Chenchule’: A System of Receiving
Gifting, in its many forms, is part of many cultural traditions across the Pacific. It can mean the sharing of food or song, home or heart.
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Chamorro Culture
Chamorro Courtship and Marriage in the Twentieth Century
Marianas Storytelling: Land & Lineage. Part 2 of 4, Cultivating Connections Through Kånta, Courtship, & Kasamiento. Event scheduled for 26 April 2025 at the Guam Museum.
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Revised Chamorro-English Dictionary
As part of a larger effort to preserve and revitalize the language, the CNMI’s Chamorro community began in 2008 to revise Topping, Ogo, and Dungca’s (1975) Chamorro-English Dictionary, which contains entries for some 9,700 headwords. With support from the National Science Foundation, assistance from the CNMI government, and the help of many volunteers, a concerted effort has been made to revise, update, and expand the dictionary.
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Catholic, Chamorro Culture, Civic Society, Contemporary Guam: Religion, e-Publications, Our Heritage, Religion, US Naval Era: Religion
Nobenan i Sagråda Familia (Novena to the Holy Family)
Nobenan i Sagråda Familia Jesus Maria Jose (Novena to the Holy Family Jesus Mary Joseph) Chamorro/CHamoru English Tinige‘ Påle‘ Roman Maria de VeraMisioneron Kapuchino (1941) By Father Roman Maria de
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Chamorro Culture, Contemporary Guam: Health, Health and Medicine, Indigenous Lenses, Our Heritage, People, People and Places
Josefa Cruz Certeza
“Gof Metgot I Mana’amte Yan I Amot Siha”—a solemn and profound message recently conveyed at a family gathering by Mrs. Josefa Cruz Certeza, known affectionately to her family, friends, and the community of Guam as Tan Pai, by amazing grace, still alive and well at 96 years old.
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Chamorro Culture, Contemporary Guam: Health, Health and Medicine, Indigenous Lenses, Our Heritage, People, People and Places
Juan Cepeda
As a child, Juan Cepeda was exposed to traditional healing methods as he assisted his mother Francisca Quitano Cepeda, a suruhåna with the picking of medicinal herbs and other chores required in the preparation of medicines. An everyday occurrence, patients visited their home seeking help from Tan Francisca, providing Juan a means of learning to identify the different plants and their medicinal purposes. However, it would be many years later before Juan actually practiced the art of traditional healing.
Chamorro Culture, Contemporary Guam: Health, Health and Medicine, Indigenous Lenses, Our Heritage, People, People and Places
Genaro Saralu
As a child growing up in Saipan, it was a common sight for young Genaro Saralu, to see his mother, a local healer treating her patients. Genaro’s great-grandfather, grandfather, and mother were all healers. Genaro’s mother and grandfather taught him the proper methods and techniques of gathering the plants used to prepare medicine for various ailments, as well as various methods of massage. Genaro also learned to call upon the strength of his ancestors to heal his patients.
Chamorro Culture, Contemporary Guam: Health, Health and Medicine, Indigenous Lenses, Our Heritage, People, People and Places
Regina Mafnas and Jesus Salas Terlaje
Master Suruhåna Tan Regina and Master Suruhånu Tun Jesus Terlaje have treated hundreds of individuals from throughout the island who have sought healing through a suruhånu.
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Chamorro Culture, Contemporary Guam: Health, Health and Medicine, Indigenous Lenses, Our Heritage, People, People and Places
Angela Santos Palacios
Master Suruhåna Angela Santos Palacios has treated many individuals and is a well-known and well-sought suruhåna.
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Ancient Guam Era, Chamorro Culture, Historic Eras of Guam, Natural Environment, Natural Resources, Our Heritage, Sea (Tasi)
CHamoru Seagrass Fishing Nets
The CHamorus often made their fishing nets out of the vascular bundles of fibers from Lo’u, a common seagrass. This seagrass is frequently called turtle grass or eel grass in English, lo’u in CHamoru, and the scientific name is Enhalus acoroides.
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