HAFA ADAI!

WELCOME TO THE

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS!

Presenters
Lucia Cabrera
Ashley Castro
Jimin Cheon

We are representing the culture of

CHAMORRO

We Chamorros are
the indigenous people of
Guam and the
Northern Mariana Islands.
From a bigger picture,
we are a type of Pacific Islanders.

Origin

Our origin is known to be

Austronesia.
Modern-day Taiwan

We sailed about 1,300 miles to get

here.
It is known as the first major opensea migration in the history.

We are closely related to many

ethnic groups in Southeast Asia
and Oceania.

Malay
Filipino
Hawaiian
Taiwanese
Fijian

Population
2010 Census revealed that 12,902
out of 53,883 people in the CNMI
were Chamorro.
It is about 24% of the total
population.
Saipan
10,411/48,220 = 22%
Tinian
1,183/3,136 = 38%
Rota
1,308/2,527 = 52%

Roles
In the CNMI, the Chamorro
population is heavily involved in
many areas.
Politics
Agriculture
Education
Etc.

Most politicians are full or part

Chamorro.
Many successful farmers are
traditional Chamorro farmers.
Many administrators and teachers
at the PSS are Chamorros.

Passing
the Culture

The Chamorro cultural values were

passed from the elders to the
children through oral history,
storytelling, and instructions.
Chamorro elders were the first
teachers for children in the family
or the clan.
Children gathered around elders to
listen to their stories about the
culture, traditions, and customs.
They learned how to speak, act,
cook, craft, sing, etc.

This cultural teaching could be

commonly seen in family or social
gatherings.

Gender Roles

Females

Males

Held power in the household

Raised children

Held power in public affairs

Provided for the family:

Took care of the elders

Household chores: Cooking, cleaning,

Hunted
Fished outshore
Farmed

weaving, pottery

Protected the family from dangers

Made tools and canoes for the
family

Fished inshore
Juggled responsibilities

Both

Worked alongside men in addition to

household work

Shared equal amount of power

with different roles

 The Chamorro culture is

matrilineal.
People followed the mothers'
family lines.
Children belonged to mothers'
clans.
Many important decisions were
made by mothers.
Land ownership was passed to
the next generation through the
mother's side of the family.
The eldest brother and sister
shared the authority to administer
the clan's resources.
Equilibrium in power was
maintained.

Type of Society

Family Structure
Chamorro culture has very big
extended families that lives close to
each other.
Family unity was more important
than individual freedom.
The family determined the
Older members had more
responsibilities and authorities.
Decisions were made by the family
as a whole.
The culture was built upon the idea of
family unity and respect for elders.

 In ancient Chamorro society, the

clan leader arranged marriages.
Women married men outside of
their clan to improve clan status.
Girls of marrying age had a "bride
price".
Girls of high-ranking clans
commanded higher prices.

The clan accepted groom if his

gifts were "worthy".
A feast was held over a few days to
celebrate this binding of clans.

are not usually arranged.

People have the choice to choose
their brides and grooms.

Marriages

The Roles of the Manhoben

The oldest child assumes all responsibility over
younger siblings
Household chores
Cook, Clean, gardening, yard work

Respect parents
Help parents
When children become older, they must care for
their parents

The Roles of the Manamko

First teachers of the manhoben (children)
Pass down language, life lessons, legends, historical
events, and traditional dishes

Must be respected for their knowledge and

authority

Chamorro Traditions
Nginge sniffing an elders hand
as to take in the essence of ones
spirit

Chenchule practice of offering food, gifts,

labor, or money when celebrating life
milestones

Bone Collection after

burial

Celebrations/Rituals
All Souls and Saints Day November 1 and 2
Bela the deceased is placed in the main room
of the house and kept overnight in the coffin.
The prayer is said usually once every four hours
Liyason matai 9 days of rosary before and
after the funeral
Fiesta honoring of Saints

Fiesta

Wedding
Getting married (sacramental) in the Chamorro tradition is a lengthy
process that normally requires 7 steps. When considering the
arduous and expensive process one goes through to be with the one
they love, it is no wonder that divorces were not a common practice
back then.
The seven steps of getting married, in chronological order, are the
mamaisen saina, plasso, ma gutos i finiho', i ahuk,
i puengen kumplimento, the big day itself, haanen kasamiento
and lastly, the fandango.

