VISUALIZING HISTORY - KUAM NEWS



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SINAHI

On November 21 I gave a talk for the MARC Seminar Series at the University of Guam.   This talk was meant to encourage a continuing discussion of the crescent-shaped, carved body ornament called Sinahi by contemporary Chamorros.   My interest in this object is due to the fact that it has become a major icon of Chamorro identity, yet its ancient origins and usage is a mystery.   To summarize my talk: ·       The name Sinahi was given by contemporary Chamorros because it looks like a crescent moon.   This is confusing because Sinahi actually means New Moon, meaning the dark moon.   According to my sources, ancient Chamorro language described the waxing moon as Sinahi---( i.e One, Two) , using ancient terminology for the   enlarging size of the crescent over the month’s cycle.   Contemporaries shortened these terms to just Sinahi .   In the northern Mariana Islands, it has been called Kalang , meaning pendant.   ·       It was carved from the giant clam shell, a ver
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A Letter to The Editor

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR FestPac is important By Judy Flores Printed December 3, 2019      I grew up in Inalåhan in the 1950s when historical knowledge was limited to the celebration of our American heritage, where we studied American heroes such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The CHamoru people were proud of their Spanish heritage, where white skin and long noses were signs of beauty. Ancient times were referred to as “tiempon antis de mannungu’ hit” or the time before we had knowledge. Schools celebrated international cultures instead of our own CHamoru culture. In sixth grade, our CHamoru principal taught our class a short hula dance where we wore muumuu dresses and kept rhythm with bamboo whisks while a hula-trained classmate danced to the tune of “My Little Brown Gal”. During family parties, old people danced the batsu and sotis while we youngsters giggled at them. The jukebox at the store next door
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