What can we share and what can we learn from other indigenous peoples? That’s the guiding question as stewards of Chamoru education prepare for the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference in New Zealand—with a focus on strengthening the right to teach and learn in the native tongue. 

Representing Guam through the Guam Department of Education’s Chamoru Studies and Special Projects Division are Siñot Jimmy Teria, administrator, and Tan Rufina Mendiola, Chamoru medium immersion teacher.   The pair sitting down with kuam to share what they hope to bring to the table, and how they plan to spotlight local progress in indigenous education.

Teria said, “We’re very excited because we have two programs that we’re representing: we have the CHamoru language and culture program, and our FanIyåkan CHamoru–our CHamoru medium program located at PC Lujan elementary. So, we really wanted to share our story.” “It’s about how long we’ve been educating our children in CHamoru in the Guam public school system, and more recently in our CHamoru medium program and we’re just excited to share how much we’ve grown.”

There’s also excitement building around what they hope to learn and how it can translate into continued growth.Mendiola said, “I maximized all my sessions, and I’ve chosen nesting, and other sessions that include music–it’s very important. I sing–everything I teach, I sing, I make it up. And also, storytelling. The Pacific island people are full of storytellers, so I want to learn more since someone else from another nation is going to share their story. I’d like to learn more about how they tell their story and incorporate it with our stories.”

Because ultimately, they say it all comes back to advancing a bigger mission, as Teria noted, “A majority of indigenous languages really need to band together and really fight for the right to educate their children in their native tongue. So, we’re very eager to see what’s been happening in Aotearoa, and at the same time, we’re also equally excited to share what Guahan has been doing.”

“Now, I want to bring back and let those kids take ownership–the youth. We know who we are today for the future generations," Mendiola added.

The conference runs from the 16th through the 21st.