Chamorros

The Chamorros are the indigenous inhabitants of the island of Guam and the surrounding Southern Mariana Islands, occupying five of its southernmost island in Micronesia. They are known for having unique culture, greatly influenced by Spanish, Filipino, Japanese and especially American Culture. Their language is classified as Austronesian language.

In 1978, the Chamorros numbered 75,00 with 52,000 in Guam ans 13,500 in the Northern Marianas. Some communities were located inland, but most were near the shore with most houses made of plant material. Dwellings of high-status families, however, often had stone foundation columns.

Subsistence was based primarily on fish, aroids, yams, breadfruit and coconuts. Rice was also grown and eaten on the region. Chickens were the domestic animals present when European arrived. Men did most of the gardening as well as deep-sea fishing while women gathered sea resources and cooked. There was a division of labor by class. From the upper classes came the sailors, carpenters, fishers and warriors, and the highest class owned most of the land and controlled the production of shell money and canoes. Wood and stone working were highly developed crafts, as was pottery making. The Chamorros did not produce tapa cloth, nor did they have any woven fabrics.