Please join I Hagan Famalao’an Guåhan (IHFG) for Finding Our Place in History with Laura Souder, PhD and Elyssa Santos, MA this Thursday, November 19th at 6 p.m. CHST at: https://www.facebook.com/haganguahan/.
This is the first webinar event in our 10-part series, Mo'na: Finding Our Way.
From leadership to defending native language and protecting their homelands to ensure the survival of indigenous ways of life, CHamoru women have embodied significant roles throughout history. This webinar session will examine such roles as revealed in early accounts and how these roles continue to inspire and influence CHamoru women today.
Elyssa J. Santos is a daughter of the Familian Clara and Hilario clans on her mother’s side and Familian Duket and Pajesjes clans on her father’s side. She teaches Guam History, is a researcher for the Guam Place Names Commission, and authors one of the upcoming Social Studies textbooks housed under the University of Guam Press. Ms. Santos holds a B.A. in History and Chamorro Studies from the University of Guam and an M.A. in Pacific Islands Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her research interests center on CHamoru resistance from pre-war to early post-war Guam, particularly in the realms of colonial agricultural projects, sport, and traditional healing.
Dr. Laura M. Torres Souder is President and CEO of Souder, Betances and Associates, Inc. She earned her BA at Emanuel College in Boston and her MA and PhD in American Studies from the University of Hawaii as a Joint Doctoral Intern at the East West Center. She completed a post-doctoral Ford Foundation Minority Fellowship at De Paul University in Chicago. Dr. Souder has been part of research efforts sponsored by the South Pacific Commission, UNESCO and other entities on the effects of modernization and development on Pacific Island people, language and culture. She served as Curator of the Guam Museum and taught courses at the University of Guam including History of Guam, Education, Sociology, Micronesian Studies, Women’s Studies and Ethnic Studies. She wrote a historical monograph published by the Micronesian Area Research Center at UOG entitled, "Daughters of the Island: Contemporary Chamorro Organizers of Guam" and was co-editor of "Chamorro Self-Determination." She also published a children’s book entitled, "Kiko’s Adventure on the Magic Flying Proa" in both English and CHamoru. Dr. Souder writes a weekly column in the Guam Sunday Post called, "Cho’cho’ Saina." She currently serves as a Member of the Kumision I Fino’ CHamoru, the Kosas Board of the Guam Museum, is a Saina advisor to the Hurao Academy and to the Guam Department of Education’s CHamoru Language and Culture Division. Dr. Souder is also a Research Associate at the Micronesian Area Research Center and has also evaluated programs and provided expert testimonies to government agencies, including the United Nations. As a woman of distinction, she has advocated for greater participation of women alongside men in promoting a more just and inclusive society in many diverse forums.
This program is made possible by funding from Humanities Guåhan, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the federal CARES Act. Any views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities Guåhan or NEH.
For more information, please email haganguahan@gmail.com