Everyday Chamorro: One Woman’s Mission to Save a Language and Rebuild Matriarchy
M.B. Dallocchio had always envisioned turning her book, Everyday Chamorro, into an audio program, but working full-time and being a mom had cut much of her free time out of the picture. Chamorro, which is Indigenous to the Mariana Islands, includes Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
Chamorro is listed under the UNESCO list of endangered languages as “vulnerable,” with around 60,000 speakers left worldwide.
However, it wasn’t until early 2022 that a group of Chamorro women reached out to Dallocchio, who was living in the UK then, to have dinner at Hithe + Seek inside The Westin London City. Over the dinner, the three women shared with Dallocchio that a male Chamorro instructor was using his Chamorro language class to essentially harass women.
One of the women he was stalking mentioned he kept sexually harassing her even after denying his advances multiple times. The student was allegedly too afraid to report him because of how influential he is in the community and has a habit of sending his “friends” to do his dirty work, which was described as cyberstalking, character assassination, etc.
Because of a lack of Chamorro language learning options in the Marianas and around the world and the fear of retribution, the young woman reluctantly continues to attend his class to learn Chamorro.
As a result, Dallocchio committed to developing the book into an audio and visual program to be accessible — and safe — for everyone worldwide. It is 100% self-paced, and all of the material can be watched and listened to for as long as one likes.
“Women shouldn’t be subjected to misogyny and abuse while trying to connect with their native language. Considering Chamorro culture is originally matriarchal and that the rates of sexual assault and violence against women are astronomical in our islands, their stories really urged me to get this project going,” Dallocchio stated.
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According to the FBI, Guam has the second-highest number of rapes per capita in the United States. There are 64.2 reported rapes per 100,000 people in Guam, compared to the national rate of 25.2 per 100,000 people.
Dallocchio, an Iraq war veteran and social worker whose family comes from Saipan, released the video program that is accompanied by audio which could be slowed down or sped up to one’s liking, making it easier to learn the complexities of the Chamorro language.
Since its launch earlier this month in time for Mes Chamorro (Chamorro Month), Everyday Chamorro has been making massive strides in helping to educate students around the world. It has also made vital space for women to learn their language without fear or intimidation.
However, Dallocchio stated that her program isn’t meant to be the end-all, be-all of Chamorro language learning. “Our stories and experiences are powerful, and I encourage everyone who grew up speaking Chamorro to contribute by publishing their own resources, thereby creating more options in the process,” Dallocchio stated.
With Everyday Chamorro, Dallocchio is helping spread awareness about an ancient language through modern technology while encouraging people worldwide to take part in preserving endangered dialects and Indigenous languages. It’s also accessible via smartphones, tablets, desktops, and laptops for learning at home or on the go.
This first-of-its-kind program is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to learn and preserve the language, as well as empower women in the process. It provides a safe and accessible learning environment, allowing people to learn at their own pace while providing both English and Chamorro audio for easy understanding.
“By joining the Everyday Chamorro course, you can make a difference in preserving this special language that is so rich in history. No one should ever have to suffer from harassment or violence while trying to learn their native language. Together, we can all do our part to ensure that the legacy of Chamorro remains strong for generations to come,” Dallocchio added.
Everyday Chamorro is available for purchase via a monthly subscription on Thinkific, which can be canceled or continued as needed, through: https://dallocchio.thinkific.com/courses/chamorro
