Index/Intro

Chamorro Culture

http://www.jamrockmagazine.com/category/culture/page/27/

The Chamorro people are the indigenous inhabitants of Mariana Islands. They live in the southernmost island of the Mariana islands, called Guam. Known as the first inhabitants in Guam Chamorro people populated the island 4,000 years ago.


In this blog there will be posts about the Chamorro's:

• History
• Homeland
• World
• Cosmos
• Birds
• Neighbors
• Migration
• Interview 
• Cultural Survival 
• References

History

History of the Chamorro People

http://ns.gov.gu/people.html

The origins of the Guam's indigenous people has been a topic of different speculations. Based upon evidence of linguistic studies and archaeological findings and of course biological perspective (DNA), scholars have been able to draw conclusions  and develop a few theories about the origin of the Chamorro people. 

http://geography.howstuffworks.com/oceania-and-australia/geography-of-guam.htm

• The original inhabitants of Guam are believed to have been of Indo-Malaya descent originating from Southeast Asia as early as 2,000 B.C., and having linguistic and cultural similarities to Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. (http://www.guam-online.com/history/)
• In the first major, open-sea migration in the history of mankind, the earlierst Chamorros sailed from the northern Philippines to the Marianas and distinguished themselves as accomplished mariners and fishermen.
• The first Westerner to land in Guam and encounter the Chamorro people was Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, during his sea voyage. Hungry and weakened from their long voyage, the crew hastily prepared to go ashore and restore provisions. However, the excited native Chamorro's, who did not share the Spaniards concept of ownership, canoed out first and began helping themselves to everything that was not nailed down. The weakened sailors had trouble fending off the tall and robust natives until a few shots from the Trinidad's big guns frightened them off the ship and they retreated into the surrounding jungle. Magellan was eventually able to obtain rations and offered iron, a commodity highly prized by Neolithic peoples, in exchange for fresh fruits, vegetables and water. http://www.guam-online.com/history/
• After that Guam with its harbor and resources, became an important stopping place on the long voyage from America to Philippines. However, the Chamorros or the natives as they were called, for 150 years remained free of influences from the outside world  as Guam was visited by most of the early world voyagers and became regular port of call for the Manila galleon as early as 1565. (Guam and its People)
• The clash with Western civilization began in 1668 when a band of Spanish Jesuits and soldiers founded the first effective Christian mission on the island. At first the missionaries were welcomed, but when they tried to suppress native customs they saw stiff resistance on the native side. After nearly 30 years of bloodshed, during which the population of the Marianas was almost annihilated, the Chamorros surrender to Catholicism and Spanish domination. (Laura, Guam and its People)
• The year 1898 marked the beginning of a new period of change on the island. As a result of the Spanish-American War, Guam became a dependency of the United States. For the next fifty years, the United States Navy ruled in a nondemocratic and authoritarian fashion. 
• Until, in 1941 when Japanese military forces invaded the island. For two and a half years, the Chamorros were forced to provide the Japenese military with food and labor.(http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Guam.html#Comments_15) 
• In 1944, the Island was recaptured by the United States. Many people lost their lives before Guam was reclaimed and under American administration. 
• Today Guam remains a colony of the United States, classified as an unincorporated territory with limited self-governing authority. 

Homeland

Homeland of the Chamorros

http://www.shrimpnews.com/FreeNewsFolder/FreeNewsBackIssu
es/2009BackIssues/FreeNewsJanuary200930.htm
l

Guam from satellite
From Wikipedia-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guam_ali_2011364_lrg.jpg

Guam is the southernmost island in the Mariana island chain and is the largest island in Micronesia. The island of Guam is 30 miles long and 4 to 12 miles wide. The island experiences occasional earthquakes due to its location on the western edge of the Pacific Plate.
The capital and major cultural center of Guam is Agana, called by the Chamorros Hagatna.
Guam has an area of 212 sq miles making it the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The highest point in Guam is Mount Lamlam at an elevation of 1,332 feet.

