NO REST FOR THE AWAKE - MINAGAHET CHAMORRO

Every week I host the podcast Fanachu. In the past my role was something in the background with others such as Manny Cruz, Lawrence "Siguenzama" Lizama or Albert Toves and Hannah Rebadullah taking the lead.  Since the pandemic, I've been the primary producer and host for Fanachu, and it has been tough at times trying to put out an episode kada simåna, with so many other things constantly going on in my life. I've been grateful for a handful of other creators who have come along to help produce content for Fanachu and give me some breathing rooms some weeks.  Recently Monaeka Flores from Prutehi Litekyan and Independent Guåhan has been great in terms of hosting and helping organize guests related to current protest movements on Guam. I'm excited that next year Tori Manley, a young up and coming Chamoru activist with Replenish Earth will be taking on regular episodes.  One of the most consistent people in the past two years in terms of helping produce content is Ann...

Ever since I first began learning Chamoru my interest in Chamoru music has continually grown.  I grew up sometimes hearing Chamoru music, but couldn't understand it and didn't really connect with it.  But from the first time that I sat down with my grandmother at the dining room table and had her help me translate the CD "Chamorro Yu'" from Johnny Sablan, kinenne' yu'. I have been hooked.  To this end I have been collecting Chamoru music, whether in CD, cassette or vinyl form.  I've collected whatever I can from newspapers, magazines and scholarly sources related to Chamoru music.   I have also been fortunate enough to sit down with many musicians and talk to them about their experiences and why in a world where English dominates, they chose to record and release music in Chamoru. Last month I was very very luck, gof suettettette, to be able to pick up the album "Ai Saun Diroga" by Chamolinian II while searching for Chamoru music online.   Fr...

I will be in Saipan for the next few days at this conference, the first annual Marianas Indigenous Conference. Here is the draft schedule for the event. I'm sure I'll be writing more about it in the coming week. ********************* A NORTHERN MARIANAS DESCENT CORPORATION (NMDC) SPONSORED EVENT ”Lessons Learned and A Way Forward” 2014 1 st Annual Marianas Indigenous Conference Multi-Purpose Center, Saipan September 29 th & 30 th , 2014 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM NMDC Vision:     A Self-Sustaining, Self-Governing Commonwealth whose destiny shall continue to remain in the hands of the Indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian people of Northern Marianas descent, in close partnership with other persons who are residents in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. NMDC Mission:     Empowerment of the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian people in the CNMI’s economic, social & political development and the pres...