Micronesian Educator Vol 15, 2011, Chuukese Migration to Guam:

history of the Chuukese people has been orally transmitted from generation to generation through the process of verbalization and memorization. Traditional navigation is considered to be a supreme technological accomplishment, and the coveted body of knowledge associated with it is a living history that has been orally passed from generation to generation for thousands of years. It is memorized and stored in the navigators' minds. In the past, it was taboo to write or technologically document traditional navigation. Today, for purposes of preserving this vaulted element of culture and passing it to future generations, requests for sharing or documentation may be approved by the Chief and leader of the lineage.

There are major differences in cultural perception, definitions, and meanings of reality when the majority population of Guam is compared to the migrant Chuukese population . The majority of Chuukese migrants living in Guam are from societies where there is no land transportation, no utilities such as running water, inside restrooms, or electricity. As an example, many Chuukese in Guam will drive a car for the first time and at a speed faster than the 25 mph speed limit that they drove in Chuuk. The conveniences of running water and inside restrooms have been available in Guam for many years. On the other hand , with the exception of Weno, the capital center of Chuuk State, the rest of Chuuk State has no running water and people throughout the villages go to the river to take baths and to the open seas and the jungle for their natural toilets. Guam has been with the United States since 1898, while the rest of Micronesia has only recently joined the United States when the Compact of Free Association came into effect in 1986. Cultural orientations, perceptions of reality, expectations and values are different. Guam's modern culture has become more oriented toward the western structure of communicating through reading and writing while in Chuukese culture, in 2011, communication is still carried out primarily through the process of listening and speaking, and relying heavily on memorization for the preservation of knowledge.

Compact Economic Influence on Migration Division of Compact funds between FSM states has influenced the migration of the Chuukese people. In ::: :::

2000 Chuuk was the most populated state in the FSM , comprising 50째/o of the FSM's 107,000 residents and accounting for 53,595 people (Pohnpei State, 34,486; Yap State, 11 , 241; and Kosrae State, 7,686)

1::

(FSM Department of Economic Affairs, 2002). The Congress of the FSM, through congressional Resolution No. 13-105 adopted during the legislature's third regular session approved the use of the proposed Compact II distribution formula only for the fiscal year 2005 and reserved its right to adjust the formula differently for the following years : Chuuk State Government, 38.57%; Kosrae State Government, 11 .06%; Pohnpei State Government, 25.69% ; Yap State Government, 16.03% ; and the FSM National Government, 8.65% (Pohnpei State Government, 2004). Since the adoption of the distribution formula by the FSM Congress in 2004, there has been no change. Former Speaker of the FSM Congress, Jack Fritz (2007), stated that even if there is a desire to change the new formula, such a change requires a twothirds vote of Congress and in all probability; the State of Kosrae and Yap will not allow the change to occur. Because of the distribution formula of Compact of Free Association Funding and as a result of the mandates of Article XII , Section 1, (b) of the Constitution of the FSM that revenues shall be shared alike and divided equally among the four States but not based on population, Chuuk has remained the poorest State in the FSM. These mandates have contributed heavily toward Chuuk's poor conditions and the influx of Chuukese migrants into the United States.

iii

Chuukese Migration to Guam The Chuukese people have visited the Mariana Islands for hundreds of years. Three distinct waves of Chuukese migration to Guam explain the history of the movements. The first wave was of early Chuukese traditional master navigators who were frequent visitors to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (Rota, Tinian, and Saipan), long before Magellan visited Guam on March 6, 1521. These early migrants were equipped with comparable and respected skills of the upper (matao) and middle (acha'ot) class of ancient Chamorro society. Chamorro and Chuukese people were skilled canoe builders, master navigators, great fishermen and warriors. Because of such similarities in skills and characters, the early Chuukese visitors to Guam were warmly received by traditional Chamorro leadership and the general populace. The ocean journey was long and treacherous, and therefore, only a few selected Chuukese traditional master navigators and crew visited Guam. Women and children only came on the journey to escape starvation or a major civil unrest in their islands.

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Mi~ronesian Edu~ator

McHenry, D. F. (1975). Micronesia, trust betrayed: Altruism vs self interest in American foreign policy.

New York: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Office of the Governor of Chuuk State. (2005). Constitution of the State of Chuuk. Retrieved November 2, 2005 from http ://www.fsmlaw.org/chuuklindex.htm Pacific Daily News. (2011 ). GCA Trades Academy (insert), February 17, (p. 3). Hagan a, Guam: Author.

