Maga’håga: Highest Ranking Daughter
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.
CHamoru Ancestor Worship
Ancient Chamorros/CHamorus, as well as CHamorus today, practice ancestral worship, or the veneration and respectful treatment of relatives who have died in hopes that they
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Trepang Trade
The 19th century trepang trade was a profit-driven industry throughout the Pacific, most notably in Melanesia and the western Pacific, and lasted as a viable
Folktale: Puntan and Fu’una: Gods of Creation
Puntan and Fu’una are the Chamorro/CHamoru creation gods. Puntan, a male, and Fu’una, a female, are brother and sister. The account of their creation of
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History of Democracy in Guam
A common political fallacy is that democracy was a babe born in Guam during the mid-20th century under American rule. The fact is that democracy
CHamoru Quest for Self-Determination
Guam’s Political Status
Since the claim by Spain over the Mariana Islands in 1565 and the settlement of Jesuit missionaries and conquest of the CHamoru people in the
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Guam and Its Three Empires
Few peoples in the world have had continued colonial status for the past 330 years. However, the CHamoru people can claim this unfortunate distinction. It
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Evolution of the Tourism Industry on Guam
To understand the evolution of tourism in Guam, it is useful to reflect on events that have happened since the advent of tourism in the
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Early American Period has Profound Implications
Captain Henry Glass’ bloodless seizure of Guam on 20-21 June 1898, his quick departure without establishing an American take-over government, and even the tears of
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American-Style Colonialism
Colonialism is a process of usurping an existing order or orders of meaning for a territory or a people, and replacing them with a new