Filipino American National Historical Society Conference February 16, 2008

:: posted by Ferdinand ::

Every two years, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) puts together a conference that attracts scholars, students, writers, artists, and anyone interested in learning about some facet of the history of Filipinos in America.

Two years ago, the conference was held in Hawaii, which was then marking the centennial of the arrival of the first Filipino laborers brought to work on the island’s plantations. Two years before that, the conference was in St. Louis, as that city celebrated the centennial of the St. Louis Expo, which featured a recreation of a Filipino village.

This July, the FANHS conference will be held July 3-5, in Anchorage, Alaska. This year’s theme is “The Lure of the Salmon Song” and many of the sessions will focus on the long history of Filipinos migration to Alaska.
Last month in Seattle, as a preview of what’s to come this summer, the national office of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) held a seminar that featured Seattle residents who were all part Filipino and Alaskan native.

They spoke about their families, the unique challenges of growing up Indipino (mixed Filipino and Native American), and the unexpected byproducts of cultural cross-pollination, like adobo made with various Alaskan wildlife.

It’s not often we hear about other people’s histories, and one of the great things about the FANHS conferences is the rich variety of personal histories shared. It’s a wonderful way to learn about and better understand the Filipino American community, and its rich and complex history.

In hearing the stories of the Indipino panelists, it was easy to relate their experiences with the experiences of other immigrants, including that of my own parents, who were part of later migrations to the U.S. There’s something universal about the immigrant experience that transcends culture, race and even time. Ultimately the stories boil down to the challenge of overcoming displacement and learning to adapt. But each story is also unique. When we hear other people’s stories, it reinforces the ties that bind, but it also helps us to learn and respect the differences in our experience.

So if your summer plans are still in flux, think about going to Alaska. You might even get a chance to try some moose adobo.

For more information on the conference, check out www.fanhs-national.org