UCLA

This thesis addresses the liminal yet privileged realities of the contemporary Chamoru diaspora both in Turtle Island (the continental United States) and in their home island of Guam. By unpacking political and militarized histories of the Chamoru people both in “on-island” and “off-island” settings throughout the twentieth century, this thesis argues that diasporic Chamoru migration, in all its iterations, is directly impacted and influenced by U.S. empire and militarism. With an emphasis on oral histories, it offers a compassionate yet critical approach to unpacking the complicated reality and trajectory of Chamoru community and culture. Utilizing diaspora as a lens, I continue to interrogate Guam’s ongoing political status as an unincorporated U.S. territory and contemplate the messy, complex, and beautiful experiences of Chamoru circular migration.