For Immediate Release, March 29, 2017 — A series of disrespectful acts against the Chamoru people seemed to eclipse what is normally one of the most festive times of the year — Mes Chamoru, a month dedicated to celebrating the Chamoru culture.

Almost daily this month, Guam’s news outlets have reported on military and other encroachment into sacred lands and natural habitats from northern to southern Guam; a court decision against the Chamoru right to self-determination; and Federal threats to theChamoru Land Trust. For many Chamorus, these actions have sparked the need to remind the community that Guam is i Tano’ i Man Chamoru, the homeland of the Chamoru people.

The language, culture and heritage of the Native people of Guam and the Marianas are what make our archipelago unique in the world.  There is no other place on earth for Chamorus to call their homeland. Above all, the Chamoru people, like all indigenous people, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, especially in their native land.

A grassroots collective has come together to organize the Respect the Chamorro People Rally on April 7 from 4 – 6 p.m. at the Adelup lawn.  Adelup was the site of a series of demonstrations and the famous Nasion  Chamoru campout that pushed the Government of Guam to implement the Chamoru Land Trust in 1995.

The rally will be a safe and welcoming space for all members of our community, Chamoru and others alike, to come together in solidarity to protect and defend the native and human rights of the Chamoru people and their place in the world. The rally will feature speakers and live performances, including poetry, music and traditional chants.

Every school day on Guam, tens of thousands of our children recite the Inifresi, a promise for those who call Guam home, to protect and defend the six things that make life possible and beautiful, drawn from Chamoru heritage, culture and history: i hinengge, i kottura, i lenguåhi, i aire, i hanom yan i tano’ Chamoru.

Join us on April 7 in celebration of this promise and of the Native people of Guam who have inherited it.

I HINENGGE, I KOTTURA, I LENGGUÅHI, I AIRE, I HANOM YAN I TANO’ CHAMORU

Download the video for March 17, 2017 – Committee on Culture and Justice Public Hearing at this link : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4TFG6R86XQ0YXc1ZEt5RkdVR1k/view?usp=sharing_eil&ts=58ce65f2

or view it directly on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/e-_GnoMVOSA

U.S. Department of Justice letter to Governor Eddie Baza Calvo regarding Fair Housing Act lawsuit against the Government of Guam – DOJ letter_CLTC

Arnold Davis v. Guam decision – Davis v Guam case

The following list of people provided testimony at the hearing.  The time lapse marks indicate where their testimony can be found in the video.  Their written transcripts can also be found below.

1. Bob Pelkey – 27:40 minute mark  – Pelkey.B.WT.03.17.17

2. Harold Cruz – 46:49 minute mark  – Cruz.Harold.J – P.H.03.16.17

3. Ofing (Josephine) Jackson – 53:44 minute mark  – Jackson, Ofing P.H.03.17.17

4. Vicente Garrido – 1:01:06 minute mark  – Garrido, Vincent P.H. 03.17.17

5. Enrique Torres –1:07:56 minute mark – Torres, Enrique – P.H. 03.17.17

6. Robert LG Benavente – 1:18:46 – Benavente, Robert P.H. 03.17.17

7. Jamela Santos – 1:26:36 – Santos.J.A.WT.03.16.17

8. Mike Phillips – 1:33:50 – Phillips, Michael J. Atty. P.H. 03.17.17

9. Senator Carmen Kasperbauer – 2:07:50 – Kasperbauer, Carmen – P.H. 03.17.17

10. John Ray Aguon – 2:16:18 – Aguon, John Ray – P.H. 03.17.17

11. Senator Hope Cristobal – 2:26:27 – Cristobal, Hope P.H. 03.17.17

12. Lasia Casil – 2:46:09 – Casil, Lasia – P.H. 03.17.17

13. Ray Lujan – 2:51:17 – Lujan.R.WT – P.H.03.17.17

14. Darrin Pangelinan reading for Lakretia Castro-Santos and Social Work Students Alliance – 2:54:56 – Castro.Santos.L.WT.03.17.17

