Text Fwd: [famoksaiyanfriends] About Manipulations and Indigenous Rights [괌] 조작과 원주민의 권리에 대해

* Text sent from Martha Duenas on Oct. 26, 2010

Marianas Variety
About Manipulations and Indigenous Rights

Letter to the Editor
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 04:00


A public hearing was held on August 4, 2009 on Bill 190-30 about “indigenous fishing rights” and to date has not made it to session floor for debate, due to some concern about its constitutionality.

I care not whatsoever as to the constitutionality of Bill 190-30, whether as an indigenous person of my Homeland or as a U.S. citizen under the Organic Act of Guam, since I challenge that the Territories Clause, Article IV, Section 3, of the Constitution defers our governance to the Organic Act solely, even though the Organic Act itself is also deficient. Why else is there continued effort and research to ensure that laws passed by Congress are made applicable to Guam - because if not, only the Organic Act will withstand muster in Court.

It is tantamount to continued servitude to be held in bondage to the governing document of the Administering Power, the United States of America, even as we and our Homeland have been inscribed under Chapter XI, Article 73 of the United Nations Charter as a non-self-governing territory since 1946.

By signing the Charter, the U.S. recognized that “the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are paramount” and that they accepted “as a sacred trust the obligation to promote to the utmost our well-being, to ensure with due respect… our political, economic, social, and educational advancement,” – none of which was conditioned on the impact of migration of other peoples into our environment.

In the legislative history for the Guam Elective Governor Act, which provided for gubernatorial elections since 1970, there was much discussion as to the extension of the Constitution and whether or not it would affect the “unincorporated” status of Guam as a territory, that is, that it is NOT a part of the United States.

From Office of the Solicitor of Interior: “…Legislative intent has been the controlling factor whenever the Court determines that a territory was incorporated or unincorporated… we are of the opinion that the Court would adhere to precedent and accept the status rather than overturn the “mysterious doctrine” surrounding unincorporated territories. Expressed another way, the Court would not find that Congress intended the entire Constitution to be applicable to Guam… “

From the Legislative Secretary: “… Exactly what provisions of the Constitution are applicable to unincorporated territories is somewhat ambiguous, as are other areas of law…”

So, how can indigenous fishing rights as desirous to be exercised by the Chamorro People be in any way a threat to the continued status of Guam as an “unincorporated” territory? How can indigenous fishing rights be a threat to non-indigenous residents of Guam, when the Constitution itself has limited application to the Chamorro People because of our political status?

In the Congressional minutes on the Organic Act, the four Secretaries involved in this process, namely, State, War, Navy, and Interior noted the following: in 1950, there were 27,000 “native Guamanians” and they were described as native inhabitant, inhabitant of Guam, Guamanian nationals, the Guamanian people, Guamanians, people of Guam, Guamanian ancestry, indigenous population.

We, the Chamorro People are still the “native inhabitants” of Guam – and no one else. We, the Chamorro People are still the “indigenous” People of Guam – and no one else. We, the Chamorro People of Guam still hold the “sacred trust obligation” of the U.S. that our interests are “PARAMOUNT” – and no one else.

Our legislature recently chastised Delegate Bordallo for not supporting the “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” and to that stance they passed Resolution No. 420-30 and transmitted the same to all those in Congress, the President, respective U.S. departments, and the United Nations. Senators, do not now be fearful and slow to act on perceived controversial bills.

We stand in defense and ownership of our fundamental, inalienable human right to govern ourselves without intimidation and outside interference, in the exercise and claim to some 5,000 years of our heritage, our belief systems, our language, our culture, our air, our waters, and our lands – and yes, even our right to fish for our very sustenance.

Help us to discard our splendid transformation as a conquered people. Help us to get off our knees in subjugation and rise in our quest for Chamorro sovereignty. Guam is not just our home - Guam is our Homeland and in our own Homeland, we cannot be partially free – we are either free, or we are not. Hafa ta na-nangga? Nilibre!

Patty Garrido
Harmon Cliffline

Text Fwd: [famoksaiyanfriends] [Michael Bevacqua,Guam]"Maolek na Finaisen" [괌, 마이클 베박쿠아] 괌 언어 사용에 대하여

* Text sent from Martha Duenas on Oct. 20, 2010

Marianas Variety
"Maolek na Finaisen"
Michael Bevacqua
Wednesday, 20 October 2010

As I wrote about in my last column, the Chamorro Language Program at UOG is organizing a “Fino’ Chamoru na Inadaggao,” or Chamorro Language Forum, where political candidates will respond to questions asked in the Chamorro language (hopefully in the Chamorro language).

