Section 9: Closing and Acknowledgements

Yu’us Prutehi i Islan Guåhan!

More than 30 years ago historian and education leader Dr. Pedro Sanchez noted that Guåhan’s quest for political self-determination lies in the desire of its people to control the island’s (and their own) future. Similar to the practice of navigation, the people of Guåhan must plan their efforts and decide upon their destination. In doing so they must draw upon their history, culture, language, knowledge, and experiences, as well as those of other Indigenous peoples, to chart a course forward, towards envisioning and enacting their collective future.

Any future effort toward self-determination might include reframing what the future could entail. As CHamoru scholar activists Dr. Tiara Na’puti and Dr. Sylvia Frain have asserted, Indigenous struggles for self-determination often take many forms and manifest themselves in a myriad of ways. CHamoru anthropologist Dr. Therese Arriola from Saipan suggests focusing on Indigenous resurgence in our community as providing a legacy for future generations and to help them find and assert their place in the world.

Although our island (and our canoe) can seem to be stagnant at times, we must believe that we are indeed moving forward. There are places and destinations that we cannot see or have yet to imagine, but if we work together as a community we will ensure the legacy we leave behind gives hope and answers for those yet to come.

Acknowledgements

Dr. Kevin Escudero (Brown University)
Dominica Tolentino
Odyessa San Nicolas
Rita Nauta

Kie Susuico
Dr. Judy Flores
Emily Sablan
Peter Onedera

Julie Q. Benavente
Catherine F. McCollum
Lazaro Quinata
Angela Santos
Dr. Laura T. Souder
Dr. Robert A. Underwood
Joshua Tenorio, Lt. Governor of Guam

Wettengel Elementary School 4th Grade Reading Class 2021
John Borja
Elmer Nazareta

Peter Diaz
Ariel Dimalanta
Monaeka Flores
Monica O. Guzman
Jordan F. Megofna
Rick Nauta
Malia Ramirez
Joann M. Sablan
Simon Sanchez III

Guampedia Foundation
Raymond D. Anderson
Delia Cruz
Shannon Murphy
Lorraine Okada
Nathalie Pereda
Marie Perez
Jodiann Santos
Joshua San Agustin
Burt Sardoma, Jr.
Tom Tanner
Celeste Perez
Fanai Castro
Samantha Barnett
Zea Nauta

Traditions Affirming Our Seafaring Ancestry
Sandra I. Okada
Vicente Borja
Joe Cruz
Selap Isiah Yarofyan

Lourdes Leon Guerrero, Governor of Guam
Melvin Won Pat-Borja, President, Commission on Decolonization
Independence For Guam Task Force
Statehood For Guam Task Force
Free Association For Guam Task Force
Nathan Flores
Natasha Suba

Department of CHamoru Affairs
Marilyn Reyes
Jayna Borja
Patti Hernandez

Staff and Management of Senator Antonio Palomo Guam Museum & CHamoru Educational Facility
Leona Young
Dr. Michael Bevacqua
Nate Cruz, Gino Datuin
Chris Flores
Colasita Gumabon
Nicole Santos
Guam Museum Foundation, Inc.
Guam Department of Agriculture
Guam Election Commission
Santa Rita Mayor’s Office
Jones Media
Graphic Center, Inc.

Brown University
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
American Council of Learned Societies