CHamoru women have a legacy of leadership that helped keep the culture and history of their people alive. The earliest accounts of ancient CHamoru society state that women maintained their family’s wealth, had final say in the governance of both their home and village and were the primary caretakers of their children and land.
CHamoru/Chamorro Women’s Legacy of Leadership Read Post »
The legend of Puntan Påtgon (Child’s Point) is a folktale about a powerful man who becomes envious of his child’s superior strength:
Folktale: Puntan Påtgon Read Post »
Maga’låhi Yula (also spelled Hula or Yura) was a chief from the village of Apotguan in Hagåtña, who is best known for sparking a Chamorro/CHamoru uprising in the summer of 1684.
Maga’låhi Tolahi (also spelled Tetlaje or Torahi) was a chief from Tachuc (immediately south of Malesso), who fearlessly led the southern villages in resistance to Spanish rule. Tolahi believed that Chamorros/CHamorus were entitled to live freely as they had for millennia before the Spanish arrived.
Not all CHamorus fought valiantly against Spanish occupation. There were some who chose to side with the Spanish for a variety of reasons.
Kepuha (also spelled Quipuha) was a maga’låhi from Hagåtña, whose role in welcoming Spanish missionaries to Guam makes him a controversial figure in the island’s history. Kepuha was the first CHamoru to be baptized after he gave Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores the authority and land to start a Catholic mission in Hagåtña.
A maga’låhi was the first born, high ranking (matua) male head of a CHamoru clan, a role inherited through his maternal lineage. Manmaga’låhi and manmaga’håga (female leaders of the clan) societal status and consideration varied, depending on the productivity of their clan’s land, ocean resources and manpower.
Maga’låhi: Highest Ranking Son Read Post »
A maga’håga was the first born, high ranking (of the matua caste) female head of a CHamoru clan, a role inherited through her maternal lineage. Manmaga’håga (female leaders of a clan) and manmaga’låhi (male leaders of the clan) societal status and consideration varied, depending on the productivity of their clan’s land, ocean resources and manpower.
Maga’håga: Highest Ranking Daughter Read Post »
Poksai is a CHamoru verb meaning “to nurture.” It refers to the common Pacific Islander practice of informal adoption among extended family members.
Poksai: Informal Adoption Read Post »
Familia, a Spanish word meaning family, has a more inclusive definition in CHamoru. The term familia includes not only one’s immediate family members, but the branches of families who make up one’s clan as well. Several families who have an ancestor in common make up a clan.
