For nearly a decade, cousins Billie Burke and Cinzia Olter have been amplifying the accomplishments of Micronesians on Facebook using their community page Micronesian Voices. 

Community pages like Micronesian Voices have become virtual meeting houses of sorts. Whereas our ancestors used to convene in bais, pe’bais, faluws, or nahses, the diaspora has used the tools of the internet to build their own spaces to share news, to talk story. 

“It’s a space for us. Our page also lets followers post. To me, it’s a living, breathing platform that all can contribute to, to have a voice. Hence the name: Micronesian Voices,” Billie told The Husk. 

After Billie’s mom died in 2015, she said she recalled feeling disconnected from island culture and the Micronesian community. Her mother, Diana Peter, was from Mokil. Her father was from Detroit. 

“I started the page to stay connected and relevant. The plight of Pacific people was always a concern and one I was greatly immersed in because of my mother. I wanted more understanding of COFA and how it shaped our community,” Billie said.

COFA, short for the Compact of Free Association, is a bilateral agreement between the Federated States of Micronesia and the U.S. The FSM is an independent nation in free association with the U.S. The FSM has its own COFA agreement with the U.S., as does the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. The relationship is complicated and the COFA governs a lot of that relationship. 

Billie said she knew she wasn’t the only person who felt like they wanted to learn more about how COFA impacted their communities. 

“I know I’m not the only one who felt like I did, and whatever I learned or discovered, I wanted to share it,” Billie said.

Cinzia said she also wanted to learn and understand more about COFA. When Billie invited her to “like” the Micronesian Voices page, Cinzia accepted. Billie then made Cinzia an administrator. 

Cinzia said she also wanted to learn more about “the beautiful and unique cultural traditions and arts of Micronesia, everything that has to do with it, not just Micronesia but also Marshall Islands and Palau.”

Cinzia, like Billie, is Mokilese from the Mokil Atoll that’s part of Pohnpei state. 

“Cinzia and I come from good Mwoakillese stock. She is the daughter of former FSM President Bailey Olter, who is deeply revered and respected. My mother was Diana Peter, a well-educated, fiercely independent, phenomenal woman in her own right,” Billie said.  “We both had influential people in our lives who had a deep sense of community and love for our Micronesian culture.”

Cinzia said Micronesian Voices is a place to share positive stories about Micronesians.

“As most of the time in here in Hawaii, Guam, etc., the information that always gets shared on social media on or about Micronesians is the negative stuff that comes with a lot of discrimination and stereotyping,” Cinzia said. “We have posted/shared a lot of success stories of Micronesians who have done and/or continue to do so many great things in their communities back in Micronesia or where they currently live.”

Billie said the page is a mix of news and events and also a place that promotes cultural preservation.

Among their favorite posts to share are those of personal achievements, like posts of Micronesians serving in the military and Micronesian leaders who are advocating for the islands, promoting the islands and working to make the islands better for future generations.

Billie said she hopes that people who follow the page see themselves reflected in the posts. 

“We all want to be heard, seen and feel relevant. Even though we hail from tiny islands, we make a huge contribution to the world. We want to celebrate that!” Billie said. 

Cinzia moved to Hawaii in 2006. Billie, meanwhile, lives in New Jersey. Despite being thousands of miles apart, they’ve been able to stay connected to each other, sharing the duties of Micronesian Voices. Crucially, they have also been able to connect with others through their page.

Billie had high praise for her cousin Cinzia. “She is someone I admire and she always posts relevant, informative, and beautiful posts. I asked her to become an admin, and really, she is the top contributor and at times the sole contributor. I love how the page has grown organically over the years. We want to share the important information that comes our way, and hopefully, it’s beneficial to our community,” Billie said.

Billie added that she’s connected with people from across the Pacific, thanks to the Micronesian Voices page.

“There’s so many organizations, foundations that represent, preserve, and positively impact the Micronesian community. This page is dedicated to shining the spotlight on them, in addition to sharing information that’s relevant to wherever we are on the globe,” Billie said. 

Support Micronesian Voices 

Follow Micronesian Voices on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicronesianVoices.