Searching for Crabs

The next story for our Saturday practice group is about a father and son, providing a warm narrative that frames…

The Story of the Evil Old Woman

As we near the end of October, we’re fully into the fall here in Oregon. Days continue to shorten, leaves…

The Overnight Vigil in Past Times on Guam

In earlier times, when death came to a Chamorro family, it was met at home—with prayer, care, and community. One…

A Story About the Wisdom of the Elders

After several weeks of reading through an interview from the Directory of Traditional Healers & Medicinal Plants in the CNMI,…

Throw Net for Rabbitfish

This week’s story will turn back to the topics of food and where it comes from, specifically a particular fish…

Plants of Guam, Part 2

For this week’s Saturday morning practice group, we will continue reading through the plant book that we’ve used the past…

Plants of Guam, Part 1

For this week’s Saturday morning practice group, we will be reading through the first half of a book about plants…

Chamorro Concepts and Sayings part 1

This week, we continue with materials that align to the topics that our practice group wanted to focus on reading.…

The Amazing Gådao

Håfa adai everyone! It has been a quiet 3 weeks here on the blog and in our practice groups, as…

How Customs Were

Our practice group recently voted on the kind of content that we’re interested in reading. Two themes came out on…

No Lie Is Small

Here we have a short, humorous story about a village and its priest by Påle’ Eric Forbes from his book…

Chamorro Pumpkin Recipes

Chamorro pumpkin recipes were rare in my home growing up, despite the abudance of pumpkins here in the Pacific Northwest…

The Lenten Boar

A story about the Lenten Boar, used by elders to teach children respect for Lent.

Chamorro Yam Recipes

A collection of traditional Chamorro yam recipes, written by Carmen C. Blas.

First Encounter With Magellan

The history of our islands and people have been framed so often from the Western, colonial gaze that it can…

The Right of a People

It is Guam’s Mes Chamoru (Chamorro month) once again! To kick off our celebration this month, our Saturday morning practice…

Chamorro Federico Palm Dishes

This one is a rarity in itself. Meticulous preparation of the Federico Palm’s nuts is crucial, as they’re toxic when…

Chamorro Breadfruit Dishes

While it’s harder to come by in the Pacific Northwest, breadfruit is an abundant and beloved staple across most of…

Chamorro Taro Dishes

Chamorro recipes that use taro root or taro leaves were rare for me when I was growing up, as they…

Chamorro Banana Recipes

Another common ingredient featured in Chamorro cooking is the chotda or the green banana. It is often cooked in coconut…

Chamorro Corn Dishes

A selection of Chamorro recipes for titiyas, atuli, atmåyas and kalamai, written in Chamorro.

Chamorro Rice Dishes 

Rice is usually a staple in Chamorro kitchens, both as part of our daily meals and also for special occasions.…

Sweet Pumpkin Porridge

A cozy story about a young woman who cooks sweet pumpkin porridge for an elderly woman.

I Sapateru Yan I Dos Duendes

A Chamorro retelling of the fairy tale “The Shoemaker and the Elves” from the Brothers Grimm.

The Straw, The Coal, and The Bean

A Chamorro retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale “The Straw, The Coal, and The Bean”.

The Old Man and His Grandson

As a child I owned a copy of the tales collected the Brothers’ Grimm, and whenever I didn’t know what…

Mark 1

This week in our practice group, we will be listening to and reading the first chapter in the book of…

Estorian Luta: The Squeaky Cart

Our Saturday morning practice group will be reading a short story this week. This is a story from the island…

Estorian Taotaomo’na: The Ones Driven Out

Our story for this Saturday’s practice group is this fantasy short story written by Jay Che’le, edited by Ray Barcinas…

Estorian Taotaomo’na: The Story of the Fragrant Woman

Another taotaomo’na story this week, from the island of Guam. Set in the village of Agat, this story is about…

Estorian Taotaomo’na: Si Tangulu

Here is a taotaomo’na story from Luta about a taotaomo’na named Tangulu, which literally translates to “skull”. It’s a combination…

Legend: Taga’s Youngest Son

Here is another story about Taga, and this time it focuses more on his family relationships. We learn more about…

Dear Mariko

This story is a pen-pal letter from a third-grader named Maria to Mariko, a student in Japan. This letter is…

When we first arrived on Saipan

This story was written by Magdelena Iguel Lieto, where she tells the story, as told to her by her elders,…

Legend: When Taga Became Chief of Tinian

September is Chamorro and Carolinian Cultural Heritage Month in the CNMI, and so for the next month our practice group…

The Sandpiper Girl

A Chamorro retelling of a Japanese story about an elderly couple who are kind to a lost child.

How The Deer Tricked the Crocodiles

A short story about a little deer who manages to trick a river full of crocodiles.

Carolinian Story: The Good Child

Here is a story from the Caroline Islands about a child who goes on adventures to help the village chief.

