A documentary of an ancient culture, where traditions are lived and life is centered on the land that provides.

In this story of healing and heritage, Carmen Berngun and her son Lawrence Fagalauag return home after 30 years of being away; their family grows closer as they unite their past to the present.

Yap Islands are one of the last remaining traditional cultures left in the world.  Our documentary My Island & Me, shares a unique glimpse into Yapese culture, the people, and their traditions.

Lawrence Fagalauag and Carmen Berngun descend from a long line of respected tribal leaders and medicine healers.  Fishing, sailing and weaving are still important parts of everyday life in Yap Islands.  Yapese women in this remote area of the Pacific enjoy great freedoms, but also carry heavy responsibilities.

Outside influence has greatly affected the island since Carmen and Lawrence were last home.  Many traditions are at risk of being lost forever to the Yapese people.  Local medicine use, Canoe building and the art of navigating with out a compass are near extinction on Yap Proper.  Many skills and customs are dying away with the older generations.

All people on Yap are witnessing changes to their ways of life.  The attraction of unspoiled sea life: giant manta rays, schools of tuna, dolphins, clear waters, and sheer drop-offs; makes Yap one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world.  It continues to attract an ever-increasing flow of tourists, and a seldom-reported element of tourism is the affect on the culture and how it transforms the people.

Yapese traditional life carries into the villages where fishing, sailing and weaving are still important parts of everyday life.  On the outer islands, toplessness and grass skirts are the common outfit for women, and thu’us, a type of loincloth are common for the men.

The Yapese tranquil way of life is at a crossroad of change.  The outer world cannot be kept at bay, but how will it transform the people of Yap?  Will they lose their land and gain little of the profits of tourism, or will they be involved preserving their heritage, and creating a future for their island?