Two Lovers Point
http://www.guam.net.tw/?p=329

Guam is a volcanic island of origin, and there are many beautiful coral reefs surrounding it. The diverse landscape of Guam consists of coastal cliffs, coastal plains, mountains and hills. The hidden treasures of the island, including jungles and waterfalls, are best explored by hiking. The cliffside at Two Lovers Point is one of the major attractions on Guam. Located in Northern Guam, the Two Lovers Point has two lookout points with breathtaking views over the Philippine Sea and the Tumon Bay. In Ritidian Point National Park you can admire the unique wildlife of Guam.

 

Guam's Tumon Bay
http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/mystate/guam.html

The climate of Guam is characterized as tropical marine moderated by seasonal northeast trade wind. Average temperature range from high 86 F to low 76 F with an average annual rainfall of 96 inches.The dry season runs from December to June and the rainy season is constitute from  July to November. The months January and February are considered the coolest months of the year with overnight low temperatures 70-75 F.

Mount Lamlam
http://goteamlewis.wordpress.com/
2011/05/16/team-lewis-takes-on-mt-lam-lam/

coastal cliffs
http://www.loran-history.info/guam/guam.htm

Chamorro's World

The world of the Chamorros

http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/
lofiversion/index.php/t271858-50.html

Today the majority of Chamorros live in small villages and their main occupation is vegetable gardening. There are also many Chamorros who live in urban areas in Guam as well as in Saipan.

In the rural districts of Guam there are Chamorros who still practice the basics of the ancient economy with certain modifications. Today the majority of Chamorros are still peasant horticulturalists and native families either own or lease sufficient area of land to grow their own food. 

http://blog.farmmade.com/global-farm-scene-guam-us/

The production of coconuts for copra(dried meat of the coconut, used to make coconut oil) is the main agricultural pursuit. Otherwise most of the farmers consist of a few acres planted in bananas and papaya. There are occasional trees of avocados, mangoes, oranges, lemons, limes, and tangerines; one or two acres of corn and miscellaneous vegetables. Every farm has a few chickens, pigs and a cow or carabao. 

Some men and women are trained as school teachers,a few men are expert fishermen, net makers and menders, carpenters, canoe builders and storekeepers. A few women are specialists at pandanus plaiting, midwifery and herb healing, but most of these engage in their specialty only part of the time. In addition, the men cultivate gardens and the women run households and raise families.

http://www.pacificworlds.com/guam/land/planting.cfm

Fishing is also very popular occupation, but it is not used as the main way of living. Fishing is essentially a men's occupation in modern Guam. As a result of the conditions presented by the Marianas lagoons and the habits of the fish inhabiting them, the indigenous people have developed a fishing technology, including some unique fishing methods.  

http://www.pacificworlds.com/cnmi/sea/fishing.cfm

Chamorro's Cosmos

                             Chamorro's Cosmos

http://roland.web.gu/fire.htm

According to ancient Chamorro legend, the world was created by a twin brother and sister, Puntan and Fu'uña.  The man Punta, decided to die so a universe could be created for the people. Before that he instructed his sister, Fu'uña, to take the parts of his body to make the universe. One eye became the sun; one eye became the moon, and most of the rest of his parts for various features of the Earth. After she was done, she turned herself into a rock on the island of Guahan/Guam, and from this rock emerged human beings. After the universe was created there were ante or spirits inhabiting the world. There was a devil named Chaife,who controlled the winds, waves, and fire.

Ancient Chamorros believed that the dead have a continued existence and may possess the ability to influence the fortune of the living. 

Although the ancient Chamorros did not have any temples and priesthood it is known that they worshiped idols. From the available evidence, it appears that they had images of human beings carved in wood that they used ritually as well as decoratively.  

Chamorro's Birds

Birds

The last wild Guam Flycatcher was seen in 1985;
The bird is extinct due to the brown tree snake.
http://whyfiles.org/2010/giant-snake-invasion/

• Fruit bats and local birds have become scarce in modern times primarily due to the World War II-era introduction of the brown tree snake, which is responsible for devastating the majority of native bird population in Guam. Therefore now hunting of birds is illegal in Guam.

