Defunding Chamorro language, culture, identity on Guahan CALL TO ACTION!
- Verna Castro
- Aug 17
- 2 min read
Hafa adai!
Call to Action Chamoru Family and Allies.
Taitai pot fabot (Please read), below was sent from Kumision i Fino' Chamoru who has been historically instrumental in the revival of the Chamoru identity, experiences, language and culture supplying an official orthography, authority on Chamoru materials online, texts to the children in the public schools and other resources,including teacher training as well as many other offerings in Guam and the diaspora This is critical given that the people were punished and fined for speaking Chamoru during WWII and by the US after the war to learn English only. This was followed by the Guam Public Law 14-53 in 1977, which, along with subsequent amendments, Justia Law notes mandates Chamoru language and culture instruction in public schools.
"The Kumisión is currently facing a serious challenge. A proposal (RIFLE) by a few senators in the current 38th Guam Legislature seeks to completely defund our organization, the Department of CHamoru Affairs, and several other CHamoru-centered agencies. We are actively seeking support from our network and their families in the form of letters to the Legislature opposing this measure. Your voice and the voices of those in your community can help us ensure that the work of language and cultural preservation continues for future generations.
For your reference, I have provided a link to an article about proposal below.
Also attached is a copy of the RIFLE proposal for your reference, along with a letter from Senator Shelly Calvo, Chair of the Committee on Culture, to our Executive Director expressing her concern and support for us.
We are asking that each letter of support:
Be written on a letterhead
Identify the sender’s name and residence
Once completed, please forward the letters to us. We will compile all letters and present them to the Legislature as a unified packet.
In addition, we are encouraging those who are willing to also submit their letters to the press as Letters to the Editor. Doing so helps broaden public awareness, shapes the community conversation, and shows the Legislature that there is a strong, visible, and vocal constituency throughout the world who are committed to protecting our culture and its institutions.
We deeply appreciate your willingness to put out a call to action, and we remain confident that together, united as Taotao Tåno’, we can face and overcome these challenges.
Ginen i mås tåddong gi kurason-måmi (from the deepest part of hearts)."
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