This week there are three forums for the senatorial candidates, and next Monday on the 25th, the gubernatorial teams will face off.

I took some time recently in my classes at UOG to discuss with my students the importance of the forum and give them all the opportunity to write down some possible questions to be asked, which would then be translated into Chamorro. The discussion was very spirited, because I pushed my students to be very intentional about what they were going to ask. I asked them not to fall into the usual traps that these events or these questions take, where politicians are asked the most generic and pointless questions, which don’t challenge them, don’t reveal anything important about them or the issue, and allow them to merely regurgitate something they’ve already said 8,000 times that same week.

I told my students to not be chained to what the “big” and “important” issues are usually thought to be, but to instead focus on something they felt was real in their lives. I knew that the following two questions, “What are your plans to fix the economy?” and “What are your plans to fix education?” were most likely the ones they felt were the most important, but I urged them to resist simply asking what they were supposed to ask, and focus on what they felt needed to be asked.

My students naturally asked, what kind of questions are the ones that “need to be asked?” I gave a number of different examples, such as the following after one student asked whether it would be okay to ask how she might phrase a question about whether or not the candidate could be trusted. Because in my World History class we were covering the origins of Christianity, I decided to give it a bit of Biblical flavor: “Jesus Christ said that it is easier for a camel to pass through the needle of an eye than for a rich man to get to heaven. Is this something that we should take seriously when choosing our leaders? If you are a person of financial means running for office, how can people trust you to make sure that you do not govern to promote yourself or your class, but are truly interested in helping everyone else on the island?” This is something that not only the wealthy should deal with, but all leaders as well. How can you ensure that you are acting for the benefit of all or most and not just for the few who are closest to you?

Some students found this and other similar questions too confrontational, and didn’t feel that this sort of thing was appropriate and that we should be more respectful to those who are our leaders, or wish to be our leaders. I didn’t criticize them, especially on Guam, where it’s very natural to think such a thing. Others found the bluntness refreshing and liberating, and in truth, that was how I was hoping they’d respond. That is after all the feeling of not just enjoying democracy, but actually participating in it. It stems from going beyond that abstract feeling of simply being part of a democracy, but being a part of it which can make intelligent decisions your society, and does not just cast a mindless vote, but actually attempts to educate oneself and find out what is the best choice.

I received several hundred questions from my students, and wanted to share in this column some of my favorites. By far the most blunt, honest and critical question is the last one. The questions:

1) Trash is a very important issue for any island, since your space is very limited. But Guam has very little recycling. We are living in a fantasy world and not facing the fact that if we don’t truly start to recycle and stop importing more trash into this island. We might just end up capsizing! How would you propose to help wake up Guam and start making recycling a big part of our lives?

2) Do you think that we should make it required that all of our leaders in the Executive and Legislative Branches should be able to understand or speak Chamorro since it is an official language of Guam and they are the representatives of the island? Even if we don’t all speak Chamorro now, this could be a great chance to help encourage people to learn!

3) The US military has promised that new troops will be given cultural sensitivity training to help them adapt to living here in respectful ways. What kind of programs do you propose we can develop to help teach them about real Chamorro culture and real Chamorro history?

4) If aliens landed on Guam the day you are sworn into office, what would your first official act in response to their arrival?

5) Senator Frank Aguon submitted a bill last year which would increase the number of senators in the Guam Legislature from 15 back up to 21. With the rapid increase of Guam’s population, do you support an increase of senators in the legislature? Why or why not?

6) So many of Guam’s current and possible leaders have claimed that there is nothing that we can do about the US military buildup and that it is a done deal or not in our power to change. If the power was in your hands, if you were in charge of the buildup, would you stop it? How would you change it? Please do not say that it will happen no matter what, because then frankly you shouldn’t be anyone’s leader.

Text Fwd: [famoksaiyanfriends] When the Moon Waxes - Decolonization Before Our Eyes

* Text Fwd from Martha Duenas on July 17, 2010

Marianas Variety
When the Moon Waxes - Decolonization Before Our Eyes

Wednesday, 14 July 2010 04:01
by Michael Lujan Bevacqua

FANHASSO. Fanhita. Fanachu. These are strong, deep words which we should keep with us as we face, whether as a community or individuals, the challenges of our lives. Reflect. Come together. Rise.

