PACIFIC ISLANDER PEOPLES
GuÄhan and CHamorus: Guam and Its Indigenous People
Is CHamoru migration a choice?
Chapter objectives
- Learn about the migration of CHamorus to the United States and the growth of their diasporic communities.
- Understand how American colonialism shapes CHamoru migration experiences.
- Explore the reasons for the CHamoru migration to the United States.
This chapter examines the migration of CHamorus of the Mariana Islands to the United States and the subsequent growth of their diasporic communities. The modules highlight wayfinding, diasporic social organizations, art practices, community festivals, and relationship maintenance. The chapter explains how American colonialism shapes the CHamoru experience of migration, and explores the complex interplay of political, economic, and social factors that have influenced the growing movement of the Islanders. Furthermore, it investigates the lived experiences of the CHamorus in the United States, focusing on themes of identity, cultural adaptation, community formation, and the ongoing negotiation of their relationship with both their homeland and their adopted nation.
Modules in this chapter
CHamoru Wayfinding Beyond the Mariana Islands
Sons and Daughters of Guam Club
CHamoru Diasporic Arts
CHamoru Cultural Festival
Sustained Connection to the Mariana Islands
CHamoru Wayfinding Beyond the Mariana Islands
Sons and Daughters of Guam Club
CHamoru Diasporic Arts
CHamoru Cultural Festival
Sustained Connection to the Mariana Islands
Chapter Sources
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Bennett, Jesi Lujan. ââI Sengsong San Diegoâ: The Chamorro Cultural Festival and the Formation of a Chamoru Diasporic Community.â Journal of the Pacific Arts Association 22, no. 1 (2022): 114â129.
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Charfauros McDaniel, Gisela, and Antoinette Charfauros McDaniel. “Tiningo’ si Sirena: A Conversation with Gisela Charfauros McDaniel and Antoinette Charfauros McDaniel.” Interview by Marina Tyquiengco. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2022. https://www.mfa.org/article/2022/tiningo-si-sirena-a-conversation-with-gisela-charfauros-mcdaniel-and-antoinette.
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