During May, we’re interviewing high school students from across Spokane Public Schools in recognition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. These students are members of multicultural clubs where they can connect with peers while sharing and celebrating their heritage with our community year-round.
Rogers student Lanfu Andrike, a junior, has lived in Spokane for most of her life, but said, “The roots are still in here” as she smiled and pointed to her heart, referencing her birthplace: the Marshall Islands.
She and Crystal Capelle, a senior, are both officers in Rogers Islander Organization (RIO). They have both participated in the group as long as they have been Pirates, but have been more involved this year.
“COVID was my freshman year,” Crystal explained. “So we didn’t do much, but in 10th grade, there were more meetings and activities.” She has been most involved this year, as the club’s vice president and by dancing with the club in community performances.
The group has performed at Lunar New Year celebrations and is often asked to dance at a child’s first birthday, which is an important celebration in the Marshallese community.
RIO students are paid for their performances and use the money to fund picnics and activities for the group.
The group also provided support for their community – and one another – when an alumni of the group and Rogers, Elson, passed away earlier this year.
“Just by seeing his face, anyone would smile,” Lanfu said. “The whole room would be activated when he stepped in.”
That welcoming attitude is one of the things that makes Lanfu proud to be Marshallese.
“We have so much ‘iakwe,’ which means love,” Lanfu said. “When we bring other friends from other cultures to our home, our parents say, ‘Invite them in, let them come eat, and make them feel like they’re at home too.’”
Alongside the positive, Crystal sees AANHPI Heritage Month as a time to also reflect on the difficulties that have been experienced by their community.
“We have a lot of history, and part of that is the nuclear bomb,” Crystal said, referring to the United State nuclear weapons testing that occurred in the Marshall Islands after World War II. “That’s where my mom was from. Her whole family had to relocate because of that. And I think it’s important to recognize that.”
Lanfu agreed, emphasizing that children of immigrants like her younger siblings were born in the United States because of the effects of the nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands. “They were born here and they are citizens and are here because of what happened. I think that if we were not full of ‘iakwe,’ we would been mad for a long time and hold grudges.”
“Most of our families from back home came here so that their kids can get a good education and good work, and support,” Crystal noted.
Having spent most of their lives in Spokane, Lanfu and Crystal shared that they felt like people in this area are accepting of people of different backgrounds and feel surrounded by love in this community.
Crystal is planning to study at Spokane Falls Community College before transferring to a 4-year university. She’s interested in pursuing a career in physical therapy or early childhood education.
With another year at Rogers, Lanfu hopes the group continues to grow and welcome new members. “We’re an open community and we accept others.”
She mentioned large, informal gatherings that members of their community participate in at local parks, sharing food and playing games like volley, baseball and basketball.
Someday, she’d like to see a parade or festival held for the Islander community in downtown Spokane, like those held for other community groups. “It would be really fun. I feel like our culture and community would love that too.”