Four sets of CHamoru remains from Guam, taken during Spanish rule, are finally returning home. This Friday, a special ceremony at the Guam Museum will allow people a rare opportunity to see these remains before they are moved for safekeeping.
The event, called Manmåtto Tåtte i Manmåtua, takes place on March 13, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Hagåtña. After the ceremony, the remains will be transferred to the Guam Cultural Repository, where you’ll need an appointment to visit.
What makes this homecoming significant is its unexpected nature. According to Michael Lujan Bevacqua, curator of the Guam Museum, these remains were not part of the collections usually monitored. “This one was not on our radar,” he noted.
These remains include three skulls and a jawbone. They were taken from Hagåtña in 1878 and eventually given to Felix von Luschan, a collector known for acquiring skulls globally. In 1925, the American Museum of Natural History in New York became their new home. Fran Lujan, director of the Pacific Islander Ethnic Art Museum, discovered these remains and championed their return. Patrick Lujan, Guam’s State Historic Preservation Officer, was also instrumental in this process.
The bones raise fascinating questions. They were labeled “matua,” a term for high social status in ancient CHamoru society. However, it’s unclear if this label reflects their true status or was simply a marketing tactic for collectors. “We don’t know exactly why they were called that,” Bevacqua said, adding that the specifics of their burial site remain unknown.
The individual responsible for handing over the remains is only recorded as “P. Tubino.” Researchers are seeking more information about this person, as it may help unlock some of the mystery surrounding the remains.
During Friday’s ceremony, Fran Lujan will connect via video to explain her journey in rediscovering these remains and working with the museum in New York. Guam’s Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio are also expected to speak.
Following the program, the remains will be placed in freshly woven baskets amid flowers, and traditional chants will honor them. This event marks the first time these ancestors will again be recognized in CHamoru culture after nearly 150 years in silence.
Bevacqua emphasized how special this occasion is: “We want to give people a chance to see them before they go into the repository.”
While attendees are welcome, they might also want to bring offerings to honor the ancestors. Photography will be limited.
Once the ceremony concludes, the remains will be stored at the Guam Cultural Repository until a reinterment site near Old Hospital Point is ready.
For more insights and historical context about the repatriation of cultural artifacts, you can explore reports from the National Park Service on the significance of returning ancestral remains to indigenous communities.
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chamorro people, guam
