Chalan Maga’håga

(a)[No text]

(1)Chamorro women have always held powerful roles in their families and in our society. The most powerful woman in ancient Chamorro society was the Maga’håga, or the first-born daughter of the highest ranking person in a clan. Clans were governed equally by a Maga’håga and a Maga’låhi (the first-born son). When decisions were made, the Maga’håga always had the final say. CH. 8 GOVERNMENT FACILITIES Unfortunately, this power was not respected by Europeans, who wrote the first accounts of Chamorro history and purposely left out the names of women. They were critical of the roles women played in ancient Chamorro society, noting that women held power reserved for men in the rest of the world.

(2)Although Chamorro women are largely unnamed throughout written history, the sacrifices they made to keep the culture alive have not gone unnoticed. Since Chamorro culture is matrilineal, and family lines are traced through mothers, many scholars attribute the survival of the culture to women. People’s identity and place in society were determined by who their mothers were. Thus, women shaped the destiny of their children, and ultimately of future generations of Chamorros. They also educated younger Chamorros about their genealogy, ensuring that they would always understand their connections to those around them, to their land, and to the history of their clan.

(3)Just as Tiyan is located at the center of the island, the Maga’håga is a central figure in our society. Naming the Tiyan Parkway in honor of our island’s powerful women gives tribute to the important roles women have assumed throughout Guam’s history and today. They carry life in their wombs, nurture their children, and lead their families and our island with respect and dignity.

(b)Thus, the Tiyan Parkway located on the Tiyan plateau in the central part of Guam, bordering the municipalities of Barrigada, Maite, and Tamuning, shall hereinafter be known as “Chalan Maga’håga”, from its junction with Route 8 (Purple Heart Memorial Highway) to its junction with Route 10A.

(c)The Department of Public Works shall post signs along “Chalan Maga’håga” at appropriate intervals that visibly identify the roadway’s official name.