Reservist revitalizes language, fosters community

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennie Chamberlin
  • 624th RSG Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Guam, an island whose native people enjoy a rich history and culture, is facing the decline, and possibly loss of, its native tongue Chamoru, a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken in the Mariana islands by 47,000 people.

This is due to the wide influence of English as the dominant language of business, media and the military here.

Senior Master Sgt. Ray Arceo, a Reservist with the 44th Aerial Port Squadron, raised in the language by a grandmother who spoke it exclusively, decided that something had to be done before it was too late.

In 2004, Sergeant Arceo and his wife Anne Marie conducted a survey concerning the use of the Chamoru language on Guam. Their findings suggested that primary speakers were members of the older generations and that the language was seldom spoken among families.

To change this they created Huråo Inc, a non-profit organization (named after a chief who resisted Spanish colonization in the 17th century) dedicated to educating children and their parents about the Chamorro culture.

Using the example of Hawaiian and Maori language immersion programs as their guide, their first step was creating a summer camp for kids geared to immerse children in Chamoru.

"Most of the parents' reaction was 'This is another daycare, right?' At the end of the summer, parents were shocked," he said. "They had no idea that the goal was to teach them language and culture."

Since then the school has grown to include a daily after-school program, which includes instruction in traditional Chamorro skills such as weaving, carving, and cooking for children, and classes for parents as well.

"The afterschool program just came together because of the support of our parents and the interest of our students," Sergeant Arceo said. "They love the program. It was the parents that prompted us to keep the program going, and we've been doing it for six years."

"Huråo has provided us with a great opportunity to provide motivation within our family and bring us back to the roots, bring us back to the whole concept of the Chamorro family and to preserve it," said Master Sgt. John Hernandez, one of several members of the 44th APS who has a child in the program.

"It was our children that prompted us to teach other children," Sergeant Arceo said. "We knew the younger generation was going to keep the language alive."

"Gof ya-hu para bai hu kuentos gi fino' Chamoru," (I really enjoy learning Chamoru.) said Jeniece Ann,11, the daughter of Sergeant Hernandez. "I really want to pass it on to the people who really want to learn the language."

Sergeant Arceo's hope is that the school will encourage families to speak Chamoru in their homes and to keep the language, and thereby the Chamorro culture alive.

"Our school is making efforts to educate our children about where they came from, to give them back what is theirs, and that is the language," he said. "Without language you don't have culture. Language identifies a person. Language supports a culture," said Sergeant Arceo.

"The most rewarding part is watching the students learn the language and use it among one another. Every person that learns it is helping to keep Chamoru from extinction," he added.

"Even if it's just one student, we've made a difference."