Guam, the largest of the Mariana Islands located in the Western Pacific Ocean, has been a territory of the United States since 1898 when it was surrendered by Spain at the end of the Spanish-American War. Most Americans think of a military base when they hear the word Guam, which makes sense as U.S. military bases cover 29% of the island. However, Guam is primarily the home of the Chamorro people, who have been residing on the island for thousands of years. Because the island has been Americanized over the past 100 years, many fear that the entire culture will soon be lost.
The Chamorro language is one of the most important pieces of Chamorro culture that is being threatened. Chamorro is listed under the UNESCO list of endangered languages as “vulnerable,” as it is spoken in most households in Guam but is becoming less common. Many younger people only speak Chamorro in class and to family members, and speak English the rest of the time. All public schools in Guam are required by law to teach Chamorro in elementary school, middle school, and high school. However, there are no courses offered that teach the culture of the Chamorro people, such as making local medicine, weaving, dancing, hunting, and fishing. Many residents are trying to get another law passed that will require that Chamorro culture be taught in public schools.
One reason the Chamorro culture has suffered so much lately is because the Chamorro people themselves are a minority in both Guam and the Mariana Islands, since there are better economic prospects for them on the mainland. More Chamorro people live outside of Guam than within Guam, with 93,000 residing in Hawaii or the West coast of the mainland U.S.
Twenty years ago, Guam had a decent-sized middle class, but now even college graduates have a hard time finding work and many start out making less than $10.00 an hour. Many people hope more jobs in the tourism sector will be available so residents can focus on learning their culture to obtain those jobs. Guam receives over 1 million tourists each year, and 75% of them come from Japan, while the rest are from the U.S., South Korea, and Taiwan. When tourists visit Guam, they expect authentic Chamorro culture and in the coming years that culture will hopefully not be lost, but rather will experience a resurgence in popularity.
Have you been to Guam or do you know people who live there? Did you find many cultural differences between the island and the mainland? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
