It’s been a while since I’ve posted (or anyone of our other contributors) on the site. But now that we’re all on island, and 3/4ths of the writing team has fresh diapers on their newborns babies, it’s time for some blogging! For those that haven’t heard yet, congratulations to Don, Kel, and Miget for the births of their newborns Ezri, Seth, and “Alkaline” respectively. Also, please wish me luck that this gets me some extra credit points with my Guam History/Guamology contributor Dr. Miget!

The sounds of the kulu shells blew together in unison under the bated breaths of Chamorro boys and men from Guahan and from Luta as they stood in solemn pride under the battering Sunday sun. Dressed in simple cloths reminiscent of outfits once worn by Chamorros of the past, these boys and men stand together by the shore of Ypao beach. A massing of interested onlookers and supporters gather here as well. Under the sound of the vibrant kulu blows, chants, and speeches is a melody of curious whispers, camera shutter clicks, and the slight beach breeze passing through palm tree fronds.

We all gathered here on the final day of the 2009 Guam Micronesian Island Fair for a very special ceremony. Today would mark a significant day in the history of not just Guam, but the Marianas, and the Pacific as a whole. Today a culture once vibrant and powerful but which has been diluted by imperialism, globalization, and political boundaries will be strengthened. Today these boys and men from Guam and Rota, along with all their numerous supporters, gather here to bless and prepare the site of what will become the Guma’ i Latte Sakman, a traditional Chamorro canoe house built atop latte stone pillars.

The Guma’ i Latte Sakman, a project under the direction of the group TASI (Traditions About Seafaring Islands), will be a large structure that will stand on the shores of Tumon Bay like other canoe houses did centuries ago.

The structure will be framed with gago wood, nipa leaves will be used for the thatched roofing and sides, and the latte stones will be made using traditional limestone rocks. The dimensions of the structure will be approximately 80 feet long and 35 feet wide. The house will stand on latte stones that measure 12 feet high, with the overall height of the structure coming in at 40 feet.

The house will have four decks and will be the storage and construction area for traditional canoes such as the Sakman Saina, the canoe built by TASI that took an 8-member crew on a historical voyage from Guam to Rota using traditional seafaring techniques earlier this year. The structure, which is located in Tumon, will also be used to educate residents and tourists alike on Chamorro and Micronesian seafaring history and culture. The building of this structure is to start in November 2009 with a proposed completion date in February of 2010.

This ceremony is very significant and it helps tie together the past with the present as many of us work towards preserving and reclaiming the Chamorro culture. It’s of great significance that TASI is being aided by Rota residents along with both the Guam and CNMI governments. It is through this endeavor of uniting a people separated by a few miles of ocean and an incalculable distance of political red-taped boundaries that the Marianas can find a sense of unity.