Workshops and Events

We offer in-person and virtual workshops for our Chamorro and Pacific Islander communities, with a focus on Chamorro language instruction and language reclamation in adulthood. Our upcoming and past workshops are shown below.

If you are interested in scheduling a workshop, class, or speaking engagement with us, please fill out our Contact Form.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fino’ Chamoru for Absolute Beginners

Event Details:

  • Workshop Date: June 25, 2026
  • Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Pacific Time)
  • Organization: Guma’ Imahe
  • Community Event: Chamorro Day Festival 2026
  • Location: Tacoma, WA
  • Facilitators: Schyuler Elise Lujan, Juan Cruz Quintanilla, Jr., and Dabit Taitingfong

Registration Details:

Workshop Description: The Chamorro language connects us to our culture, our islands, and our elders and ancestors. For many of us, however—especially those who did not grow up speaking it—the language has felt distant or out of reach. This workshop is designed specifically for absolute beginners, with no prior knowledge required. Its goal is to set participants on a path toward long-term success in learning Chamorro as adults. Together, we will explore the historical pressures and present-day barriers that have shaped our relationship to the language, while also discussing key mindsets that help learners move forward with confidence. Participants will also take part in a beginner-friendly Chamorro lesson, learning foundational sounds, words, and simple phrases, as well as practical strategies for continuing their studies. By the end of the workshop, attendees will leave not only with a starting foundation in Chamorro but also with a clearer sense that learning the language is possible. Each participant will receive a self-study beginner Chamorro workbook to support continued learning beyond the workshop.

Speak Chamorro at Home: Practical Strategies for the Whole Family

Event Details:

  • Workshop Date: June 25, 2026
  • Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Pacific Time)
  • Organization: Guma’ Imahe
  • Community Event: Chamorro Day Festival 2026
  • Location: Tacoma, WA
  • Facilitators: Schyuler Elise Lujan, Juan Cruz Quintanilla, Jr., and Dabit Taitingfong

Registration Details:

Workshop Description: Many families want to use more Chamorro at home but aren’t sure where to begin. Some may worry that they aren’t “fluent enough” to start. Regardless of how much Chamorro is currently used, the home remains one of the most powerful places for the language to live and grow. This workshop explores the dynamics of Chamorro language use in the home and addresses common concerns around speaking and using Chamorro in everyday family life. It is designed for anyone who wants to bring Chamorro into the home—whether you are a parent learning the language yourself or a native speaker hoping to pass it on to your children and grandchildren. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with (1) a clear sense that using Chamorro at home is possible for every family member, regardless of current fluency; (2) concrete, actionable steps they can begin implementing right away; and (3) confidence that meaningful progress comes from consistent, low-stress practice—not immediate fluency.

TBD: Chamorro Language Workshop in Oregon for August 2026

We are still finalizing the details for this workshop with our partner organization. We will post complete details here as soon as everything is finalized. Thank you for your patience!

PAST EVENTS

Indigenous Voices Online: Strengthening Indigenous Movements Through Social Media

Event Details:

  • Workshop Date: May 8, 2026
  • Organization: Life Mosaic
  • Facilitators: Brijlal Chaudhari and Michael Watts
  • Guest Speaker: Schyuler Elise Lujan

Workshop Description: Join Indigenous creators from around the world for meaningful conversations about the opportunities and risks of using social media and online platforms to amplify Indigenous voices and advocate for Indigenous rights.

I was invited to speak at this online workshop to share my experiences with digital language revitalization and community building outside of major social media platforms. In my talk, I discussed our grassroots approach to creating free, publicly accessible learning resources on lengguahita.com and how we use tools like WhatsApp and Zoom to cultivate community in ways that feel relational and sustainable. I closed by sharing my concerns about the risks of relying on social media for language revitalization, particularly the erosion of attention spans, the normalization of “shallow” content consumption, the creation of siloed communities, and the inherent limitations these platforms pose for building safe, meaningful learning spaces for Indigenous communities.

After the speaker presentations, I facilitated an English‑language discussion group with attendees from around the world, where we explored the concerns and risks that social media poses for Indigenous communities, as well as possible pathways to mitigate them.

Selected Quotes From The Event Summary:

“We are living in a colonised context, so creating a space designed just for us is really important. Many of us have very few opportunities to use our language.”


“Scrolling through reels doesn’t actually help you learn a language. There is a real difference between passive scrolling and active learning.”


“The greatest cost is our own time. But person-to-person, offline interactions remain the most important for building real community.”

HITA i Lengguahi-ta! A Chamorro Language Workshop

Event Details:

Workshop Description: This interactive Chamorro language workshop brings together teens and adults who want to start, strengthen, or deepen their skills — from absolute beginners to fluent speakers. Through engaging activities, participants will build and practice basic sentences for everyday communication. Be ready to explore strategies to push through common obstacles and keep progressing, including the habits and mindset needed for long-term growth. We will also clarify how fluent and emerging speakers can actively support language revitalization in the community.

Open to all ability levels, this standalone workshop will leave you with a resource booklet, high-impact learning strategies, and a practical path forward to continue your learning beyond the session.

Presentation Slides:

HITA i Lengguahi-ta! A Chamorro Language Workshop

Companion Booklet:

Booklet – HITA i Lengguahita (FINAL)Download

Our Words, Like Waves: Reclaiming Our Pacific Languages in the Diaspora

Event Details:

Workshop Description: Our languages connect us to our islands, cultures, and communities, shaping who we are and how we see the world. Yet for many Pacific Islanders, language access and transmission are deeply impacted by colonial histories, speakership decline, and pressures from dominant cultures. This workshop explores the challenges and opportunities of reclaiming our Pacific languages with two grassroots Chamorro language advocates living in Oregon. Participants will share experiences and engage in critical discussions on how our languages shape identity and influence the future of our communities. We will also open new pathways for our language reclamation by challenging common assumptions about learning and using our languages. Participants will walk away with intuitive learning practices, online resources, digital tools, and strategies to reclaim their languages with confidence and purpose.

Presentation Slides:

Our Words Like Waves: Reclaiming Our Pacific Languages in the Diaspora

Companion Booklet

Booklet – Our Words Like Waves