independent guåhan
MAGA’TAOTAO
Honoring the people that paved the way
honoring our maga’taotao
For each General Assembly, Independent Guåhan honors a maga’taotao or an esteemed individual who has helped develop our island community or fight for the rights of its people, especially its indigenous people. Scroll to learn more about the lives and work of those that have positively impacted our community.
PILAR CRUZ LUJAN
A panel from the group Protect Water Guam presented on water sovereignty and honored the late Senator Pilar Cruz Lujan as Maga’taotao.
DR. CHRISTINE TAITANO DELISLE
Independent Guåhan invited the public to tune in to its May online General Assembly. The educational focus for this GA is body sovereignty, and the group will honor Dr. Tina Taitano Delisle as Maga’taotao for her scholarly work on pre-World War II Chamoru women.
senator sabina flores perez
Independent Guåhan’s March Online General Assembly for 2022 will focus on Land Sovereignty and feature a presentation by Dr. Anne Perez Hattori. This assembly will also honor as Maga’taotao Robert Celestial, for his work with Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors (PARS).
david de leon flores
Chris Rosario, President of the Guam Beekeepers discusses the economic possibilities for local beekeeping and the group honors the late Tun David De Leon Flores as Maga’taotao.
Dr. Marilyn c. salas
The educational focus for this GA is reviving our relationship to local foods and feature Michelle Crisostomo from Guåhan Sustainable Culture and Tano Lizama from Asiga. The group will also honor as Maga’taotao Dr. Marilyn Salas for her work in sustaining local agriculture.
Francisco “cornbeef” Lizama
“Imagining Our Independence” is the theme for Independent Guåhan’s October General Assembly, which is also focused on Creativity and Climate Justice” and Imagining Our Independence. For this month’s GA the group honors as Maga’taotao the late Master of Chamoru Culture Frank “Cornbeef” Lizama who passed away recently.
senator sabina flores perez
In light of the recent environmental damage at Marbo Cave, as well as destruction from the military buildup, this General Assembly will focus on environmental protection and regulations for Guåhan. This GA will feature a presentation by Dr. Austin Shelton from UOG Center for Island Sustainability and honor as Maga’taotao Senator Sabina Perez.
Senator Hope Alvarez cristobal
Independent Guåhan May General Assembly, the educational focus will be “Generations of Land Protectors” and feature a panel of members of the Flores and Pangelinan families of Litekyan, who have been pushing for the return of their family’s land for decades. Each month, Independent Guåhan honors a different maga’taotao or esteemed individual. Today the group is honoring educator, community activist and former Senator Hope A. Cristobal.
Ann Marie B. Arceo
The topic will be Fino’ CHamoru Kada Ha’åni: Successful CHamoru Language Immersion Models and feature panelists Angelana M. B. Sablan, President, Chief Hurao Academy and Fu’una A. Sanz, Kindergarten CHamoru Immersion TeacherThe group will also honor for her decades of work around promoting and revitalizing the Chamoru language, Ann Marie “Saina Guinifi” B. Arceo, founder of Chief Hurao Academy.
joaquin “JC” Concepcion
The February 2021 General Assembly for Independent Guåhan features an educational presentation by Senator Clynt Ridgell and herbalist Ursula Herrera, which will focus on the economic and healing possibilities of cannabis. The group will honor as maga’taotao for the GA Joaquin “JC” Concepcion, a musician and broadcaster who, with his family, pushed to legalize medical marijuana on Guam.
kevin delgado
This last General Assembly of 2020 for Independent Guåhan will discuss the theme of youth empowerment with presentations by Dr. Debra Cabrera, a sociologist from University of Guam and Starlet Cruz, a mentor from Inafa’maolek. As Maga’taotao the group will honor Vice-Mayor-Elect for the village of Mangilao Kevin Delgado.