This weekend, the island is invited to a gathering that brings together history, art, and community. Gi Matan Guma’ is hosting a special share-out event at the Guam Museum, celebrating a cultural journey that stretched across the Pacific and back home.

After three weeks of cultural exchange throughout communities across Turtle Island — from the Wabanaki Homelands in Maine to the Chinook Homelands in Portland — Gi Matan Guma’ is bringing their voices, art, and connections back to Guam.

Artistic director Dakota Camacho said the project is called Mali’e’, revives a historic Chamoru art form — known as Kantan Chamurita — a tradition of call-and-response, storytelling, and verse-making that records history and builds community.

Joseph Certeza, is a traditional pattern design visual artist shares what occurred over the course of three weeks. "The biggest things that we took away, from this experience is what does it mean to build relationships with different indigineous communities which took place the Wabanaki homelands in Maine and then the next aspect of our experience was sharing stories, whether its through the community in the Seattle area, or with youth which was... in the Marianas festival as well," he said.

On Saturday, October 4th at the Guam Museum, the community is invited to experience the culmination of that journey — a multidisciplinary performance ritual. The 2025 Mali’e’ cohort features Chamoru dancers, visual artists, organizers, and storytellers — from shell ornamentation and hibiscus accessories to movement and song — all activating a space for unity and collaboration.

Artwork created during the journey — including traditional ornaments, and handmade pieces — will also be available for the community to take home. "We're going to have hand printed items from joey, handmade earrings and crafts made by franchesca, carvings from hilian, we'll have our chant booklets, and if you are interested getting your hands on the materials learning what they mean to us this will be a good time to come and check it out," he said.

Gi Matan Guma’ says Mali’e’ is about seeing, remembering, and building together. A celebration of what it means to be Chamoru — rooted in history, and shared across oceans. "If you are interested in learning what is our chamorro heritage,we want you to be in this space with us. And ask those questions,we want to share what we know, what we do, it's part of our passion, part of our love for island and community. We have to share with our next generation.we love for that to happen so please come out," he said.

Again, the event is from 11am-1pm at the Guam Museum on Saturday, Oct. 4, come and check it out. For more information, follow on Instagram @gimatanguma