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Roles of Family Members

Chamorro Culture, Matrilineal Systems, Our Heritage, Roles of Family Members

CHamoru Women’s Legacy of Leadership

CHamoru women have a legacy of leadership that helped keep the culture and history of their people alive. The earliest accounts of ancient CHamoru society state that women maintained their family’s wealth, had final say in the governance of both their home and village and were the primary caretakers of their children and land.

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Chamorro Culture, Historic Eras of Guam, Matrilineal Systems, Our Heritage, People, People and Places, Roles of Family Members, Spanish Era, Spanish-CHamoru Wars, Wars and Factors of Peace

Tolahi

Maga’låhi Tolahi (also spelled Tetlaje or Torahi) was a chief from Tachuc (immediately south of Malesso),  who fearlessly led the southern villages in resistance to Spanish rule. Tolahi believed that Chamorros/CHamorus were entitled to live freely as they had for millennia before the Spanish arrived.

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Ancient Guam Era, Ancient Guam: Politics, Ancient Guam: Religion, Chamorro Culture, Civic Society, Historic Eras of Guam, Matrilineal Systems, Our Heritage, People, People and Places, Politics and Government, Religion, Roles of Family Members, Spanish Era

Kepuha: Quipuha

Kepuha (also spelled Quipuha) was a maga’låhi from Hagåtña, whose role in welcoming Spanish missionaries to Guam makes him a controversial figure in the island’s history. Kepuha was the first CHamoru to be baptized after he gave Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores the authority and land to start a Catholic mission in Hagåtña.

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Ancient Guam Era, Ancient Guam: Politics, Chamorro Culture, Civic Society, Historic Eras of Guam, Matrilineal Systems, Our Heritage, Politics and Government, Roles of Family Members

Maga’låhi: Highest Ranking Son

A maga’låhi was the first born, high ranking (matua) male head of a CHamoru clan, a role inherited through his maternal lineage. Manmaga’låhi and manmaga’håga (female leaders of the clan) societal status and consideration varied, depending on the productivity of their clan’s land, ocean resources and manpower.

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Ancient Guam Era, Ancient Guam: Politics, Chamorro Culture, Civic Society, Historic Eras of Guam, Matrilineal Systems, Our Heritage, Politics and Government, Roles of Family Members

Maga’håga: Highest Ranking Daughter

A maga’håga was the first born, high ranking (of the matua caste) female head of a CHamoru clan, a role inherited through her maternal lineage. Manmaga’håga (female leaders of a clan) and manmaga’låhi (male leaders of the clan) societal status and consideration varied, depending on the productivity of their clan’s land, ocean resources and manpower.

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