Workshop Session 4:
Sat, 2pm - 3:15pm

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Matau Hefal: Cultural Well-being through Community & Collaborative Research [Waldo Hall 240]

This workshop will highlight some personal experiences in field research for those who are interested. A presentation will go over research experience opportunities in Oceania in connection to the island diaspora to reconnect with island roots or travel abroad. Objectives are to drum up island diaspora students' interest in research experience for undergraduates in our islands and exchange with fellow island graduate students on common research interests in Micronesia. 

Presenter: Alissa Takesy

  • Alissa Takesy Alissa is a first-generation female Micronesian graduate (doctorate) student at UCSC focusing on re-centering Indigenous research and science in island ecosystems. She got her B.S. in Biology from Fairfield University and M.A. in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University.

Beyond the Reef: From the Islands to the Continent [Waldo Hall 244]

This session will confront candidly the challenges faced by first‑generation Pasifika college students. Whether you navigate this path independently or with encouragement of loved ones, many of us have journeyed great distances in pursuit of a better life. We will explore the nature of resilience, the fortitude required to persist in higher education, and invite reflection on what your presence here in higher education signifies for you.

Presenter: Andrea L. Camacho

It Takes a Village to Thrive: Reframing Basic Needs as Collective Strength [Waldo 201A]

This workshop is designed with our Pacific Islander students and communities at the heart. Rooted in the values of vā(relational space), aloha, fa’aaloalo (respect), pwukoah (responsibility), and collective care, this session creates a safe and affirming space to talk openly about basic needs, cultural responsibility, and navigating college systems. In many of our island cultures, we are taught to be strong, to give before we receive, to support our families back home, and to carry responsibility with pride. While these values are powerful, they can sometimes make it hard to ask for help — even when we need it. This workshop reframes support not as weakness, but as a way to strengthen the entire village. Together, we will explore what it truly means to thrive in college — not just academically, but physically, emotionally, financially, and culturally.

Presenter: Pamela Fredrick-Williams

  • Drea Camacho is a Chamorro/Thai graduate from Eastern Oregon University and Oregon State University. She was born and raised in the island of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands and was a first-generation college student. She has served as a youth advocate, assisting teens experiencing homelessness and as a domestic violence and sexual assault response advocate where she has supported survivors impacted by violence. Drea now works for local government as a Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and advocate for health equity.

  • Pamela Fredrick-Williams (She/Her) serves as a Benefits Navigator in the Strategic Equity Initiatives Department at Eastern Oregon University, where she advances student retention and success through equity-centered basic needs support. Her work integrates public benefits navigation—including SNAP and the Oregon Health Plan—into broader student success frameworks, positioning basic needs access as a critical institutional responsibility rather than a peripheral service. As a Pacific Islander professional and bilingual English–Pohnpeian advocate, Pamela brings lived experience and community-rooted leadership to her practice. She also serves as a Pohnpeian Outreach Enrollment Specialist with the COFA Alliance National Network of Oregon, supporting Compact of Free Association (COFA) community members in navigating healthcare systems and public benefits enrollment. Her work bridges higher education and community health systems, strengthening culturally responsive outreach, cross-sector partnerships, and trust-building with historically underserved populations. With her MBA from EOU, Pamela focuses on developing sustainable, data-informed, and culturally grounded strategies that advance institutional equity and student persistence.

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and Te Reo Tahiti Linguistics & Exploration of Historical Language Branches [SEC 354]

Aloha mai a ʻIa Orana! We plan to discuss the different language branches and dialects that came from voyaging throughout the Pacific. Specifically exploring the Proto-Central Eastern Polynesian Languages of Te Reo Tahiti and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. We plan to introduce how voyaging and settlement impact linguistics, how they change and adapt to their regions, and then go into an introductory language lesson on both ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and Te Reo Tahiti. If time permits, we also plan to show a conversational example of both languages.

Presenters: Tihani J. Makanaʻauao Mitchell & Kaimana Kon

  • 4th Year Student at Oregon State University, majoring in Political Science, Pre-Law, Ethnic Studies, with a minor in Indigenous Studies. She is of Kānaka Maoli and Māʻohi descent. Educational experience in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and Te Reo Tahiti

  • 2nd Year Student at Oregon State University, majoring in Business Administration. He is of Kānaka Maoli and Chinese descent. Educational experience in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

Geneology - Exploring our Genogram [SEC 254]

We inherit so much from past generations - family land, cultural stories through song and dance, biological features including our personality traits and mannerisms - but how much have you considered mental health-related inheritances? In this workshop, we will walk through building your individual genogram and explore patterns of behavior and how that impacts our mental health. We’ll learn about what a genogram is and what types of information gets put on it. Then we will encourage open dialogue both in small groups and individual reflection to ask the questions about our mental health inheritances.

