Last week's powerful ceremony welcoming home sacred Chamoru latte stones was moving experience. Taken from Guam in the early 1900s, these latte have finally returned to their rightful home after more than a century away. 

It was an emotional moment charged with healing and resilience at Skinner Plaza in Hagåtña last Friday. Island youth led a powerful chant and prayer honoring their ancestors and welcoming home sacred latte stones from Ipao and Urunao. Governor Lou Leon Guerrero announced, "This has been a long, long, long time coming where now we have welcomed back our ancestors."

After more than a century away, the ancient latte have finally been rematriated - returned to Guam from Bishop Museum in Hawai‘i. In the early 1900s, amateur archaeologist Hans Hornbostel removed thousands of CHamoru artifacts, including these latte, and shipped them off with military assistance. 

For generations, they were stored far from home.

"Some might say our connection to this collection was severed," said Guam Museum curator Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua, "it was broken. That was definitely not true." he says that all changed after decades of advocacy and years of negotiation between Guam officials and Bishop Museum. 

"CHamorus asked questions when they saw things at the Bishop Museum on display, from Hornbostel’s collection. ‘Why is this here? How did it get here?’ A pictograph, a cave drawing that Hans Hornbostel had carved out of a wall in Talo’fo’fo– chiseled out of the wall," he added.

And this summer, a phased return of more than 10,000 artifacts began, marking one of the largest ethical returns in history.  Though officials say there's still more work that needs to be done, with Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio saying, "As we move on from this painful chapter in history, let us begin to write the next one. One centered on healing the wounds of colonization and working to reconnect CHamorus to their ancestral heritage."

And Governor Leon Guerrero continued, "The latte stones are known for their strength, just as we CHamorus are. Latte stones have survived through thousands of years, just like as a CHamoru people have."

The latte will remain on display at Skinner Plaza until the completion of the Nåftan Mañaina-Ta (The Shrine of Our Ancestors), a permanent space to honor CHamoru heritage. "I encourage all of you to invite your friends and families to be here and connect with the latte," invited Commission on Decolonization executive director Melvin Won Pat-Borja. "These very important symbols of our history. But also invite them to take part in the active protection of these latte."

As the voices of Guam’s next generation echoed through the park, there was no doubt in mind who protecting this heritage is truly for.