Daughters of the Diaspora: Traversing Chamoru Women’s Stories Beyond the Mariana Islands

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis essay examines the importance of Chamoru women’s stories in understanding the growth of the Chamoru diaspora. The Mariana Islands, homeland of Chamorus, is a matrilineal society that has dealt with various waves of colonialism, often changing the routes of mobility available to Chamoru families. This essay discusses the outmigration of Chamorus under Spanish and American colonial rule through uncovering the absent accounts of our women’s experiences and the ways they aided in the community building in the diaspora. Their continued role as matriarchal figures push narratives about Chamoru issues to grapple with the lack of engagement with Chamoru women’s stories.