Guam’s political status is a conversation that’s often met with uncertainty, division, or silence. But this week, island leaders, students, and residents gathered for the fourth annual Fanhita conference with a shared goal to move the conversation forward.

The conversation surrounding Guam’s political status has historically been a tense one. Fanhita, hosted by the Commission on Decolonization, themed 'Decolonization – Let's Talk About It’ aims to lift the veil of stigma around the conversation, inviting the community to learn more about the options Guam has in the journey to self-determination.

Commission executive director Melvin Won Pat-Borja says fostering local advocacy, which they hope will lead to regional and international engagement, is paramount. He told KUAM News, “For every issue, every social or governmental challenge that we face on the island, there is an avenue for resolution through an act of full self-government.”

And though they aren’t of voting age just yet, Guam’s youth aren’t being left out of this decision, either. As Won Pat-Borja says, they will inherit any decision made in a referendum.

“Young people should be engaged directly. Young people should be involved in the conversation. We have a number of high school students that are attending today," he stated.

Conversations here range from legal frameworks and cultural identity to real-life implications of potential political status changes. For many attendees, it’s not just a political issue — it’s deeply personal.

“I’m from Saint Vincent and the Grenidines. My country gained our independence in 1979," said one conference attendee. “Everybody wants self-determination. Everybody wants the rights to do the best for their land that’s tied to their ancestors and bloodline.

“What’s going on here is that you’re being put in a situation that you can’t even argue against."

And so, through panels with leaders and workshops tailored to providing a nuanced breakdown of each step of the self-determination process, educating the community is how the commission moves forward.

“I think the most important piece is education and awareness," Won Pat-Borja added. “This is a very important decision for our people to make. The act of self-determination is an act that you only do once.”

“So, we need to be certain and we need to be aware of the impacts. Every single legitimate political status option has its benefits and downsides, but every single one of them is superior to the unincorporated territory status that we have now.”