Culture
Chamorro Indigenous Culture Bounces Back
For Chamorro people everywhere—including the mainland United States—these are empowering times. Their indigenous culture is undergoing a marvelous re-birthing process.
And not only has the culture made a steady come-back, but it’s almost “already come full circle,” says Theresa Arriola, marketing director for Pa’a Taotao Tano (the way of life of the people of the land).
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Pa’a—a non-profit organization made up of Chamorro culture practitioners throughout Guam/Micronesia and the U.S.mainland—primarily focuses on “perpetuating, preserving, promoting and educating the cultural traditions of the Chamorro people through research and connection with our Asian ancestors and Pacific island brothers and sisters.”
Recently, the organization concluded a successful 5th Dinana Minagof Chamorro Dance Competition in Guam. About 14 cultural dance groups from Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands competed with a total of about 500-plus dancers. In the audience, a little over 1,200 wide-eyed Guam and Saipan residents cheered for their kids and relatives who powered through three dance categories; a modern dance category, a Spanish-era section, which heavily influenced the Chamorro culture; and, finally, a powerful ancient dance category.
“This is really growing,” Benjamin Cruz, chairman of Pa’a’s Board of Directors, told the audience. “It started out a very, very small competition.”
He added that it is very likely the annual showdown could move to the University of Guam fieldhouse next year, where 1,500 people would be accommodated.
Cruz says the number of participants has ballooned tremendously over the last few years because of committed dance group leaders and very supportive parents. The growing pride in the Chamorro people has also helped the resurgence, adds Frank Rabon, Pa’a creative director and emcee for the recent competition.
Last year, Pa’a was awarded a multiple year federal grant which has been used to expand into the northern schools and community on Guam. This year, two elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools and two villages were added to the organization.
Rabon says he was proud of the growing number of dancers, but the pride seen in their faces is what gives him purpose to push on.
“Now, a lot of kids can say, ‘I’m a Chamorro’ with heart and soul- and being proud of their heritage.” Rabon says over two decades ago, the culture was very much near total extinction. The most prominent island culture on Guam then was Polynesian, the main tourist attraction. And he was a Polynesian dancer.
Through his dance instructor, he realized then that he needed to find his own peoples’ culture, his own identity. So, the man who is known on Guam today as “master of cultural dance,” quit his day job and set out on his journey.
“I was tired of being a Polynesian,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s not me… not my identity.”
Now, he said the Chamorro people has embraced its culture and steadily joined in the march toward a total cultural rebirth.
“There’s truly a (cultural) renaissance today,” said Arriola. “I’d never see a man wearing cultural jewelry 20 years ago. But today, why, they’re everywhere.”
Cruz, who profusely thanked the parents for their untiring support, had these for last words: “Let’s continue to preserve and protect, and more importantly to promote the Chamorro culture- not only for ourselves but also for the tourism industry.”