1. mamaisen saina, (literally, to ask the parents or elder,),

at a specific date that the brides father has determined in order to know whether th
e brides parents have granted their consent for marriage.

2. plasso (concept of official engagement period)

the grooms parents must return, after the mamaisen saina It is irrelevant whether
the plasso is reasonable and can last anywhere from 3 months to 5 YEARS!

3. ma gutos i finiho.
At the specified date, the male and his parents and/or elders return to hear the
verdict from the females parents, called ma gutos i finiho (literally, break the word,
concept of breaking the engagement period). If consent is NOT bestowed during this
visit, the prospective groom has the option of returning at a much later date to begin
the whole process again or accept the verdict and walk away.

4. Another visit by the prospective grooms family is required to perform the ahuk
ncept of dowry)

(co

the presentation of gifts from the prospective grooms family to the brides parents. Traditionally, these gifts
include the wedding dress, jewelry, such as necklace, earrings, wedding band, money and other valuables
presented in a chest-type box.

5. Puenggen kumplimento,
a word of Spanish origins, loosely translated as night of compliment or congratulate, is the next process.
The puenggen kumplimento usually occurs the night before the wedding day. It is basically a small
celebration (concept of prenuptial celebration) of immediate family members, the entourage, and the
godparents from both sides of the family

6. Haanen kasamiento
translated as wedding day. Also, referred to as uma kamu (concept of making / taking vows)

7. The fandango (concept of wedding feast) is the final process.

It is customary that the grooms family be the main sponsor of the fandango. It is expected since they will
be gaining a daughter.

How Chamorro People Communicate

Cave
drawings

Social
Gatherings

Word of
mouth

Austronesian Languages
English

Chamorro

Indonesian

Tagalog (Fil)

Visayan (Fil)

And

Yan

Dan

At

Kag

Breast/milk

Susu (breast)

Susu (milk)

Gatas

Gatas

Dead (to die)

Matai

Mati

Patay

Patay

Ear

Talanga

Telinga

Tenga

Dulungan

Eye

Mata

Mata

Mata

mata

Female

Palaoan

Perawan

Babae

Babayi

Five

Lima

Lima

Lima

lima

Cultural Values
People with disabilities

Clothing

Food

Money

Stereotypes and Myths

Magotdai
Taotaomona

people of before

Pregancy superstitions

Pregnant women should not use necklaces

Not allowed to be out late
Should use their spouses shirt or cologne

Before visiting a house with a newborn, visitors

must wait outside for a certain time

Puntan yan Fuuna

According to the Chamorro people, a very long time ago, Puntan and
Fuuna devised a plan in which their supernatural forces would be put to
extremely powerful use. Puntan instructed his sister to take apart his body
and create the parts of the world. One of his eyes would become the sun,
and the other would be transformed into the moon. Puntans eyebrows
would become rainbows. His back would become the earth.
Fuuna had supernatural powers of her own. She used her energy and spirit
to bring to life the parts of her brothers body that now formed the world.
With her power, she made the sun shine and the earth blossom. After she
completed her task of bringing new life to Puntans body parts, Fuuna
decided to create life out of her body, as she had her brothers. She threw
her body into the earth and created Fouha Rock, sometimes called Creation
Point. Out of Fouha Rock, the first human beings emerged. This rock can be
found close to Umatac Bay in the southern part of Guam.

Education
Today we follow US based curriculum
Chamorros were only required to complete the 8th
grade, majority of kids were needed for financial
support
Teachers were often
Military members,
their spouses, or off
island contractors

Religion
Ancestral belief
Catholicism

Fishing
Fishing lines (gugat, kotdet)
- Made from fibers of coconut
husks or from pago (wild hibiscus)
tree.
Nets

- Chenchulu, measures up to 400 ft.

wide and 20 ft. high, used in shallow
water
- Lagua, a small hand net usually
attached to a pole

Spear (fisga)

- Shaft was made of wood, the barbed

tip was carved from wood or bone

The Importance of the Environment

Rely on the ocean for fishing
Land for farming
Rain for water

Any Questions? Comments?

Thank you!
Enjoy your weekend