Smith, K. (1994). A survey of Micronesian immigrants to Guam: Predictors of coping and access to life essentials. Mangilao, Guam: Micronesian Language Institute, University of Guam.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2004). Population and housing profile: 2000; 2000 census of population and housing, Guam. Washington, DC : Author.

Walter, A. (2006, Sep. 10). We must work to understand each other. Hagatna, Guam: Pacific Daily News.

Walter, A. and Salas, M. C. (2008). Cultural diversity as organizational resources : Survey of Guam leaders, Journal of International Business Research, 7 (Special Issue 2).

Yew, L. K. (2000). From third world to first: The Singapore story, 1965-2000. Singapore: Marshall Gavendish Editions.

Table 1. Distributions of Res~ondents Male Age Group Number % 12- 18

:11 ,'I

'L

Aae and Gender Female

Total

Number

%

Number

%

39

27%

47

26%

86

26%

19-30

51

35%

70

39%

121

37%

31-50

37

25%

51

28%

88

27%

51+

20

14%

11

6%

31

10%

Total

147

179

100%

326

100%

100%

Table 2. Jobs and Professions

::1 ,,

,,'II

b~

Profession Student Maintenance Worker Food Services Cashier Sales Associate I Re~resentative Education {Teacher, Teacher's Aide) Caregiver/Social Worker {Counselor) Construction Public em~lo~ee Tour Com~an~ Housekee~er Manager/Su~ervisor

Pastor Other Unem~lo~ed

No Comment Total Table 3. Years of Livin9 in Guam Total Length Number % 20 6.1% less than a ~r 34 10.4% 1- 2 ~rs 67 3-5 ~s 20.6% 77 23.6% 5-10~rs 128 39.3% 10+ ~rs Total 326 100.0%

Total 0 Number /o 96 29.4% 35 10.7% 25 7.7% 14 4.3% 13 4.0% 11 3.4% 9 2.8% 8 2.5% 8 2.5% 7 2.1% 6 1.8% 5 1.5% 5 1.5% 26 8.0% 48 14.7% 10 3.1% 326 100%

B~ Gender ~%1 Male Female 8.2% 4.5% 12.9% 8.4% 16.3% 24.0% 21.8% 25.1% 40.8% 38.0% 100.0% 100.0%

By Gender (%) Male 28.5% 11 .1% 6.9% 1.4% 4.2% 1.4% 1.4% 3.5% 1.4% 4.9% 0.7% 1.4% 2.8% 11 .8% 13.2% 5.6% 100%

By Age Group (%)

Female 30.2% 10.4% 8.2% 6.6% 3.8% 4.9% 3.8% 1.6% 3.3% 0.0% 2.7% 1.6% 0.5% 4.9% 15.9% 1.1% 100%

12-18 81.4% 1.2% 2.3% 1.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.2% 7.0% 5.8% 100%

19-30 21 .5% 4.1% 9.9% 9.9% 6.6% 5.8% 4.1% 4.1% 1.7% 0.8% 5.0% 1.7% 0.8% 6.6% 14.0% 3.3% 100%

B~ A~e Group ~%1

12-18 7.0% 5.8% 16.3% 24.4% 46.5% 100.0%

19-30 6.6% 17.4% 28.9% 21 .5% 25.6% 100.0%

31 -50 4.5% 6.8% 14.8% 25.0% 48.9% 100.0%

51+ 6.5% 6.5% 16.1% 25.8% 45.2% 100.0%

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Mi~ronesian Edu~ator

31-50 0.0% 25.0% 11.4% 0.0% 5.7% 3.4% 4.5% 3.4% 6.8% 5.7% 0.0% 3.4% 2.3% 11.4% 17.0% 0.0% 100%

51+ 0.0% 22.6% 3.2% 3.2% 0.0% 3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 6.5% 22.6% 32.3% 3.2% 100%

Table 6. Dream Job Items

::t

"'

Il l

"' II

II

li

Teacher Manager/Supervisor Doctor/ Nurse Own my own Business Public Sector employee Construction Worker Attorney Accountant Military Flight Attendant or Pilot sales clerk Maintenance Worker Politician Elderly/Family Caregiver Computer Techn ician Social Worker Waitress I Bartender Office/ Sales Clerk Chef Fisherman Travel Agent Mechanic Sports Figure Retirement Fashion Designer Life guard Babysitter Banking Pastor Special Education I Don't Know No Comment Total