Presenter: Ria Galo

  • Ria is a proud Samoan woman, who currently works as a child and family therapist, currently practicing in the State of Oregon as a Professional Counselor Associate and a Qualified Mental Health Professional for Options of Southern Oregon. She is also an adjunct professor at Rogue Community College teaching courses in Psychology and Human Services. She is a proud mother to two beautiful daughters, married to her husband who is so supportive of her work, and a daughter to a pretty cool and smart dad that she calls, “Dr Dad”. Outside of her professional roles, Ria plays piano and uses her talents to direct music for the Samoan Mission United Methodist Church in Medford, Oregon. Ria has loved being a part of PISACON since she was an undergraduate over 15 years ago! But her goal to stay involved as a workshop presenter is to continue to be part of the empowerment of Pacific Island students at any level of their educational journey and send a message that our Pacific Island way of life equips us with more than enough to accomplish our educational and career goals!

Weaving Stories, Weaving Knowledge: A Micronesian Talanoa Workshop [ina haws]

This interactive workshop centers Micronesian student voices as they reflect on navigating higher education while remaining grounded in culture, identity, and community. Facilitated by Micronesian students at Portland State University, the session draws from their experiences in PIAA 301, a Pacific Islander Studies course grounded in Indigenous Pacific epistemologies. Using a weaving circle informed by the Talanoa learning framework, participants will engage in storytelling and dialogue while exploring Micronesian identities, cultures, and shared values of community and reciprocity. Students will share how culturally grounded learning supported identity, belonging, and community building. The workshop concludes with group reflection on how relational, culturally grounded approaches in higher education foster empowerment and resilience.

Presenter: Petra Castro, Remedio (Bedu) Ana Sablan Dela Cruz, Jenara Bai, Jaden DLG Villacrusis, Dr. Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson & Motutama Sipeli'i

  • Petra Castro was born and raised on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, surrounded by the family, community, and culture that shaped her. After completing her A.A. back home, she recently transferred to Portland State University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Social Sciences. She loves spending time with family and friends and enjoying good food, especially the local dishes she grew up with. As a Pacific Islander, Petra's deep love for her home inspires her academic journey and motivates her to bring her knowledge back to the islands, with the goal of contributing to and supporting the community that always stood by her.

  • Remedio (Bedu) Ana Sablan Dela Cruz was raised on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, where her upbringing shaped her deep connection to community, culture, and the natural environment. Born as a Pacific Islander, she is an advocate of community resilience and decolonizing Westernized ways. She recently relocated to Portland to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, driven by a passion for understanding human development and supporting others' well-being. Whether spending time at the beach, hiking, or enjoying a quiet moment in the park, she finds inspiration and grounding in nature. As she advances in her studies, Bedu hopes to continue into graduate school and eventually bring her knowledge and experience back home to support and uplift her island community. She currently works as a research assistant, with growing interests in childhood development and Pacific Island studies, and aims to contribute to work that honors her roots and empowers future generations.

  • Jenara Seman Bai is from the island of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands located in the Western Pacific. She is Refaluwasch/Palauan and grew up deeply connected to both cultures, carrying their values and stories in every part of her life. She moved to Portland, Oregon last year continue her studies in pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Her move to Portland marks an important step in her personal and academic growth as she continues to broaden her perspectives and experiences.

  • Jaden Villacrusis was born and raised on Saipan of the Northern Mariana Islands and is of Chamorro and Filipino descent. Growing up amongst the vast Pacific Ocean and diversity of wildlife has inspired her to work towards a career in marine biology. She received her A.S. in Natural Resource Management and is set to graduate in Spring 2026 with her B.S. in Biology. Jaden hopes to gain work experience and eventually attend graduate school. Her end goal is to return to Saipan and give back to her community by protecting the natural resources, wildlife, and culture.

  • Va’asili’ifiti Dr. Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, is the inaugural Professor of Pacific island studies at Portland State University. Originally from Savai‘i, Samoa, she is a Pacific Islander scholar and climate journalist whose work centers Indigenous knowledge, climate and culture. She has taught at the National University of Samoa and Rutgers University, and has lectured at the University of Melbourne, University of Waikato, University of the South Pacific, and University of Sydney, among others. As a Reuters Fellow at the University of Oxford, she conducted the first in-depth study of global media coverage of the Pacific climate crisis. At The Associated Press, she led revisions to the AP Stylebook’s climate chapter and developed its first global climate journalism training. She has served on the advisory board of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network and currently co-chairs Covering Climate Now. Her work bridges research, teaching, and cultural practice to elevate Pacific perspectives and build academic pathways for Pacific Islander students.