NO REST FOR THE AWAKE - MINAGAHET CHAMORRO

Independent Guåhan’s educational outreach continues in Dededo and with their monthly General Assembly returning to Hagåtña For Immediate Release, August 25, 2017 –  In dependent Guåhan (IG) continues their efforts to educate the island community about the possibilities for Guåhan should it become an independent country, with two educational outreach opportunities in the last week of August. The first, a village meeting, will take place at the Dededo Senior Citizens’ Center on Wednesday, August 30 th from 6:00 -7:30 p.m. The second, the latest in their monthly General Assemblies (GA) will be held on Thursday, August 31st from 6:00 -7:30 p.m. at the main pavilion of the Chamorro Village in Hagåtña. Both events are free and open to the public.   Over the summer, IG held a series of successful village meetings in Malesso’, Chalan Pågo and Toto, drawing more than 150 people total. Under the leadership of Melvin Won Pat-Borja, IG will continue thi

Independent Guåhan’s June General Assembly focuses on issue of military dumping and vandalism in the village of Toto For Immediate Release, June 20, 2017 – Independent Guåhan (IG) has continued to bring decolonization outreach and education to Guam’s villages with two successful forums in Malesso’ and Chalan Pågo. This month’s General Assembly (GA) will be at the Toto Community Center on June 29, from 6:00 -7:30 p.m. The focus this month is on the troubling history of military dumping on Guam and also creative ways communities can deal with problems such as vandalism and crime. Each meeting, IG honors a Maga’taotao, or outstanding person. This month the group will honor the legacy of Tan Deda, or Magdalena S.N. Bayani, a war survivor, master techa and pillar of the M-T-M community who passed away recently. IG honors the strength and perseverance of Tan Deda and all other war survivors as June 28 is Guam War Survivors Memorial Day. In analyzing the impacts of Wo

Independent Guåhan continues village outreach with Malesso’ General Assembly, will focus on local leadership and ingenuity For Immediate Release, May 23, 2017 – In their continuing efforts to educate the island community about decolonization, Independent Guåhan will be holding their monthly General Assembly at the Malesso’ Recreational Center on May 25th from 6:00-7:30 P.M. This month’s assembly continues a village-based outreach initiative, where the group brings informational resources and critical conversations about independence as a political status option directly into the island’s villages. At each General Assembly, Independent Guåhan choose a Maga’taotao or elite person to be honored. For the May assembly, the group will recognize the courage of Jose “Tonko” Reyes, who during the closing days of the Japanese occupation of Guam, organized a group of men from Malesso’ to rise up and kill the Japanese soldiers holding the village captive. Like the brave and

Independent Guåhan to hold monthly General Assembly in Chalan Pågo Launching New Village Outreach Campaign For Immediate Release, April 24, 2017 – In their continuing efforts to educate the island community about decolonization, Independent Guåhan will be holding their monthly General Assembly at the Chalan Pågo Community Center on Thursday, April 27 from 6 -7:30 p.m. This month’s assembly represents a new initiative by the group to bring informational resources and critical conversations about independence as a political status option directly into the island’s villages.  Since August of last year, Independent Guåhan has been holding monthly General Assembly meetings in the Main Pavilion of the Chamorro Village. This month’s meeting in Chalan Pågo represents a new phase of educational outreach, where each monthly assembly will move to a new village. Jessy Gogue, Mayor of Ordot-Chalan Pågo, is working closely with Independent Guåhan to invite village reside

INDEPENDENT GUÅHAN HOLDS ITS FEBRUARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING Will discuss the importance of environmental stewardship under the theme of “Hu Guaiya iya Guåhan.” Independent Guåhan invites the public to its monthly General Assembly (GA) meeting on Thursday, February 23rd from 6 – 7:30 pm at the Main Pavilion of the Chamorro Village in Hagåtña. The theme for this GA is “Hu Guaiya Iya Guåhan” and will focus on efforts to encourage environmental stewardship through the revitalization of Chamorro values.   The Inifresi outlines the six core elements that we must protect and defend in order to sustain and prosper as a community. This month’s GA will focus on the importance of tåno’ (land) and how an independent Guåhan can help protect this essential element of life. Over the past century, the Chamorro relationship to land has changed dramatically, primarily because of postwar displacement and changes in Guam’s economy. Land has moved from being somethin

Independent Guåhan Upcoming General Assembly will Honor Former Bank of Guam President Anthony Leon Guerrero and Discuss Jones Act For Immediate Release, January 20, 2017 – Independent Guåhan invites the public to its monthly General Assembly on Thursday, January 26 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the main pavilion of the Chamorro Village in Hagåtña. For this first General Assembly of the year, the focus will be on the Jones Act and how Guam’s economy has been inhibited by this colonial imposition. The Merchant Marine Act, more commonly known as the Jones Act, was passed in 1920 and is designed to protect U.S. shipbuilding and maintain a vibrant American maritime industry. It requires that trade of goods between U.S. ports, including those in the territories be conducted on U.S. built ships, owned by US citizens and crewed by permanent residents or citizens of the U.S. This act has led to an artificial inflation of prices on goods sold in places such as Guam, which cannot take advan

--> Independence for Guåhan Task Force launches Fanhita Campaign Continues educational outreach by discussing security threats to Guam and Singapore as a possible model for independence. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 – The Independence for Guåhan Task Force held its second General Assembly on September 22 nd at the main pavilion of the Chamorro Village in Hagåtña. More than 70 people gathered to listen to information presentations, pay tribute to a Chamorro educational pioneer and also help coordinate small family and organization-based conversations meant to diversify the ways in which we educate our community about decolonization and independence. The meeting opened with a tribute to Dr. Bernadita Camacho-Dungca, the Chamorro linguist and indigenous rights activist, best known for her writing the Inifresi who passed away earlier this year. The Inifresi calls on the people of Guam to pledge to protect and defend the precious natural and cultural r

Independent Guåhan invites the public to attend its fifth General Assembly on Thursday, December 22 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the main pavilion of the Chamorro Village in Hagåtña. The meeting will focus on water and what Guåhan can do as an independent country to preserve this precious resource. Water is an essential element for human life across the Pacific and around the world. Hånom is one of the six elements that are invoked each day by thousands across the island when reciting the Inifresi. At present, our access to clean and safe water sources is complicated by the U.S. Navy’s ownership of Fena Lake in the south and the potential damage to the northern aquifer outlined in the Record of Decision should the U.S. continue to increase its military presence on Guåhan. As an independent country, we would be able to control access and use of these resources to ensure that future generations have clean and reliable water. Next week’s General Assembly will focus on policies

If you are interested in learning more about decolonization and independence for Guam, please come and join us for Independent Guahan's October General Assembly meeting, this Thursday (10/27) at 6 pm at the Main Pavilion of the Chamorro Village in Hagatna. For our educational presentation, we will be discussing what is known as a transition or implementation period. This is a temporary phase whereby a colony that has chosen to become independent, negotiates a gradual reduction in dependency on programs provided by the colonizer, and receives funding in order to develop new revenues and new programs to fill any needed gaps. For each monthly General Assembly meeting, Independent Guahan chooses a "maga'taotao" or a pioneer/hero which we honor for their role in helping push the island towards decolonization. This Thursday, we will be honoring the late Senator Ben Pangelinan, for his tireless efforts as a Guam lawmaker to protect the rights, lands and heritage o