The relationship between humans and the environment is a growing concern for many activists like Shaylin Salas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The courses are Wildlife Management and Herpetology and will help individuals qualify for Wildlife Biologist positions available in Guam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInstead of local agencies looking off-island to fill these positions, they can hire locally,\u201d Salas said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interest in the environment was first sparked in an environmental science class during Salas\u2019 senior year in high school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was known to be an easy class, but as I learned more about how we impact the environment, I was really moved,\u201d Salas said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salas followed her passion for environmental science and received her undergraduate degree in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think that we can survive without a healthy planet,\u201d Salas said. \u201cIt\u2019s important for everyone\u2019s survival.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are all connected, especially to the land; it provides us with food and the space for spiritual or emotional healing,\u201d Salas said. \u201cThrough the land is a way to make connections with each other and animals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salas was raised in Washington state and returned to Guam in 2020. She set out to find ways to help and contacted local organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLiterally would email and direct message local organizations like Gu\u00e5han Sustainable Culture, asking how I could get involved,\u201d Salas said. \u201cThrough that, I made flyers and participated in food drives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This path would lead her to a job with Gu\u00e5han Sustainable Culture GSC and would play a part in her selection to be a member of the Cultural Survival Indigenous Arts Fellowship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cultural Survival is a non-profit organization that advocates for indigenous peoples’ rights and supports indigenous communities\u2019 self-determination, cultures and political resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salas is determined to foster a deeper connection between the land and its people through all her efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If anyone would like to contribute to the guidebook or would like to know more, you may email her at Shaylinnsalas@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organizations to contact if you are interested in participating in similar events are the Micronesian Climate Change Alliance, Prutehi Litekyan and Gu\u00e5han Sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit these websites for more information: https:\/\/mccalliance.org\/<\/a> https:\/\/www.saveritidian.org\/<\/a> https:\/\/gusustainable.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 … <\/p>\n

Read more “\u2018We are all connected, especially to the land\u2019; Activist answers inner calling”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":213,"featured_media":7643,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,4,12],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[398],"yoast_head":"\n