Chamorus have an inalienable right to exist as a nation of people. We are direct descendants of the original inhabitants on Guam with a distinct culture and language. Based on recorded history and archaeological findings, the Chamoru nation is approximately 4,000 years old. Through time and the natural process of evolution, 200 generations of Chamorus were born into this world. Today, our nation is threatened as a result of immigration and Guam's socio-political and economic conditions.

Sovereignty can be defined as an inalienable right for all people to exist as a nation in their own land. Chamorus have this inalienable right and the inherent responsibility to protect the land, water, air, spirituality, language and culture in order for our people to survive.

All sovereign nations (Japan, Korea, Philippines, China, etc.) have a constitution which safeguards the sovereign right of their people to exist.  Here on Guam, the U.S. constitution serves to deny Chamorus their basic, fundamental human rights. The United States took our lands (one-third of Guam) without due process and just compensation, our freshwater is controlled by the U.S. military and sold to the public, our 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone is under U.S. jurisdiction, Guam's executive, legislative and judicial process is dictated by the U.S. constitution; and U.S. immigration policies serve to make the Chamoru people minorities in their own land.

The goal of the traditional council is to plan the course of our destiny and to perpetuate the Chamoru Nation. This objective is a tremendous undertaking which will require 101 percent of our time, service, commitment and sacrafice. Our path has already been paved by Chamoru pioneers who came before us. These people have devoted their time and dedicated their lives for a cause - to protect our sovereign right to exist as a people and survive on this land.

Indeed, many of our people have struggled for so long to attain our inalienable right to self-determination and to perpetuate our Chamoru language and culture.  They have brought into our homes a sense of identity, belonging and peoplehood. They've instilled in our hearts a sense of pride. They've planted in our minds a sense of direction.  They have given us hope for the future. The formal proclamation of a Chamoru Nation on July 21, 1991 was the fruits of their labor.

The act of proclaiming a Chamoru Nation was an easy task; however, there is much to be done in nurturing and rebuilding this nation. We must restore and develop the Chamoru Nation into a vibrant and self-sustaining body

We must not give up! We must persevere in our endeavors to achieve Chamoru sovereignty! The blanket of social injustice which covers the face of our nation must be removed. The right of our people to exist is an issue of humanity and should be the driving force in everything we do. As true disciples, we have an obligation to save our people. The survival of this nation, the future of our children, and the destiny of our people is in our hands.

We are here for a common cause with a common goal. As individuals, it becomes a heavy cross to carry. As a people, we can work as a family to rebuild a Chamoru Nation. The spirit of our ancestors lies at the heart of our quest for sovereignty.

The philosophy of the Traditional Council is founded on commitment, non-violence and human rights. The council's non-violent approach to resolving the social injustices will reduce the need for armed resistance by disenfranchised people. We also have an inherent responsibility to protect our environment. No people in the world can survive as a nation without land, water, air, spirituality, language and culture.

Furthermore, the goals of the Traditional Council, as an unaligned, nonpartisan, non-governmental nation of people is to establish a forum for Chamorus to unite and perpetuate the Chamoru Nation.


Angel L.G. Santos
Chamoru Nation Traditional Council Member
November 9, 1991