Total Number % 46 14.1% 10.4% 34 7.1% 23 21 6.4% 20 6.1% 19 5.8% 4.0% 13 11 3.4% 10 3.1% 9 2.8% 2.8% 9 9 2.8% 1.8% 6 6 1.8% 1.5% 5 5 1.5% 1.5% 5 5 1.5% 4 1.2% 4 1.2% 4 1.2% 3 0.9% 3 0.9% 0.6% 2 0.6% 2 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 15 4.6% 28 8.6% 326 100%

By Gender(%) Male Female 9.5% 17.9% 13.6% 7.8% 2.7% 10.6% 4.8% 7.8% 5.0% 7.5% 11 .6% 1.1% 6.1% 2.2% 2.0% 4.5% 4.8% 1.7% 1.4% 3.9% 2.7% 2.8% 2.0% 3.4% 1.1% 2.7% 0.0% 3.4% 1.4% 1.7% 0.7% 2.2% 0.7% 2.2% 1.4% 1.7% 1.4% 1.1% 0.0% 2.7% 1.7% 0.7% 2.0% 0.0% 2.0% 0.0% 1.1% 0.0% 1.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.7% 0.0% 0.6% 0.0% 0.6% 0.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.6% 4.8% 4.5% 9.5% 7.8% 100% 100%

12-18 18.6% 5.8% 10.5% 7.0% 3.5% 5.8% 10.5% 1.2% 9.3% 5.8% 1.2% 0.0% 1.2% 0.0% 1.2% 1.2% 2.3% 1.2% 0.0% 2.3% 1.2% 0.0% 3.5% 0.0% 2.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.3% 2.3% 100%

By Age Group (%) 19路30 31 -50 6.8% 16.5% 9.1% 15.9% 8.3% 4.5% 8.3% 5.7% 4.5% 7.4% 7.4% 5.7% 2.3% 1.7% 5.0% 3.4% 1.1% 0.8% 3.4% 0.8% 1.7% 6.8% 0.8% 4.5% 3.3% 1.1% 0.0% 5.7% 2.5% 1.1% 2.5% 1.1% 1.7% 1.1% 0.8% 3.4% 2.5% 1.1% 0.0% 1.1% 2.5% 0.0% 1.7% 1.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.1% 0.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.8% 3.4% 7.4% 5.0% 13.6% 100% 100%

51+ 12.9% 12.9% 0.0% 0.0% 9.7% 0.0% 0.0% 3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 12.9% 0.0% 3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 6.5% 0.0% 0.0% 3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 3.2% 3.2% 25.8% 100%

Table 7. Like the Least About Guam Items Racism/Discrimination Crimes High Cost of Living Poor Government Culture Lack of jobs Weather Roads Nothing Trash Schools Lack of youth activities/organizations Law Overly Developed Improved Public transit Riots Police Officers Gas Prices Equality Non Chuukese Money Noise Pollution I Don 't' Know No Comment Total

Total Number % 85 26.1% 41 12.6% 5.8% 19 17 5.2% 17 5.2% 14 4.3% 13 4.0% 9 2.8% 7 2.1% 6 1.8% 6 1.8% 5 1.5% 4 1.2% 4 1.2% 4 1.2% 2 0.6% 2 0.6% 2 0.6% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 14 4.3% 51 15.6% 326 100%

By Gender (%) Male Female 27.9% 24.6% 12.2% 12.8% 4.8% 6.7% 3.4% 6 .7% 2.7% 7.3% 5.4% 3.4% 6.1% 2.2% 1.4% 3.9% 1.4% 2.8% 1.4% 2.2% 0.6% 3.4% 0.7% 2.2% 2.0% 0.6% 2.7% 0.0% 2.7% 0.0% 0.7% 0.6% 1.4% 0.0% 1.4% 0.0% 0.0% 0.6% 0.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.6% 0.7% 0.0% 1.4% 6.7% 15.6% 15.6% 100% 100%

12-18 25.6% 14.0% 1.2% 3.5% 1.2% 0.0% 4.7% 2.3% 3.5% 2.3% 3.5% 4.7% 2.3% 0.0% 2.3% 1.2% 1.2% 0.0% 0.0% 1.2% 0.0% 1.2% 4.7% 19.8% 100%

