Anne Quidez

Mia Kami wrote and directed “Rooted” to reflect the deep connection between people of the Pacific, their land, sea, and their identity. The video portrays a diverse group of strong, beautiful, and creative people with many stories to tell, who are rooted in their place, culture, and traditions.

Nicole Yamase begins her journey of discovery by diving to the deepest part of the ocean, an area within the Marianas Trench named "Challenger Deep" that lies beneath the territorial waters of her country. When she surfaces, she is met with a storm of media attention. Feeling the immense pressure of being the first Micronesian and Pacific Islander to go down to the Challenger Deep (and only the second woman in history), Nicole begins a deeper dive into her own identity as a Micronesian and a descendent of great navigators. This experience ultimately opens her eyes to the true resilience of Pacific Island people who–despite immense hardship brought on by external forces–continue to draw strength from the cultural practices, languages, and ancestral knowledge that anchor them to their oceanic homeland.