Guam Rail
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GuamRail02.jpg

• Guam was home to two endemic and several native bird species before the introduction of the brown tree snake. One of them was ko'ko' in Chamorro or Guam Rail, which is unique to Guam because it is not found naturally on the other Mariana islands. And the other one was Guam Flycatcher,

Beliefs about the Utak (Phaethon lepturus)

 or white-tailed tropic bird

From Wikipedia: http://commons.wikimedia.org/
wiki/File:Phaethon_lepturus_(Warwick,_Bermuda).jpg

• "It is one of the most beautiful birds in the word. It has a set of two black markings on each wing. Its distinctive characterstic is the long, streaming feathers in its tail, which are longer than its body. Utaks feed on flying fish, other small fish, and squid. It can fly hundreds of miles in seach of food and can spend months at a time at sea. It is frequently seen at Two Lovers Point. It is very noise and sometimes it will circle a ship at sea and scream." Lawrence Cunningham description of the bird Utak
• The Chamorros believed that at night the utak would perch on a house, emit a long shrill cry and disappear into the night. The utak’s appearance and its cry signify that a young unwed woman is pregnant or someone in the household is about to die.
• An unwed mother was not considered shameful in ancient times. In ancient times me preferred to marry a pregnant woman, because the pregnancy was proof that she was fertile.
• In ancient times, the Chamorros had a fear of the bird because it was said to appear only when storms would blow it northward, so they connected the bird to a sign of bad things to come.

Totot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mariana_Fruit_Dove_RWD5.jpg

 It is little known if the Chamorros actually ate birds. Evidence suggests that a bird known as totot or Marianas fruit dove was found in Guam and it was domesticated and taught to speak by the Chamorros. However other sources claim that it was also eaten by the Chamorros. Even though the totot was eaten it was also kept as a pet. The totot is the official bird of Guam. Other famous birds found among the ancient Chamorros include Sasengat or Micronesian Megapode (Megapodius Iaperouse) and Nganga' Mariana Mallard (Anas oustaleti). 

Nganga'
http://10000birds.com/mallard-complexity.htm

Sasengat
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Micronesian_megapode_6.jpg

Chamorro's Neighbors

Chamorro's Neighbors

The largest ethnic group of the island Guam is the native Chamorros accounting for 47% of the total population. Other significant ethnic groups include those of Filipino (25%), Amricans or White (10%), and Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans (18%). 

                         

                                  http://filipinonurses.org/2011/12/poea-opportunities-await-filipino-nurses-in-2012/

The contact between the Chamorros and Filipinos started as a result of Western colonization. When the Spanish took over the island of Guam and the Philippines they decided to bring Filipino as a result of the overpopulation in the Philippines. They brought skillful men, who could help them build their colony in Guam. There was a point in history where the Chamorro people could no longer distinguish themselves from the Filipino. Although during the Spanish era many Chamorros intermarried with Filipino, today their relationship is a little bit weak, because Filipinos are starting to outnumber the Chamorros in every field. Chamorros today feel like the only way to find a job is to move to the States because the Filipinos have taken over every job out there in Guam. 

http://tasithoughts.com/2008/10/13/
tao-tao-tano-people-of-the-land-guam-culture-in-dance/

Chamorro's Migration

Chamorros Migration

http://guampedia.com/chamorro-migration-to-the-u-s/

http://guampedia.com/chamorro-migration-to-the-u-s/

• As travel opportunities emerged, the passion for traveling and exploration was ignited. This event was coupled with social, economic, and political forces that were reshaping the Chamorros’ abilities to sustain meaningful and satisfying lives on their islands. This led towards the migration of Chamorros from their native islands to the continental US.
• Chamorro migration was spurred by three primary reasons: the call to military service, the pursuit of greater education, and the search for better opportunities.
• Migration to the United States began as early as 1900s.
• Chamorros before WWII were relatively unknown to the rest of the world. The Mariana Islands were predominantly populated by Chamorros. It was not until after the war and during the reconstruction era that non-Chamorros had a significant presence on the islands. It was also during this period that a major restructuring of the social-economic structure of the Chamorro people and their culture occurred. Several restructuring events that brought different rules and different way of living to the Chamorro were the result of their migration to the United States in search of improving their lives.



