Genetics will tell us they are closely related to Filipinos, Polynesians and several Austronesians. Historically they have also been on the island around 5,000 yrs ago and mainly traded with Polynesians, Filipinos, Papuan New Guineans, Melanesians and possibly other Southeast Asians. Spain made it their territory in 1565 but the first Europeans to discover the island were Magellan crew's and documented by Antonio Pigafetta during their historic circumnavigational voyage around the world in 1521. The Americans eventually took the island in 1898 and ever since then it has been an unincorporated territory of the U.S.A. Nearly 40 % of the population are Chamorros. Guamanian Chamorros are as diverse as Filipinos in Philippines but the percentage of European admixture is probably as low as in Philippines in recent times.
GUAM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam
MICRONESIA
CULTURE
Chamorros are the indigenous people of the Mariana Islands of which Guam is the largest and southernmost on an island chain. Archeological evidence identified civilization dating back 5,000 years.
Guam's citizens are known as Chamorro
The Chamorro is the collective name given to the people who live in Guam and people who live on some of the other islands of Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean. Their traditions are more Spanish than American as Spain controlled the islands for more than 300 years until 1898.
Post-European-contact Chamorro Guamanian culture is a combination of American, Spanish, Filipino, other Micronesian Islander and Mexican traditions. Few indigenous pre-Hispanic customs remained following Spanish contact. Hispanic influences are manifested in the local language, music, dance, sea navigation, cuisine, fishing, games (such as batu, chonka, estuleks, and bayogu), songs, and fashion.
During Spanish rule (1668–1898) the majority of the population was converted to Roman Catholicism and religious festivities such as Easter and Christmas became widespread. Post-contact Chamorro cuisine is largely based on corn, and includes tortillas, tamales, atole, and chilaquiles, which are a clear influence from Mesoamerica, principally Mexico, from Spanish trade with Asia.
The modern Chamorro language has many historical parallels to modern Philippine languages in that it is an Austronesian language which has absorbed much Spanish vocabulary. The language lies within the Malayo-Polynesian languages subgroup, along with such languages as Tagalog, Indonesian, Hawaiian, and Maori. Unlike most other languages of the Pacific Islands, Chamorro does belong to the Oceanic subgroup of the Austronesian languages.
As with Filipinos, many Chamorros have Spanish surnames, although also like most Filipinos few of the inhabitants are themselves descended from the Spaniards. Instead, Spanish names and surnames became commonplace after their conversion to Roman Catholic Christianity and the historical event of the imposition of the Catálogo alfabético de apellidos in Guam and other territories of the Spanish East Indies, most notably the Philippines.
Due to foreign cultural influence from Spain, most aspects of the early indigenous culture have been lost, though there has been a resurgence in preserving any remaining pre-Hispanic culture in the last few decades. Some scholars have traveled throughout the Pacific Islands conducting research to study what the original Chamorro cultural practices such as dance, language, and canoe building may have been like.
Two aspects of indigenous pre-Hispanic culture that withstood time are chenchule' and inafa'maolek. Chenchule' is the intricate system of reciprocity at the heart of Chamorro society. It is rooted in the core value of inafa'maolek. Historian Lawrence Cunningham in 1992 wrote, "In a Chamorro sense, the land and its produce belong to everyone. Inafa'maolek, or interdependence, is the key, or central value, in Chamorro culture ... Inafa'maolek depends on a spirit of cooperation and sharing. This is the armature, or core, that everything in Chamorro culture revolves around. It is a powerful concern for mutuality rather than individualism and private property rights."
The core culture or Pengngan Chamorro is based on complex social protocol centered upon respect: from sniffing over the hands of the elders (called mangnginge in Chamorro), the passing down of legends, chants, and courtship rituals, to a person asking for permission from spiritual ancestors before entering a jungle or ancient battle grounds. Other practices predating Spanish conquest include galaide' canoe-making, making of the belembaotuyan (a string musical instrument made from a gourd), fashioning of åcho' atupat slings and slingstones, tool manufacture, Måtan Guma' burial rituals, and preparation of herbal medicines by Suruhanu.
Master craftsmen and women specialize in weavings, including plaited work (niyok- and åkgak-leaf baskets, mats, bags, hats, and food containments), loom-woven material (kalachucha-hibiscus and banana fiber skirts, belts and burial shrouds), and body ornamentation (bead and shell necklaces, bracelets, earrings, belts, and combs made from tortoise shells and Spondylus).
While only a few masters exist to continue traditional art forms, the resurgence of interest among the Chamorros to preserve the language and culture has resulted in a growing number of young Chamorros who seek to continue the ancient ways of the Chamorro people.
Demographics
Ethnic groups
According to the 2010 United States Census, the largest ethnic group are the native Chamorros, accounting for 37.3% of the total population. Asians (including Filipinos, Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese) accounts for 33% of the total population. Other Pacific island ethnic groups (including those of Chuukese, Palauan, and Pohnpeians) accounts for 10% of the total populations. 9.4% are of multiracial (two or more race). Caucasians accounts for 7.1% of the total population. The estimated interracial marriage rate is over 40%.
Guam
Guam Guåhan Ethnic groups (2010) 37.3% Chamorro 26.3% Filipino 7.1% White 7% Chuukese 2.2% Korean 2% Other Asian 1.6% Chinese 1.6% Palauan 1.5% Japanese 1.4% Pohnpeian 9.4% Multiracial 0.6% other Religion 75% Catholicism 17.7% Protestantism 1.1% Buddhism 4.5% other 1.7% unaffiliated Demonym(s) Guamanian
Language
The official languages of the island are English and Chamorro. Filipino is also a common language across the island. Other Pacific island languages and many Asian languages are spoken in Guam as well. Spanish, the language of administration for 300 years, is no longer commonly spoken on the island, although vestiges of the language remain in proper names, loanwords, and place names and it is studied at university and high schools.
Religion
The most common religion is Catholicism.