Breadfruit & Open Spaces
About the film:
Breadfruit & Open Spaces explores the journey of a group of Pacific Islander immigrants from the Federated States of Micronesia who are now living on Guam. After much sacrifice to purchase land and build their homes, these new landowners and residents are devastated when the Guam Environmental Protection Agency threatens to evict them. With their new livelihood at stake, they band together to hold their ground and fight back. This documentary profiles the struggle of Micronesian communities to find a voice on a new island while maintaining ties to families on their home islands.
Breadfruit & Open Spaces closes with scenes of the subdivision’s first-ever Micronesian Food Fair spotlighting the diversity and rich cultural traditions of Micronesia in the production and celebration of food. Events were filled with food demonstrations, handicraft displays, singing, dancing, weaving, making mwarmwar, games and contests, and playing movies focused on the region of Micronesia and the larger Pacific.
Micronesian Food Fair Photo Gallery
Photo Credit: Dan Ho
Photo Credit: Dan Ho
Photo Credit: Dan Ho
Photo Credit: Dan Ho
Photo Credit: Dan Ho
Photo Credit: Dan Ho
Lesson Plans by Local Educators
Kisha Ann Borja-Quichocho-Calvo, adjunct instructor at the University of Guam and PhD candidate in Political Science (Indigenous Politics) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Opening Space for Difficult Discussions and Deep Reflections
Subject: Pacific Literature | Grade: 12th Grade
This lesson plan will help students to talk about issues of racism and discrimination amongst Pacific Islanders. Students write their own tanka poems based on the themes brought up in the film and then share these poems with others.
Denny Pedro, Curriculum Consultant & Developer and Tokelau Language & Cultural Consultant at Te Taki Tokelau Community on Oʻahu
Teaching Cultural Diversity
Subject: Social Science, History | Grade: High School
This lesson plan will ask students to identify social, cultural and political issues experienced by migrant groups within their host countries. Students will take part in a “cultural capsule” activity and brainstorm ways to assist with migrant group issues.
Theresa Ann Muna, middle school teacher at Benavente Middle School on Guam
What Does Migration Mean?
Subject: CHamoru | Grade: 6th Grade
This lesson plan will ask students to describe aspects of culture and what migration and crossing spaces means to them. Students will take part in a “post-it” activity to highlight the similarities and differences between the different groups and celebrate the variety of cultures.
Jeanalyn Q. Benavente, elementary teacher at Astumbo Elementary on Guam
Breadfruit & Open Spaces Writing
Subject: Writing | Grade: 4th Grade
This lesson plan will ask students to write to inform or explain topics or ideas. Students will use the Venn diagram to compare and contrast the lifestyles of those in the film, as well as and their own lifestyles.
Rebecca Bidaure, elementary teacher at Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School on Guam
Culture and Me
Subject: ESL-ELA/Social Studies | Grade: 2nd Grade
This lesson plan will ask student to identify foods, customs, and traditions of their particular cultures. Students will work in pairs to create cookbooks featuring their drawings, photos, and recipes.
Lola Quan Bautista, Associate Professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Building Sense Out of Households: Migrants from Chuuk (Re)create Local Settlements in Guam
This resource provides some background about the place and people featured in Breadfruit & Open Spaces. It focuses on how migrants, particularly from Chuuk, interpret cultural and social change, how the built environment can serve as an important element in the study of migrant communities, and how urban housing and space is socially produced.