CHAMORROS are not only a minority in their own commonwealth, but their culture is also slowly disappearing due to the “limited focus” given by their government to its preservation, an advocate of the indigenous people’s culture said.
Noel Quitugua, a special community development specialist, said the Public School System should be asked to include Chamorro culture in its curriculum.
“The Chamorro culture is slowly disappearing. We’re losing our culture faster than we can save it,” Quitugua said.
Only indigenous languages—Chamorro and Carolinian—are taught in schools, but the culture and the history of the islanders are not, he added.
“Culture and language go hand and hand. You cannot just teach language without teaching culture. They should look at their bilingual curriculum and integrate cultural standards for the students. That will include the history about Chamorros—everything,” Quitugua said.
Schools usually drop either the bilingual or physical education classes when given a chance, Quitugua said.
He added that he was preparing a Chamorro and Carolinian Cultural Standards patterned after the curriculum that Alaska adopted for its indigenous people.
Quitugua said Native Alaskans are taught about their own language and culture in one course or subject.
It is very important that the younger generation of Chamorros and Carolinians are taught about their cultural heritage to instill pride among them, he added.
This way, centuries old traditions and customs of the indigenous people will live on despite their being a minority on their island, Quitugua said.
“A lot of our kids are lost about our culture. The schools should realize that they should make the teaching of cultural standards mandatory,” Quitugua said.
“We’ve already lost so many things in our culture. The children are the future of our generation. Culturally knowledgeable students are able to build on the knowledge and skills of the local cultural community as a foundation from which to achieve personal and academic success throughout life,” he added.
Quitugua said very few Chamorros know about pottery making or canoe-making.