These three words come from the title of a play which I co-wrote with Victoria Leon Guerrero, directed by Cliff Guzman and was performed recently by the Chamorro cultural dance group Inetnon Gefpago in celebration of their 10th anniversary. The content of the play was a mixture of the huge collection of dances which Inetnon Gefpago has created or adapted over the years, with a story of Chamorro empowerment through the celebration of Chamorro history and culture.

Although there are many different interpretations and understandings on Guam about what decolonization is or might mean out there; some cultural (reviving practices), some political (changing political status), some fearful (turning back the clock), one of the reasons why I was so excited to work with Inenton Gefpago, one of the now numerous Chamorro cultural dance groups on Guam, is because of the way they have over the past 30 years brought about a very real example of what decolonization is.

We all know the tragedies whereby Chamorros were prohibited from practicing certain cultural forms when the Spanish colonization began in the late 17th century. The transmission of some knowledge, history and culture was radically disrupted. As a result, we do not know what those dances looked like.

But, the true tragedy of that loss is not how the dances themselves were lost, but how Chamorros from that point would see themselves fundamentally differently, and among other things, incapable of creating their own dances again. Under the Spanish and up until today, Chamorros lost their sovereignty, or their ability to see themselves as not just a distinct people, but one who is not simply battered about by the violent waves of the world, but a people who have control over their culture and their destiny.

From then on, even though Chamorros continue to exist as a people with their own language and culture, whatever happens after that moment is always tainted with the notion that it is not really theirs. Chamorros borrow new dances from other cultures and eventually make them their own. They constantly qualify their dancing as never really belonging to them, always saying that this dance isn’t really Chamorro, but comes from Spain, Mexico, the Philippines or the United States. Even though Chamorros had the ability and creativity to start their traditions anew, for centuries a set of paralyzing thoughts dominated the minds of Chamorros: that because the continuity of their culture was disrupted, they could never authentically claim these art forms again. There could never truly be “Chamorro dances” again.

Thirty years ago, that began to change. People started to research what information could be found on ancient dances.

They traveled to other islands to see what sorts of themes native various Pacific dances and chants had. Eventually new Chamorro dances were created. They were not meant to represent how Chamorros danced 400 years ago, rather each was a recreation or an homage to that era. At first, these dancers were sometimes mocked and laughed at for “making things up,” but much of that changed in time. When we look around the island today, Chamorro dances are fixtures at all public events, and there are dozens of different groups and styles to watch or join.

This is the nature of decolonization. It can start off small and something which most people resist or refuse to believe because it seems to contradict the very flow of history, but when it does happen, literally the ground beneath our feet changes, and most don’t even notice. For example, the crowds of people who snickered at the first generation of Chamorro dancers now eagerly send their children and grandchildren to join the same dance groups.

We should all congratulate the many teachers and leaders who have made this act of decolonization possible, and we should look to this as an example of how, even though the tragedies of history bear down heavy upon the Chamorro people, that trauma should not and must not define our lives.

The violence of colonization, recent or ancient, haunts a people and makes them at times feel cursed, inferior or dependent. Decolonization is something which each passing generation takes on in their own way and is at its core about the empowerment of the colonized, the instilling in them a feeling of control over their present and future. But when a true act of decolonization takes place, it is truly a marvel to witness. For it is the feeling of seeing something which was assumed impossible for so long, manifest right before your very eyes.

Text Fwd: Christina Illarmo: USSF Presentation at the 'American Lake' or Ka Moana Nui?: Demilitarization Movements in the Asia-Pacific Workshop

* Text informed by Corazon Valdez Fabros on June 28, 2010

Christina Illarmo: USSF Presentation at the 'American Lake' or Ka Moana Nui?: Demilitarization Movements in the Asia-Pacific Workshop
June 28, 2010 at 10:44 am

Presentation at the
USSF - United States Social Forum
24 June 2010

'American Lake' or Ka Moana Nui?: Demilitarization Movements in the Asia-Pacific

The Pacific island of Guahan, where I was born and raised, has been touted to mainstream audiences as "the tip of the spear," "the unsinkable aircraft carrier," or as a kind of "gas station" for U.S troops. But this island is more than a military outpost, it’s place of waterfalls, fresh water caves, thick jungles, and warm sandy beaches. It’s also home to a loving and resilient native people who after surviving centuries of Western colonization have yet to receive their inherent right to self-determination.

We’ve been citizens since the 50’s, yet we still can’t vote for President, we aren’t represented in the senate, and our one Congressional Delegate can’t vote on the floor; but our voices are valid and our concerns are real.

