The relationship between humans and the environment is a growing concern for many activists like Shaylin Salas.

Salas is working with the University of Guam UOG under a grant to design and create two new courses at UOG to increase employment opportunities for locals.

The courses are Wildlife Management and Herpetology and will help individuals qualify for Wildlife Biologist positions available in Guam.

“Instead of local agencies looking off-island to fill these positions, they can hire locally,” Salas said.

Salas first learned of the need for more local Wildlife Biologists through her work with UOG and uses much of her time to create opportunities for locals to fill these positions.

Interest in the environment was first sparked in an environmental science class during Salas’ senior year in high school.

“It was known to be an easy class, but as I learned more about how we impact the environment, I was really moved,” Salas said.

Salas followed her passion for environmental science and received her undergraduate degree in the field.

“I don’t think that we can survive without a healthy planet,” Salas said. “It’s important for everyone’s survival.” 

Salas believes in an interdependence between all life and the land that we share, and aims to assist others foster a connection that will lead to employment.

“We are all connected, especially to the land; it provides us with food and the space for spiritual or emotional healing,” Salas said. “Through the land is a way to make connections with each other and animals.”

Salas was raised in Washington state and returned to Guam in 2020. She set out to find ways to help and contacted local organizations.

“Literally would email and direct message local organizations like Guåhan Sustainable Culture, asking how I could get involved,” Salas said. “Through that, I made flyers and participated in food drives.”

This path would lead her to a job with Guåhan Sustainable Culture GSC and would play a part in her selection to be a member of the Cultural Survival Indigenous Arts Fellowship.

GSC is a non-profit organization that cultivates ideas and strategies of environmental sustainability within our local community through practical education, social engagement, and collaborative partnerships.

Salas left GSC in September to begin her journey with UOG and spends her free time working at Cultural Survival. She works diligently to provide more access to local jobs in both her career and hobbies.

Cultural Survival is a non-profit organization that advocates for indigenous peoples’ rights and supports indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures and political resilience.

The current aim of the organization is to prepare a guidebook that would describe adaptations or solutions to the climate change on Guam and Salas will be leading the project.

Salas is determined to foster a deeper connection between the land and its people through all her efforts.

If anyone would like to contribute to the guidebook or would like to know more, you may email her at Shaylinnsalas@gmail.com

Organizations to contact if you are interested in participating in similar events are the Micronesian Climate Change Alliance, Prutehi Litekyan and Guåhan Sustainable.

Visit these websites for more information: https://mccalliance.org/ https://www.saveritidian.org/ https://gusustainable.org/