Chamorro (Guam & the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands)

The Chamorro people are the indigenous population of the Mariana Islands, including Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Many Chamorro (note there is no “s” on the plural) who live within the U.S., especially along the western seaboard. The term “Chamorro” refers to both the people and to their language. One would say, “I am Chamorro, and I speak Chamorro.”

Learn more about the Chamorro 

Population of Chamorro People:

• Guam: 65,000

• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI): 14,749

• Oregon: 1,015

• Washington: 5,823

• California: 20,918

Chamorro Culture in General

Religion

 Most Chamorro are Roman Catholic, but belief in spirits and taboos may combine with Catholicism, as well as some ancestor worship. 

 Family

 Recently wedded Chamorro couples are expected to live with the groom’s family and start their family within a few years. Usually, children are given set limits within the family, but parents tend to acquiesce to their children’s wishes. Typical family roles are such that the father has financial decision-making and the mother has child-care and family decision-making power. The extended family is the Chamorro’s ultimate responsibility, as opposed to job, civic duty). The structure of the Chamorro family tends to be authoritarian with great respect given to ancestors alive and deceased. 

Populations of Chamorro People

Guam

• Geography: Guam is some 30 miles long and 12-4 miles wide and was formed by the joining of two volcanoes.

• As part of the Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish American War in 1898, Guam came under control of the US. 

• In 1950, Guam became a territory of the US.

• Because Guam is across the International Dateline, it is one day ahead of the US mainland and has as its motto “Where America’s Day Begins.”

• Nationality of Chamorro of Guam: As everyone born on Guam, the Chamorro are US citizens. 17) Chamorro are the indigenous people of Guam.

• Demographics: In 2000 the US Census Bureau estimated Guam’s total population at 154,805 18) 19). The population is composed of Chamorro (37.1%); Filipino (25.5%), Caucasian (10%), other (Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean mostly)(27.4%).

• The original Chamorro inhabitants of Guam are believed to have arrived on the island from Southeast Asian around 2000 BC. Guam was under the control of Spain for centuries (1565-1898) and was heavily influenced by the Spanish religion, language, food, and dress. Currently, Guam is heavily influenced by the American culture.

• Languages: As of the 2000 census, languages spoken on Guam included English 38.3%, Chamorro 22.2%, Philippine languages 22.2%, other Pacific island languages 6.8%, Asian languages 7%, other languages 3.5%.

Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

• The Mariana Islands were formed by underwater volcanoes. Some of the world’s oldest coral reefs encircle the islands. 29) CNMI consists of three main islands – Saipan, Tinian, and Rota – and 11 other small islands and atolls 30). The CNMI is some 3,000 miles west of Hawaii. 31) Saipan lies about 125 miles northeast of Guam, but southernmost Rota is less than 50 miles from Guam.

• The CNMI was under the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific until 1972. In 1975 the people of the CNMI voted to become a commonwealth of the US. The covenant between the US and the newly formed CNMI began in 1976, and the CNMI’s new government and constitution began in 1978.

• As everyone born on the islands, the Chamorro are US citizens. Chamorro are the indigenous people of the CNMI.

• Population of CNMI (all nationalities) is 62,396. Major populations include Filipino (26.1%), Chinese (24.1%), Chamorro (18.7%), Chamorro and other (6.0%), Carolinian (4.2%), Carolinian and other (3.2%), Palauan (2.6%), Chuukese (2.2%), White (1.8%), and Bangladeshi (1.1%).

• The indigenous Chamorro culture has been influenced by nations that have dominated CNMI beginning with the Spanish in the 1500s, Germany (1899-1941), Japan (1941-1944), and the United States (1944-Present).

• English is the official language of the workplace and school.

• Chamorro is spoken in 20% of homes and is a required course in CNMI public schools.  

Migration to the US

• Chamorro migration to the US may be for the following reasons: enlisting in the military, furthering economic gain, pursuing education opportunities, and joining extended families.

Clinical Implications for the SLP:

• Appointments for speech and language services may be missed because of other family commitments, and the SLP might not be notified that the appointment will not be kept.

• When appointments are kept, Chamorro families may be 15 or more minutes late. Missed and late appointments reflect the culture’s pace of time as being much slower than that in the dominant American culture.

• In the Chamorro matriarchal culture, the paternal grandmother may have final decision-making responsibilities. Because of the prime importance of the extended family, many members of a client’s family may be present during therapy and should be accommodated.

• History-taking should include an in-depth oral interview with the major decision-makers in the family, and the SLP should be skilled in interviewing and counseling techniques.

• If the SLP is not proficient in Chamorro, a skilled interpreter who is familiar with the Chamorro language and culture should be available.

• Because Chamorro is traditionally an oral language and many Chamorro hesitate to put information into writing, some adults may be wary of signing IEP or IFSP forms. The SLP will need to be able to fully explain the need for their signatures. 

• The SLP may be considered a person of power. Because the Chamorro culture tends to avoid conflict and have a high power distance, the SLP must take care to be aware of non-verbal communication that could indicate discomfort.

Original Contributors: Claire Coudiere and Susie Zuller; Winter 2010