This massive military buildup, which will realign troops from Okinawa to Guahan, puts our culture, environment, and our quality of life at risk while simultaneously violating our human rights. While Okinawa, Hawai’i, California, Philippines, and Korea have said no- we have not; and it is not because we say "yes"; it is because we were never ASKED. Our political status as a US Territory provides the United States a place wherein they may implement their plans with "no restrictions," meaning: they can do whatever is in their best interest. When our local leaders voiced concerns during realignment negotiations, they were told that this was a "nation-to-nation" conversation. This response reminds our people that we have never been equals within this country. We are Americans; but then we are not.

Why does the US go so far out of its way to subjugate a peaceful little island 30 miles long and 7 miles wide with a population of 171,000?

In a simple word: LOCATION.

Any military official will tell you as a US Territory, Guahan is the only location of its kind in the Pacific, from which long-range bombers can strike nearly any target in Northeast, East and Southeast Asia. They see us as the “Diego Garcia of the Pacific”.

But in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter how important the Pentagon thinks we are, this costly, immoral and unsustainable practice of forcing bases on unwilling soil has a huge price tag ($4 billion) and it is breaking the backs of the American working class while destroying the lives of native peoples abroad.

Currently, the military is Guahan’s largest landowner, occupying roughly 1/3 of the land. Air force and naval bases restricted to the civilian public have not only displaced thousands of people, they have created a unique form of racial and socioeconomic segregation in which the service people behind the fence have their own hospitals, schools, homes, parks, churches, shopping centers, camping grounds, and beaches- all on land which was mostly stolen or forcibly bought for insultingly low prices from the indigenous Chamoru people. Besides the trauma of displacement, and being forced to use the English language in place of our own, our quality of life has seen other impacts. Before much of our rich and fertile ancestral farmlands were confiscated we had sustainable agriculture. Our farmers produced over 90% of our food. Today we must rely on expensive importing with our own local production reduced to 5%.

Last November the required draft environmental impact was released, outlining plans for the buildup. Those familiar with environmental impact statements and NEPA regulations will quickly tell you that the typical length of these types of documents run somewhere around 350 pages. However, the DEIS detailing US plans to realign Okinawan troops to Guam was over 11,000 pages and contained three separate projects (all three of which contained plans large enough to justify their own formal commenting period). This forced residents of Guam to digest, understand, and critique this massive document within a 90 day period. Residents were welcome to submit written comments but each were only given 3 minutes to testify at a series of only 3 hearings. You can see a few of these testimonies on the Voice of Guam Youtube Channel.

At first, attention and most discussion on the buildup was about how it was going to help our economy and create more jobs. But as the inadequacy of plans became apparent during the formal comment period, a shift in the island's attitude occurred as agencies, such as the Guam Water Authority, began to speak out in concern, worried that the expected population boom of 80,000 people would overwhelm our already outdated and stressed sewage system and threaten our freshwater source.

Other organizations such as the Boonie Stompers, a club of hiking enthusiasts, began doing outreach, revealing that the military intended to acquire more land to create live firing ranges in pristine jungles. One such site for a proposed firing range is on the Northeastern shore between Anderson Air Force Base and another base we call “Andy-South”. This site includes the ancient Chamoru village of Pagat, considered to not only hold archeological and historical significance- to us it is a truly spiritual place- one of the few left intact that we still have access to. A firing range in Pagat would be no less an outrage than when the Taliban blew up the treasured, ancient Buddhas carved into the cliffs of Afghanistan.

The Guam’s Fisherman Coop helped make the public aware that the military wants to dredge 73 acres of thriving coral reef at Apra Harbor to make another parking spot for a nuclear aircraft carrier. Against the wishes of our people, local leaders, and the urging of the EPA and Center for Biological Diversity, they want to slam the reef with giant weights where the spinner dolphin plays, scalloped hammer head sharks pup, sea turtles swim, and giant blue elephant ear sponge grow. Then they want to scoop the remains out with giant cranes and dispose the equivalent of 50,000 dump truck loads several miles off the coast of the island.

Now, thanks to the work and dedication of local agencies and organizations, and help from off-island folks, our local people have chosen to reject the sense that all of these sacrifices are worth the false promise of economic security from an increased military presence.

It has been truly inspiring to see this grassroots movement explode. And this is where you come in.

