Håfa adai!

I have found a love in the art of photography over the past year and am striving to nurture and develop it. I feel that it’s about perspective, focus, depth, and emotion, all portrayed in a litråto (picture). This photo means a lot to me and was taken by my prima, who is a blogger herself (kadadiha.wordpress.com check her out fan).

The meaning behind this photo is…

The Åcho Latte were two separate rocks joined together to serve as the bases of the ancient Chamoru guma siha (houses/huts). The bottom part outlined below is called the haligi. 

And the top part or cap stone outlined below is the tåsa. 

Family and the home are so important to our culture, and the lattes are what literally supported them. This is our foundation, our rock. It’s a symbol of who we are and what we are capable of.

The latte in my picture was taken at one of the beautiful beaches at Urunao. According to the caretakers of this land and my mañaina, this guma’ latte probably belonged to a high status Chamoru woman. It is old, but very much alive and standing. They have been standing since our ancestors put them up (if I’m not mistaken).

We have our haligi, our base. It is our elders, our traditions, our values, and our land. Our haligi still stands deeply rooted not ready to fall. Hågu, guåhu, hita, (you, me, us) i mañelu, must be the tåsa. We must use our kånnai siha (hands) to build up and hold up our guma’ again, our culture, ourselves.

We can do it. The lattes weren’t carved and placed overnight. It will take time and love, but using our hands, our brains, our hearts, and our connection to keep our culture and language living within us is definitely possible.

Now please, tell me about your perspective on this photo…

 
Si Yu’us Ma’åse for reading!