As Guam gears up to celebrate Liberation Day, it’s not only a time to reflect on the past, but to take action to honor the sacrifices made. For the Young Men’s League of Guam, that means encouraging everyone to Fino’ CHamoru.

"Today, the existence of the CHamoru language is at a crossroads, caught between a rapid decline and growing efforts to keep it alive," explained Dr. Kenneth Kuper. That’s why the League is hitting the road, bringing hard truths, real data, and a call to action to each village.

“We’re calling this campaign ‘It Takes a Village’ because we believe there is a lot of untapped potential at the village level to really contribute to the revitalization of our language," Dr. Kuper said.

Kuper, a YMLG cultural committee member, says the campaign is an interactive conversation about our history, identity, and the hard truth that fewer families are passing on the CHamoru language. For fellow committee member Cody Lizama, the loss of language results in a complete loss of culture.

“We need to come together as a community – from the village and up – and say ‘Are we going to let this happen or are we going to start using our language?” he said.

While attitudes toward the language are positively shifting, YMLG president Bob Pelkey says barriers, like teasing those trying to learn are inhibiting progress. He said, “Sometimes that hurt or embarrassment discourages you from continuing to learn. We’re asking you to stop that. Let’s encourage them, lift their spirits, and be grateful that they’re trying to learn CHamoru.”

And learning support is on its way. Their master-apprentice program gathers three to five pairs in each village to spend up to 15 hours a week learning CHamoru, a model taken from a similar program by the league already underway at the University of Guam.

And if you’re thinking it’s too late to learn, Lizama and Kuper are proof it isn’t -  beginning their learning journeys when they were 18 and 20 years old.  “The experience was an emotional rollercoaster," Kuper recalled, "but if you were to ask me if I would do it again, I'd say yes in a heartbeat.”

But the clock is ticking as the approximate 21,000 people who speak CHamoru, many of whom are manåmko', are passing on. “We’re very concerned as language plays the greatest part in our continuation of our culture and heritage that we learned from our parents. And it’s very important that we share this with the next generation because we don’t want to be an artifact," he said.

YMLG says that while we celebrate our CHamoru identities during Mes CHamoru, AAPI Month, and at Liberation Day, putting our pride into practice throughout the year will make all the difference.

“We’re just here to provide opportunities, support, and encourage people that it’s not shameful to be CHamoru. Stand up, be proud, and speak your language," he shared.

They invite everyone to join the movement at their next meeting taking place at the Mangilao Community Center on June 26, at 6:30pm.

They said enthusiastically, “Usa CHamoru kada dia! Hunggan.”