The yellow indicates where in US Chamorros settled
http://guampedia.com/chamorro-migration-to-the-u-s/

• After World War II in the 1940s,  the induction of young Chamorro men into the US Nave led to the first wave of Chamorro military families leaving Guam and settling in California. 
• The mass migration of Chamorros began as a result of the destructive typhoon in 1960. Many families angered at the typhoon's destruction decided to leave for California, where other families have been already settled there.
• According to the 1980 census, the number of Chamorros in the US was 30,695. By 1990, the number of Chamorros grew to 49,345. The most current census in 2000 counted 58,240 Chamorros in the fifty states.

Interview

Interview

I was able to interview a Chamorro person who I found on Facebook. (Did not wanted to release his/her name)

1. Do you live now in Guam?

• No I moved four years ago from the island. I stay connected to the culture even though I moved. I still live by the same traditions, celebrate the patron saints of our villages, I still cook the same way my mom and my grandmother cooked.

      2. Why did you move and where do you live now?

• I live in California. I moved for a better job opportunity.

      3. What do you think is the most interesting thing about the culture other might not know?

• I think it's the strength of family! You don't even have to be blood related the hospitality of the islanders makes you feel like family....at least that's the way it's always been in our family!

      4. How often do you go back to the island?

• I haven't been home in 4 years....hopefully next summer.

      5. 

Chamorro's Cultural Survival

Cultural Survival of the Chamorro

"For several centuries cultural and racial influences from Spain and the New World, as well as from the Philippines and the Orient, have met upon this small island of Guam. By the end of the 19th century many of these influences had fused with the native culture into a new pattern and with the native stock into a mixed racial type. The physical character of the people of Guam and also their mode of life had been profoundly altered, but once again they had achieved a relatively integrated cultural development. 
Then came a new disturbance. The American naval regime was established and strong influences from the United States began to be felt. American schools and sanitation were established and Western industry was stimulated. However, the Chamorro ethos,deep-rooted in home and Church, remained essentially unchanged. 

• Gradually,however, the ideals of American democracy as taught in the public schools are beginning to disturb that bulwark of tradition. Individuals are becoming self-conscious and serious conflict in politics, economics, social and religious life are arising....." By Thompson, Laura
• There is a real fear that Chamorros will cease to exist as an identifiable and distinct cultural group. There is a real fear that current social and economic trends do not actively involve them and that Chamorros will become a permanent underclass in their homeland. There are already signs of this emerging reality in the demographics of educational underachievement, the nature of the prison population, and the rate of outmigration. 

• One concern among the Chamorro society is the eventual loss of their language and culture in today's modern Chamorro society. As the number of Chamorros living outside

  

  http://guam.stripes.com/travel/
  park-offers-glimpse-guam%E2%80%99s-glorious-past

  of their homeland Guam keeps increasing, the concerns of the Chamorro and their cultural lost is also intensifying. In addition to the migration of Chamorros from their home island, there is also the rapid and intense force of change created by "Americanization" of the island. The economic, social, and political conditions of the islands had practically eradicated the language and cultural institutions among the Chamorros. Existing language use is minimal and cultural traditions and practices have been greatly modified. On the other hand, many of the Chamorro communities in the fifty states continue to observe and practice their Chamorro cultural traditions. 

In order to safe their language the Chamorro people have started different language preservation programs and hope to at least safe their language as English is becoming the main language of the island. Also different festivals to preserve the culture of Chamorro are also organized every year. 

