Ancient Guam Era
Folktale: The Young Maidens
Åntes na tiempo (a long time ago), the ancestors of the modern day CHamorus came to the Marianas, a mighty race of people. They were
Ancient Guam Era
Folktale: Alu and Pang
In ancient times the people of the Mariana Islands lived in villages ruled by a maga’låhi or maga’håga (chief or high-ranking son or daughter), who
Chamorro Culture
Matrimony and Social Change in the Marianas during Spanish Times
Ancient Chamorros/CHamorus customarily chose their own spouses, rather than their families dictating who they would choose for a partner. The bride and groom’s families, however,
Ancient Guam Era
Ancient CHamoru Kinship and Land Tenure
In CHamoru culture today, the notion of family or i-familia is very important. From rosaries to weddings, funerals to barbecues, many CHamoru social events revolve
Ancient CHamoru Settlement Patterns
White sandy beaches, lush jungles, verdant landscapes and gorgeous sunsets—the Marianas, for many, resemble a tropical paradise. With all this natural beauty, do you ever
Ancient Guam Era
Ancient CHamoru/Chamorro Cultural Aspects of Fishing
Fishing was one of the most important subsistence activities in ancient CHamoru society. Surrounded by the ocean, the CHamorus relied on their fishing skills to
Ancient Guam Era
Ancient CHamoru/Chamorro Fishing Tools
The ancient CHamorus were very adept at fishing and used a variety of implements and techniques to procure food from the inland rivers, lagoons and
Ancient Guam Era
Ancient CHamoru/Chamorro Burial Practices
One of the distinguishing features of our humanity is the way in which people treat and understand death. Death is not only the end of
Ancient Guam Era
Ancient CHamoru Fishing Practices
Two sources of information reveal the fishing practices of the Ancient CHamoru people. The first source is the archeological evidence. This includes the actual remains
Ancient CHamoru/Chamorro Pottery Usage
Archeologists help us learn about ancient cultures by looking at the objects or materials, known as artifacts, that people left behind. The most abundant artifact