Manhita Chamorro Inc. is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the Guam Department of Education to integrate "I Am Chamorro" into high school curriculum across the island. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, select high schools will screen the documentary as part of their Chamorro studies, Pacific history, and social studies courses.
This initiative represents a significant step in ensuring that young Chamorros have access to authentic, community-centered narratives about their history and culture. For too long, the story of the Chamorro people has been told primarily through colonial lenses. Our documentary provides students with an opportunity to hear directly from their elders, cultural practitioners, and community members about what it means to carry forward Chamorro identity.
The educational package includes the full documentary, discussion guides for teachers, and supplementary materials about Chamorro language, traditional practices, and contemporary issues facing the community. We have also committed to providing virtual Q&A sessions with the filmmakers and featured subjects for participating classrooms.
Guam educators have welcomed this resource enthusiastically. As one teacher noted, "Our students need to see themselves reflected in what we teach. This film validates their experiences and heritage in a way that textbooks never could." We are currently in discussions to expand this program to schools in the Northern Mariana Islands and in communities with significant Chamorro populations in the United States.