By Age Group (%) 19-30 31-50 33.9% 17.0% 13.2% 13.6% 7.4% 4.5% 4.5% 5.8% 4.1% 12.5% 2.5% 9.1% 4.1% 3.4% 4.1% 2.3% 0.0% 2.3% 0.8% 2.3% 0.8% 2.3% 0.0% 1.1% 2.3% 0.0% 0.0% 2.5% 0.0% 1.1% 0.0% 1.1% 0.8% 0.0% 1.7% 0.0% 0.0% 1.1% 0.0% 0.0% 1.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 6.6% 2.3% 11 .6% 15.9% 100% 100%

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Mi~ronesian Edu~ator

51+ 22.6% 3.2% 16.1% 9.7% 0.0% 9.7% 3.2% 0.0% 6.5% 3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.2% 3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 19.4% 100%

Table 10. Questions and Re9uests to Leaders of Guam Total Items Number % 76 23.3% Wh~ are there no better jobs available?

Provide Equality and respect toward 33 10.1% Chuukese What is your plan on assisting the 32 9.8% minorit~ ~o~ulation?

Help the Chuukese government and school 19 5.8% How do ~ou ~tan to im~rove the island?

17 5.2% Where is financial aid for Chuukese?

13 4.0% What are ~our financial obligations?

9 2.8% 8 2.5% Wh~ is GPSS low on funds?

What is your plan on decreasing violence 7 2.1% on Guam?

Why can1 Chuukese people be allowed to vote?

7 2.1% Ask them for land affordable housing 6 1.8% 6 1.8% Pa~ tax refunds How did ~ou become a ~ublic leader?

5 1.5% lm~rove GPSS school facilities 5 1.5% What are our legal rights/~rotections?

5 1.5% 5 1.5% Wh~ do the gas ~rices increase?

Train government employees on 4 1.2% hos~italit~ 3 0.9% How do ~ou deal with man~ issues?

3 0.9% lm~rove roads Why hasn1 the education system 3 0.9% im~roved?

3 0.9% Can I work with ~ou?

2 0.6% How are ~ou?

1 0.3% What do ~ou do?

1 0.3% Wh~ is it so hot?

Affordable housing 1 0.3% I Don't Know 14 4.3% No Comment 38 11 .7% Total 326 100%

B~ Gender ~%~ Male Female 27.2% 20 .1%

12-18 12.8%

B~ A~e Groue ~%~ 19-30 31-50 51+ 29 .8% 23.9% 25 .8%

4.1%

15.1%

11 .6%

8.3%

11.4%

9.7%

11 .6%

8.4%

12.8%

11.6%

6.8%

3.2%

6.1% 6.1% 4.1% 4.8% 1.4%

5.6% 4.5% 3.9% 1.1% 3.4%

3.5% 7.0% 7.0% 4.7% 3.5%

3.3% 7.4% 1.7% 2.5% 2.5%

11.4% 1.1% 4.5% 1.1% 1.1%

6.5% 3.2% 3.2% 3.2% 3.2%

2.0%

2.2%

3.5%

2.5%

1.1%

0.0%

3.4% 0.0% 0.7% 2.0% 1.4% 0.7% 1.4%

1.1% 3.4% 2.8% 1.1% 1.7% 2.2% 1.7%

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.3% 4.7% 1.2% 0.0%

4.1% 0.0% 1.7% 2.5% 0.8% 1.7% 3.3%

1.1% 5.7% 1.1% 0.0% 0.0% 2.3% 1.1%

3.2% 3.2% 9.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

1.4% 0.0% 2.0%

1.1% 1.7% 0.0%

1.2% 3.5% 1.2%

1.7% 0.0% 0.0%

0.0% 0.0% 2.3%

3.2% 0.0% 0.0%

0.7% 0.7% 0.0% 0.7% 0.0% 0.7% 4.1% 12.9% 100%

1.1% 1.1% 1.1% 0.0% 0.6% 0.0% 4.5% 10.6% 100%

1.2% 0.0% 2.3% 1.2% 1.2% 0.0% 5.8% 8.1% 100%

0.0% 0.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.8% 5.0% 8.3% 100%

1.1% 2.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.4% 17.0% 100%

3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 19.4% 100%

Page 30 Mit!ronesian Edot!ator - Volo1ne 15, 20 II