Yasmin Ira Gutierrez
Melanie Damian
Indigenous communities are frequently underrepresented in research, particularly in the field of Genomics. Resources are needed to grow Indigenous capacity in genomic science to ensure that research benefits Indigenous communities. To address this issue, tools are being developed to educate local communities. One tool being utilized in Micronesia is the Summer Internship for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics (SING) Micronesia Program. SING Micronesia, hosted through the University of Guam, introduces students to genomic research and Indigenous data governance, allowing them to return to their islands with a deeper understanding of issues that directly impact their local communities. The SING Micronesia 2025 cohort created a set of storyboards reflecting on how exploring genomic concepts through cultural lenses emphasizes Indigenous governance, leadership, and emerging research areas in health, environment, and ancestry. Scholars created videos which showcased what was learned, combining genomic concepts with cultural understandings of why it is essential to govern research and uphold data sovereignty. Through programs such as SING Micronesia, emerging Indigenous scholars are building the capacity to govern their own genomic data and redefine how research is conducted in the Pacific. In doing so, SING Micronesia addresses the colonial legacies of genomics by centering Indigenous histories, governance, and self-determination, turning data into a resource guided by local values of respect, responsibility, and reciprocity. The shift represents a broader movement toward “coming home” where data about Indigenous people are, at last, controlled by Indigenous peoples themselves.