Here is also a website I found, which describes how the Chamorro people try to keep the culture alive. Check it out! It is fascinating!  http://guam.stripes.com/travel/park-offers-glimpse-guam%E2%80%99s-glorious-past

http://filipinonurses.org/2011/12/
poea-opportunities-await-filipino-nurses-in-2012/

(http://www.chelusd.org/
  EVENTS/2013/CCF/ChamorroDay1F_web.jpg)      

Here is a great video I just found that explains how the Chamorro people are trying to safe their culture and store their core values!----->  http://www.iamchamorro.com/blogs/videos/9332055-i-am-chamorro-official-trailer-promo-video

References

References

• Websites:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam
2. http://guampedia.com/origin-of-guam%E2%80%99s-indigenous-people/
3. http://guampedia.com/chamorro-migration-to-the-u-s/
4. http://guampedia.com/utak-itak/
5. http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Guam.html#Comments_15

• Academic journal articles:

1. http://www2.cedarcrest.edu/academic/bio/jcigliano/consbio/BrownTreeSnake.pdf 
2. Santos-Bamba, Sharleen J.Q. "The Literate Lives of Chamorro Women in Modern Guam." ProQuest LLC (2010). ERIC. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
3. Perez, Michael P. "Colonialism, Americanization, And Indigenous Identity: A Research Note On Chamorro Identity In Guam." Sociological Spectrum 25.5 (2005): 571-591. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
4. Misco, Thomas, and Lena Lee. "Multiple & Overlapping Identities The Case Of Guam." Multicultural Education 20.1 (2012): 23-32. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.

• Books:

1. Thompson, Laura. Guam and Its People; a Study of Culture Change and Colonial Education. San Francisco: American Council, Institute of Pacific Relations, 1941. Print. 
2. Cunningham, Lawrence J. Ancient Chamorro Society. Honolulu, HI: Bess, 1992. Print. 
3. Minahan, James, and James Minahan. Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: Ethnic and National Groups around the World. Vol. 1. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2002. A-C. Google.com/books. Web. 
4. Thompson, Laura. The Native Culture of the Marianas Islands. Honolulu, Hawaii, The Museum, 1945. New York: Kraus Reprint, 1971. Print.

Extra Post- Ancient Chamorro Medicine

Ancient Chamorro Medicine (AMOT)

Ancient Chamorro medicine has to some extend survived until modern day. It is known that today there are still highly respected older men and women who practice traditional medicine. Men are called suruhanus and women are called suruhanas. These words derived from the Spanish language. These skillful men and women are trained by apprenticeship from the older relative of the same sex. They use herbs, magic, message, and their personal power to cure the sick. There are more suruhanas than suruhanus, but each village in the Mariana Islands has at least one or two. Their main purpose in the modern days is to promote good health throughout the community. Many of these women healers in the past tended to specialize. For instance, some were good at taking care of fevers, others set broken limbs, and some were midwives. 

These healers are thought to have special calling for healing. Practitioners pass their healing knowledge on to a relative who seems to have the intelligence and the calling. For instance, a breach-born baby is believed to have a special aptitude for becoming a healer, because breach births were believed to have been caused by the presence of a ghost when the baby was born or the mother saw a ghost while she was pregnant. It is believed that the suruhanus possess a special connection with the spirit world and often have ghost partner who helps them cure their patients. 

According to traditional healers, illness can be caused by spiritual means or by natural causes. The spiritual illness could be caused by evil spirits or by sorcery. In the past men usually healed the spiritual sicknesses and women cured the natural illnesses with herbs and massage. However, today women and men treat both types of illnesses. 

Modern suruhanus categorize illnesses as hot or cold sicknesses. According to this theory, if a disease is hot, cold medicine is prescribed. Gaso'so, the soap plant, is an example of a cold medicine. After a healer diagnoses the illness, fresh plants are collected to cure it. The medicinal value of plants is well known by pharmacists, but most of the plants in Guam have not been studied by scientists. However, most experts are sure that the plants chosen at least contain many important vitamins. For example, the banyan tree root sap has proven to stop the flow of blood when placed on a wound. Further research could probably confirm the medicinal value of many of the plants used by the healers. 

After they find the plants, the healers apply different treatments using them. The traditional stone mortar and pestle are still used to crush the plants. Then the crushed plants are often boiled into a tea together with the root and the bark of the plant. Drops of the medicine are squeezed into the mouth of the patient or simply drunk.  Magical ashes from human sweat, white chicken feather, and palm fronds are also used in treatments.

