At 89-years-old, Saina Rosalia Fejeran Mateo—lovingly called, “Mama Chai”—carries within her a gift, and an ancient knowledge passed down through generations.

With just the gentle squeeze of her hand.

“That’s what I believe… cure the person,” said Mama Chai. 

This Yo’åmte, or traditional healer, says she can sense the kind of healing a person’s body and spirit may be longing for.

“For body aches–this one. This one–I’m using for oil for my healing,” added Mama Chai. “Suruhåna is not a business–it’s just a healer.”

From her deep knowledge of medicinal plants to offering comfort and renewed hope to those facing even the gravest diagnoses, mama chai has touched countless lives. 

But her story of healing is one of reciprocity—rooted first in her own apprenticeship under Yo’åmte Regina Terlaje.

“When I took the children to the old lady that passed me this medicine, and she told me, “cure a person with your heart,” added Mama Chai. 

And that heartbeat continues in her daughter, Frances Meno, who she now passes the practice down to.

“She’ll say, Frances, go out there and pick this medicine, and I want you to lomok it for so and so–for the ears, nose, and mouth,” said Mateo. 

It’s that sharing, in addition to her 69 years of service, that has recently earned her the Guam masters award from the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency. 

“I watched her and observed her, and people would come to her–she would touch people and know what they were doing, what they would need to do, and the certain medicine for them to take,” said Angie Taitague, Director of CAHA. “I’ve seen it with my own eyes that giving her the masters award for the master healer–she’s very well deserving–I’ve seen it with my own eyes and I hear it from people.”

Today, Mama Chai is celebrated as one of Guam's national treasures, a living link to tradition, healing, and love.