First, commit to further educating yourself on the what is happening in the Pacific. Peruse the newsletter, “Stop the military buildup” produced by Famoksaiyan, a group of Chamoru activist based out of California. On it you will find more background on the issue and links to awesome resources such as “No Rest for the Awake” and the “Drowning Mermaid Blog”. Both blogs are written by University of Guam instructors, bright minds who are very active in youth work and are driving forces behind this movement. There is also an amazing podcast you can subscribe to for free on Itunes called “Beyond the Fence”. This is a weekly radio show on the islands NPR station which discuses different aspects of the buildup on every episode.

Next I implore you to stand in solidarity with us and take action. Spread the word about what you’ve learned. Tell your leaders that you don’t support your tax money being used on any more excessive military expenditures. Join the movement to close the base on Okinawa and other sites abroad. Because whether we are talking about Guam, Okinawa or Hawai’i… it’s no different, our suffering and our commitment to oppose the militarization of our homelands is the same.

- Christina Illarmo

Text Fwd: Guam Residents Unhappy About Relocation of US Marines from

Fwd by Debbie Quinata, Agatha Haun


Video fwd: Guam Take me back



Guam Residents Unhappy About Relocation of US Marines from
Okinawa
Original source by Akahata (Japan)
3-14-09, 10:21 am

Residents of Guam are so reluctant to accept the US Marines to be stationed
on the island of US territory in the Pacific, that the Guam governor would
sign the ordinance passed by the Guam Legislature to hold a referendum over
the planned reinforcement of US forces in Guam, said the speaker of the Guam
Territorial Legislature.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Inoue Satoshi
heard this while he was visiting Guam on March 8-9 while leading a JCP
investigation team in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary discussion
on the so-called Guam Agreement recently signed by Japanese Foreign Minister
Nakasone Hirofumi and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The agreement,
if it comes into force after being approved by both countries, will force
Japan to pay the costs for constructing US military facilities on Guam.

Speaker of Guam's Territorial Legislature Judith Won Pat and representatives
of residents' organizations in meetings with the JCP team proved that the
Japanese government's argument that Guam is welcoming the US Marine Corps
(USMC) to be relocated to Guam is false.

In May 2006, the Japanese and US governments reached the final agreement on
the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, which included the relocation of
8,000 US Marines and 9,000 families from Okinawa to Guam as well as Japan's
payment of about 6.1 billion dollars as part of the cost for the USMC
relocation project totaling about 10.3 billion dollars.

On February 17, the two governments agreed to remake the roadmap, including
the payment of the 6.1 billion dollars, into an official treaty entitled:

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RELOCATION OF III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE PERSONNEL AND THEIR DEPENDENTS FROM OKINAWA TO GUAM.

After visiting the site for the construction of the new USMC facilities, the
JCP investigation team met with landowners and residents.

On March 9, after a briefing from Japan's consul general in Guam, they met
and held about two hours of talks with Speaker of Guam's Territorial
Legislature Won Pat.

The Speaker stated that the US Department of Defense has provided Guam with
little information concerning the relocation plan and that no public opinion
survey has been held on this issue. She expressed anxieties over further
contamination from sewage water from the new military facilities as well as
possible sexual assaults by the increased presence of Marines.

She referred to Guam's Governor Felix P. Camacho, who is expected to sign
the bill to hold a referendum on the relocation issue.

Specifically on the Japan-US agreement on the USMC Guam relocation, which is
expected to be discussed in Japan's Diet, she stressed that the Diet is
called upon to listen to Guam and that she is ready to provide information
concerned to any Japanese political parties.

On the USFJ realignment issue, she indicated the possibility that additional
units will come to a new US base to be constructed in the Henoko district of
Nago City, even after a part of the US Marines are moved to Guam.

The JCP team toured the island guided by a representative of the Chamorro
Nations, an organization of aboriginals in Guam.

Upon watching CNN news reports on mass layoffs sweeping Japan, they said
that they don't understand why Japan has agreed to pay so much money for a
foreign government instead of stimulating the Japanese economy.

Guam's landowners association chief Antonio told Inoue that he has not been
paid a penny by the military every since his land was taken for use by the
U.S. Andersen Air Base. He expressed worries over an additional
expropriation of land as a result of the USMC Guam relocation.

JCP Inoue stated, "It is extraordinary for Japan to use tax money for the
construction of a military base on foreign territory. I want to convey Guam
people's voices to the Japanese Diet so that the new Guam Agreement will be
rejected."

Posted by Added Entry at 11:21

si Debbie Quinata <dquinata@gmail.com>
I Nasion Chamoru
P.O. Box 6132
Merizo, Guam 96916
(671) 828-2957