Suruhana feeding feeding a sick baby with herbal
medicine. http://www.slideshare.net/thelmadevlin/suruhana

A massage is frequently used to relieve pain. In ancient times as many as four people would massage a patient by walking on the painful area. The messages were very vigorous and pounding. Today some healers actually hide rocks in their hands and others use the innermost heart of the banana tree trunk as a small club to pound on a patient. 

In all cases the healer tells the patient, what is wrong, and takes active scientific, magical, and religious steps to cure it. Through these actions and because of their personal mystique, healers instill confidence in the patient. By having their anxiety relived, the patient is able to generate his or her own self-healing powers. 

Some of the cures for natural illnesses include:

Headache caused by blood in the head is cured by soaking a cloth in vinegar and placing it on the patient's forehead; or massage the forehead with coconut oil; or tie a very young banana leaf to the forehead

Headache caused by gas in the stomach--> cured by drinking a glass of water to which two tablespoons of vinegar and one tablespoon of sugar have been added or squeeze soap plant leaves between the palms and drink a small amount. 

Some cures for supernatural illnesses include:

Finger-like marks on the body are thought to be caused by the ancient ghost. These marks are red or brown and start out yellow and become purple. These marks can be prevented by rubbing onions and salt on the body. Cures for this condition include the application of urine on the mark. Preferably, the urine should be from the patient's first-born male relative. 

The ancient Chamorros claimed they had a cure for every disease, even before the Europeans arrived. There could have been some truth to this because only the healthy ones could have survived the long voyages to Guam.  

Extra Post- Chamorro Music

Chamorro Music

• Chamorro music has gone through different phases as the Chamorro people have been evolving. However, many unique features of ancient Chamorro music are currently seen in contemporary Chamorro music. The sounds of modern Chamorro music are very diverse, yet still contains the key elements of influential historical eras. Today the Chamorro music has become one of the driving force for saving the Chamorro language among the English-dominant culture of Guam.
• Although the Chamorro music has been influenced by many cultures that have been settled in Guam after World War II era, today many contemporary musicians proudly point out that the music they create today strongly connect with ancient Chamorro culture and practices.
• It is known that music has played an important cultural role in the lives of indigenous peoples of the Mariana Islands since the islands have been settled 4,500 years ago. When the first Europeans came to the islands during the 16th and 17th century, noticed how important music was in the different cultural practices and events.
• One of the most famous form of Chamorro music that has been established since the Chamorro people inhabited the islands, is the so called Chamorrita or Kantan Chamorrita. The chamorrita is a Chamorro folk song sung in four-line stanzas. It also has a specific tune for which many different songs are created. The words of the song are improvised on the spot based on the event for which the song is sang. 
• The structure of the song consists of two couplets in which the second and fourth lines rhyme. It is also allowed the fourth line to be unrelated to the first in meaning. 
• The chamorrita song was mostly used during singer competitions and other events. The competitions were very friendly and were very important part during ancient Chamorro festivities. During competition a singer sang four lines. Then the opponent had to make up four lines to answer. Back and forth they created verses until one singer could no longer think of an appropriate response. Full of laughter and mocking, these songs were part of their entertainment. Mainly this type of song was used as a means to honor their idols. 
• Although during the time after World War II the chamorro language began to be less and less used in public, many of the Chamorro musicians and song writers still continued to create the traditional Chamorro music. And in the 1960s the Chamorro music started once again to gain popularity as the the recording industry began to develop. One of the first albums released by Johnny Sablan contained songs that tried to preserve the culture as he added some of the songs created before the war. 
• During the 1980s, new type of Chamorro music began which accompanied the development of traditional Chamorro dancing. 
• Today the Chamorro music is still developing, producing new albums and songs that are particularly based on the survival of the culture. 

More Info at:  http://guampedia.com/chamorro-music-2/
OR You could tune in:  http://tunein.com/radio/Guam-r100465/----Guam Radio Stations