Kosraean Story: The Snake Queen

A story from Kosrae, retold in Chamorro, about a young woman and her father who was a giant snake.

Palauan Story: The Woman in Ngerehokl

A story from Palau, retold in Chamorro, about a mother who longs to be young again for her daughter’s sake.

Pohnpeian Story: Sakier, The Amazing Bird

A story from Pohnpei, retold in Chamorro, about the fate of an unloved daughter.

The Young Man and the Tiger

A Thai folktale retold in Chamorro about a young man who saves a young woman from a human-eating tiger.

Kottura: I Taotaomo’na

A short story explaining Chamorro beliefs about the taotaomo’na, or ancestral spirits.

The Dolphin and the Two Children

A heart-warming story about two children who try to save a dolphin.

The Wind And The Sun

A translation of a tale from Aesop’s Fables about a competition between the wind and the sun.

Learning to Scuba Dive

A narrative about learning how to scuba dive from the writer Sylvestre Iguel.

The Beautiful Mango

A short story that explains Chamorro cultural beliefs about the consequences of taking from the land without asking permission.

The Canary and The Chungi’

A charming tale of friendship between two birds, the canary and the chungi’, which in English is known as the…

The Beautiful Woman at the Well

A story evoking elements of the scented lady or white lady legend, a group of friends are sitting outside when…

The Girl Who Turned Into Ash

A story about the consequences of caring more about money than the happiness and well-being of your child.

Legend: The Story of Sirena

A Chamorro legend about the young girl Sirena and how she became a mermaid.

Legend: How the Young Women of Guam Saved the Island

Here is a Chamorro legend explaining why the middle of Guam is narrow, celebrating the intelligence and courage of Chamorro…

Legend: The Story of the Coconut

The Chamorro legend of the origin of the coconut tree.

Truly Beautiful

Here’s a short story from Påle’ Eric Forbes about the comical dynamics between a married couple.

The Old Pirate

A story involving the search for an old pirate’s treasure.

The Stubborn Bull

A story about a very stubborn bull, and the consequences of being too stubborn.

The Ugly Witch

A story from the island of Luta that explains why it is bad to sew at night.

Legend: The Story of the Breadfruit on Guahån

A Chamorro legend explaining the origin of the breadfruit tree.

A Japanese Tailor

A story from Påle’ Eric Forbes’ father about how he learned Japanese from the tailor, si Kurokawa.

The Whaler Returned

A story from Påle’ Eric Forbes about a Chamorro whaler who comes home to Guam after 15 years of being…

Legend: Si Chaifi

A story originally created by the German official George Fritz about Chaifi, the god of the underworld.

Latti, Haligi, yan Tåsa

A short essay by Påle’ Eric Forbes explaining the different parts of the latte stone.

A Love Puzzle

A short retelling of a tale from the 1,001 Nights, about three brothers who all love the same woman.

Legend: Why the Kakkak is Skinny

The Chamorro legend about why the Kakkak (yellow bittern) is so skinny.

How the Japanese Started Honoring Their Elders

A story retold from Japan about how and why the Japanese started honoring their elders.

A Chamorro Matchmaker

A story about a Chamorro matchmaker Tan Sabet who finds the perfect match for a man unlucky in matrimony.

Kottura: Gupot Nobena

A short story about the Chamorro cultural practice of gathering for the novena.

Kottura: Mámaisen Saina Si Piling

A short story about the Chamorro cultural practice of asking elders permission to marry.

Kottura: I Kostumbren Mannginge’

A short piece about the Chamorro cultural practice of greeting elders.

Legend: What Made The Fruitbat Have No Friends

The Chamorro legend of why the fanihi (fruitbat) has no friends.

Legend: The Story of Alupang Rock on Guam

The Chamorro legend of how Alupang Rock on Guam was formed.

Estorian Chamoru: Lechen Nåna

Biba Tinilaikan Såkkan 🙂 På’go na såkkan malago’ yu’ na bei ekungok i finu’ Chamoru kada diha. Gof ya-hu i…

Sångan yan Råmen ginen as Shing Yin Khor

Do you like reading web comics? I love reading web comics, and especially now with all the variety of art…

1 Corinthians 13: Ginefli’e’

I received the New Testament in Chamorro last January. But when I received it, I couldn’t read it because all…

I Karabao Gi Paingen Christmas

Åntes di hu sodda’ este na estoria, tåya’ nai hu hungok. Gof kiñute put tiempon Christmas. Taitai yan gosa :)…

Estorian Chamoru: Sinko na Påbu

Link to Quizlet Study Deck: Sinko na Påbu Quizlet In taitai yan pula este na estoria gi inetnon praktika gi…

When Jose Was Lost

Here’s a story about a time when a little boy named Jose got lost and wanders around, visiting the different…

When There Was No School

Here’s a cute story about a group of kids going to the beach on a day when there was no…