet. Teresia was an invaluable colleague and partner to Humanities Guåhan, and will be greatly missed, but always remembered with the utmost respect and fondness.
We had the privilege to bring Teresia to Guam in 2011 on a weeklong literary tour as part of our multifaceted project, “The Micronesian Question”: Issues of Migration, Identity and Belonging in Guam. Teresia gave a public poetry reading with student participants in the exhibit, In-Sights – words & photos by Micronesian Youth, and was the featured speaker, along with her student Dr. Emelihter Kihleng, at the
large community conversation event hosted by Humanities Guåhan entitled, Pacific Islander Migration and Identity. Teresia also conducted a series of workshops and readings with college and high school students throughout the island.
More recently, Teresia accepted our invitation to talk about her work with and support of our organization in a brief video recording (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lr63MfJQq8&t=177s) that was part of Humanities Guåhan’s 25th anniversary celebration, Envisioning the Humanities, held on September 24, 2016. It was exceedingly warm and inspiring.
Teresia touched the many people in Guam who knew, worked with and experienced her charming personality, deep intellect, critical scholarship and driving passion for the Pacific Islands, past, present and future. We are forever indebted to and grateful for her.
We extend our sincerest condolences to Teresia’s husband, Sean Mallon, her sons, Manoa Teaiwa and Vaitoa Mallon, and to the rest of her family during this incredibly difficult time.
Saina Ma’åse yan Adios Esta Kie Teresia!
