Galvanizing Past and Present Threats to Chamorro Homelands
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By Vicente (ben) Pangelinan Senator 32nd Guam Legislature senbenp@guam.net
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Abstract: Enacted in 1975, the Chamorro Land Trust Act was a law envisioning homelands for Chamorros. Yet this concept lay dormant nearly twenty years before the government of Guam was forced to implement it, over objections by the Governor and Attorney General at the time. Why was opposition to the law drawn out, and how was this eventually overcome? This presentation outlines the work and sacrifice of those few who educated the entire community on the notion of native land rights, fought the government’s obstinate refusal to implement the law, and who ultimately achieved homelands for Chamorros in perpetuity. Today, we witness the first generation of Chamorros, previously disenfranchised from land ownership in Guam, to have homes and sustain their families through use of the land granted by leases under the Chamorro Land Trust. We witness, as well, the threats and strategies to protect this hard fought program for future generations. Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is my pleasure and honor to join you this afternoon. I have to say that this has been a well-attended conference with a good, diverse and inspiring mix of presenters and attendees. I believe it could not have come at a better time. Thinking and discussion that otherwise often gets pushed to the margins are incited here—that is what a history conference should do, inspire us to remember those events that have gone before us and create new ways of interpreting so that we are better able to hold true to the foundational values that really matter.
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Today, I want to talk to you about my experiences over the years, most particularly dealing with land issues on Guam, and in this case, the Chamorro Land Trust.
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There is a familiar Native American quote that we’ve come to know, “We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.” The phrase we I present here is similar, but a little more basic since we Chamorros are pretty simple people. We’re not too sure about borrowing, but we know what belongs and where we belong. On land, I would characterize our beliefs as, “The Land does not belong to Us. We belong to the Land.”
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2nd Marianas History Conference 2013 ・ !379