i FINALOFFAN YAN I MA'MAILA
OUR PAST AND OUR FUTURE
FANACHU PUT HOSTISIA - TAKING A STAND FOR JUSTICE
In 1946, we elected the first postwar bicameral Guam Congress (8th), which included the House of Council and the House of Assembly. They remained an advisory body to the Navy until the Organic Act was passed. In the time-honored matrilineal tradition of recognizing female leadership, we elected Rosa Aguigui Reyes from Merizo, as the first woman in the postwar Guam Congress.
Despite the deep sense of gratitude that our people had toward the US military for liberating them from the Japanese, there was growing concern over arbitrary rule by the naval government.
The House of Assembly of the 9th Guam Congress unanimously voted to adjourn and walk out of their session in March 1949. Their act of defiance marked the first official protest. They took a stand against military land takings, the lack of any guarantees of civil rights and an appeal process beyond the Secretary of the Navy. They vowed not to reconvene until the US granted our people basic rights and protections.
Caption:
Francisco Baza Leon Guerrero (on the right) lobbied for citizenship twice in Washington, DC — first in 1936 with Baltazar Jerome Bordallo (on the left) and again in 1949 with Antonio Borja Won Pat.
I MANPULITIKÅT NA MANMA’GAS-MÅMI SIHA - OUR POLITICAL LEADERS
The Organic Act of Guam established our island’s three branches of governance — executive, legislative and judicial — effective August 1, 1950.
Of the seven civilian governors appointed by the US president between 1950 and 1970, three were CHamorus. The Organic Act amendments of 1968 finally allowed us to elect our own governor and lieutenant governor.
INAREKLAN LINA’LA’ KOTTURA YAN I INDIHENOS-TA
CULTURAL SOVEREIGNTY AND INDIGENEITY
The ethos of the people is rooted in the wisdom and traditions of the ancient past. Wisdom is ageless. As indigenous people of the Pacific, we are challenged to bridge the island-global divide. We must educate our youth to survive and thrive in a 21st century reality while maintaining a viable connection with the knowledge legacy of our ancestors. This is true cultural sovereignty and the modern expression of our indigeneity.
The 12th Festival of the Pacific Arts hosted by Guam in 2016 embodied our struggle to express our authentic identity as indigenous people. We were able to reconnect with our Pacific brothers and sisters in our collective celebration of art and culture. We have learned much about our ancient past and our place in the larger history of the Pacific. It is in this context that we are closest to our aspiration of nationhood.
ADAHI I DIRECHO-TA -CHAMORU SELF DETERMINATION
Timeline of Decolonization and Political Self-Determination
We shall not be denied. We will not become a permanent underclass in our homeland.
NUMA’LON HÅLE’ CHAMORU - CHAMORU RENAISSANCE
CHamoru leaders, old and young, were fueled by the hope and fervor of movements across the globe. The Civil Rights Movement, black and brown power activism, the Independent and Nuclear Free Pacific movement, a growing environmental consciousness, and the Women’s Movement inspired discourse.
In the 1970s, spurred by an economic boom and super typhoon strength winds of political independence sweeping across the islands of Micronesia, the “CHamoru Generation” was born. Following in the footsteps of Maga’lahi as Hurao and Leon Guererro, Bordallo and Won Pat, these activists gave voice to an emerging consciousness. They spoke, wrote and taught about peoplehood, ancestral land rights, self-determination, indigenous identity and the importance of our language.
PROTECT OUR CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND TRADITIONS
ADAHI I TININGO’ I LINA’LÅ-TA YAN I HAGAS TA CHÓCHO’GUE SIHA
Many of our ancient traditions and forms of artistic expression either had been lost or were on the verge of disappearing. Weaving, blacksmithing, net and rope-making, carving, seafaring and canoe-building were no longer part of the daily lives of our people. The practice of natural healing was replaced by modern medicine. Kantan CHamorita and our rich story-telling tradition gave way to television, radio and pop music.
With the cultural renaissance came a renewed interest in traditional arts and crafts. This was spurred by the need for culturally based entertainment due to the booming tourist industry. Trends among the Pacific Islands to celebrate traditional arts and develop culture and language programs also fueled the revival here.
The Guam Insular Arts Council (the precursor of the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency) was established in 1975. Masters were identified and apprenticeship programs were established as a formal way to recognize and pass on CHamoru traditional arts.
Archeological studies further inspired artists with themes of ancient CHamoru life.
ADAHI I FINO’-TA - PROTECT OUR LANGUAGE
Our language was repressed through an English-only policy beginning with the early naval administration. After World War II English-only policies were reinstated in schools and in the work place. Believing that those who spoke English well would be more successful, many parents chose to stop speaking CHamoru at home to give their children an advantage.
As our consciousness about the connection between our indigenous identity and the importance of our language grew, we took steps to ensure the preservation and survival of our mother tongue.
ADAHI I GUINAHA-TA - PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES
From the time of our ancestors, we have been taught that we are one with nature. Our environment is being threatened by development, overcrowding, pollution, the military buildup and a disregard for the sacred relationship we once had with our natural and historic resources. Our growing consciousness about climate change and sustainable practices has led to efforts to protect our land, sea, air and fresh water and to educate our community about balanced living.
OCEANIA MAP
Quote: We should not be defined by the smallness of our islands, but by the greatness of our oceans. We are the sea, we are the ocean. Oceania is us. –Epeli Hau’ofa, “Our Sea of Islands,” from A New Oceania: Rediscovering our Sea of Islands, 1993
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES…
We have shared our laughter, our love, our joy, our sorrow, our loss, our pain, our songs, the din of our work, our anger, our tales, our truths, and our hopes for the future. All this has been part of who we are and from where we have come. Future generations will continue this journey, i hinanåo-ta mo’na