15. Rosario Perez – 2:57:44 – Perez.R.L.03.17.17

16. Jose Garrido – 3:03:12 – Garrido, Jose Ulloa – P.H. 03.17.17

17. Josette Quinata – 3:29:45 – Quinata.J.M.L.WT.03.17.17

18. Carlos Camacho – 3:39:11 – Camacho, Carlos – P.H. 03.17.17

19. Maga’låhi Aniti – 3:48:54 – Aniti, Maga’låhi – P.H. 3.17.17

20. Michael Bevacua 4:02:17 – Bevacqua, Michael – P.H. 03.17.17

21. Trini Torres – 4:09:29 – Torres, Trini – P.H. 3.17.17

22. Ronald Laguana – 4:47:28 – Laguana, Ronald – P.H. 03.17.17

23. Ned Pablo – 4:33:09 – Pablo, Ned – P.H. 03.17.17, Pablo, Ned – P.H. 03.17.17 Oral Testimony, Pablo, Ned – P.H. 03.17.17 Chamorro

24. Frank Munoz – 4:40:32 – Munoz, Frank – P.H. 3.17.17

25. Dr. Rosa Paloma – 4:44:15 – Palomo, Rosa WT 03.17.17

26. Desiree Ventura – 4:49:52 –Ventura, Desiree – P.H. 03.17.17

27. Shannon McManus – 5:02:45 – McManus, Shannon – P.H. 03.17.17

28. Alissa Eclavea – 5:06:45 – Eclavea, Alissa – P.H. 03.17.17

29. Ofing (Josephine) Jackson – 5:15:07 – Jackson, Ofing Res. 52-34 – P.H. 03.17.17

30. Harold Cruz – 5:20:04 – Cruz, Harold 52-34 P.H. 03.17.17

31. Amanda Santos – 5:23:36 – Santos, Amanda P.H. 03.17.17

32. Mike Phillips – 5:25:30 – Phillips, Michael J. Atty. 52-34 P.H. 03.17.17

33. Enrique Torres – 5:28:04 – Torres, Enrique – P.H. 03.17.17

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Written Testimony Submitted via email:

Franquez, R. WT 03.17.17

Aquino, Genedine WT 03.15.17 ISO RN 52-34 (LS)

Franquez, R. WT 03.17.17

Pablo, N. WT 03.15.17 ISO RN 51&52-34 (LS)

Pangelinan, M. I.D. WT 03.17.17

Santos, Anghela WT 03.17.17 RN 51&52-34 (LS)

Sayama, C. R.L. WT 03.17.17 RN 51-34 (LS)

Underwood on Self-Determination testimony read by Vice Speaker Terlaje – 23:18 minute mark – Underwood..A.WT.03.16.17

Underwood, R. A. WT 03.17.17 RN 51-34 (LS)

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (March 17, 2017 – Hagåtña) – Senator Therese M. Terlaje (D-Yona) issued the following statement after a full day of public hearing and Legislative session on Resolution Nos. 51-34 (LS) and 52-34 (LS):

“Today, I am humbled by the overwhelming community support for two resolutions that I believe are really urgent for the people of Guam.  The rapid pace of events called for the Legislature’s immediate action on behalf of the people of Guam, to timely render its opposition to both District Court opinion in Davis v. Guam and the Department of Justice’s position on the Chamorro Land Trust Act, as both issues have significant legal and political implications for the government of Guam and its residents,” stated Terlaje.

Dozens of people, including many community leaders, testified during today’s five-hour public hearing, with over 40 oral and written testimonies in full support of the two resolutions.

The public hearing was followed by an emergency session during which there was little debate, and the body successfully passed Res. No. 51-34 (12 yeas, 3 excused absences) and Res. No. 52-34 (11 yeas, 1 nay, 3 excused absences).

“I am thankful to my colleagues and to all those who came out to testify and be part of this very important step.  Truly, I am excited about the prospect of revitalizing the quest for self-determination and moving forward together,” Terlaje stated. 

Terlaje oversees the Guam Legislature’s Committee on Culture and Justice, including all matters relating to self-determination, political status, the United Nations, and the Commission on Decolonization, as well as all matters relating to indigenous rights and culture.

The March 17, 2017 recordings are available here:

Public Hearing – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-_GnoMVOSA&feature=youtu.be

Session – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pon0_pk9_4c

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For more information, please call the Office of Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje at (671) 472-3586.