Maps made of memory: Kathy Martin's story of culture, identity and growing up Micronesian

For Kathy Martin, maps aren’t something you find on your phone — they’re inherited, passed down in the way your aunty cuts fish or says your name like it belongs to the land.Raised in Piis-Paneu in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, Kathy grew up knowing place wasn’t something to chart, but something to feel. She travelled between islands as if the ocean were a highway, guided by language, memory, and community. Culture wasn’t taught — it was lived.In a community where every adult cared for every child, stories were shared like food, and language anchored identity, Kathy carried those values into her work — from teaching at her former high school to supporting Micronesian students and families across the Pacific, and sharing stories onstage.In this episode of Stories From The Pacific, Kathy explains to host Wendy Mocke that culture is not small — and neither is Micronesia.Listen on ABC Radio Australia.This edition of Stories from the Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 4th June 2025