THE CHAMORUS
The indigenous CHamoru people make up 37.3 percent of Guam's population. The descendants of the ancient Austronesian voyagers who first settled the island, the CHamorus were also the first indigenous Pacific people to encounter Europeans when Magellan's expeidtion to circumnavigate the earth stopped at Guam in March 1521.
According to one of Magellan's crew, Antonio Pigafetta, the CHamorus used their sackman and proa canoes to approach the Spanish fleet. Impressed by the canoes' gliding movement and craftsmanship, the island was briefly given the name Islas de las Velas Latinas–– the Island of the Latine Sails. However, a misunderstanding between the Spanish and CHamuros resulted in the Spanish belieivng that they had stolen some supplies from their ship. The Spanish ships opened fire on the Chamorus to disperse them, and the island was renamed Islas de los Ladrones–– the Island of Thieves.
According to one of Magellan's crew, Antonio Pigafetta, the CHamorus used their sackman and proa canoes to approach the Spanish fleet. Impressed by the canoes' gliding movement and craftsmanship, the island was briefly given the name Islas de las Velas Latinas–– the Island of the Latine Sails. However, a misunderstanding between the Spanish and CHamuros resulted in the Spanish belieivng that they had stolen some supplies from their ship. The Spanish ships opened fire on the Chamorus to disperse them, and the island was renamed Islas de los Ladrones–– the Island of Thieves.
THE CAROLINIANS
Guam's other indigenous people, the Carolinians, have also inhabited the island alongside the CHamorus. Like most parts of Oceania before "contact," the people of the Mariana Islands and Caroline Islands were in constant communication and contact with eachother as the result of their shared voyaging culture.
During the Spanish era, in an attempt to find CHamorus who had escaped for the Carolines, a Spanish expedition that included the CHamoru navigator Alonzo Soon set out to find the islands. However, they returned unsuccessful with some scholars speculating that Soon perhaps misled the Spanish away from the islands.
During the Spanish era, in an attempt to find CHamorus who had escaped for the Carolines, a Spanish expedition that included the CHamoru navigator Alonzo Soon set out to find the islands. However, they returned unsuccessful with some scholars speculating that Soon perhaps misled the Spanish away from the islands.
The FILIPINOS
Filipinos make up 29.3 percent of Guam's population, making them the second largest ethnic group behind the CHamorus.
One of the earliest recorded interactions between a CHamoru and Filipino took place in 1672 when the Spanish missionary Diego Luis de San Vitores and his Filipino lay assistant, Pedro Calungsor, were killed in Tumon after they baptized an infant without her father's consent.
Since then, Filipinos were brought to Guam as laborers and as political exiles by both the Spanish and Americans. By 1819, the Filipino population in Guam had vastly outnumbered the Spanish population.
One of the earliest recorded interactions between a CHamoru and Filipino took place in 1672 when the Spanish missionary Diego Luis de San Vitores and his Filipino lay assistant, Pedro Calungsor, were killed in Tumon after they baptized an infant without her father's consent.
Since then, Filipinos were brought to Guam as laborers and as political exiles by both the Spanish and Americans. By 1819, the Filipino population in Guam had vastly outnumbered the Spanish population.
Who Are Guamanians?
Today, the descendants of all these people, as well as the those of American, Japanese, and Spanish settlers–– as well as those from other parts of the Pacific and Asia who migrated later–– are able to call themselves Guamanians. However, this term cannot be used interchangeably with CHamoru.