Hon. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero
Maga’håga, Islan Guåhan
Office of The Governor of Guam
Ricardo J. Bordallo Complex
513 West Marine Corps Drive
Hagatna, Guam 96910
RE: Request to discuss the U.S. Military’s continued desecration of sacred ancestral sites and native habitats
Hafa Adai Governor Leon Guerrero,

June 18, 2019

The undersigned organizations and community stakeholders urgently request a meeting with you to discuss recent news of
the persisting desecration of sacred, historically and culturally significant artifacts and sites like Magua village resulting
from military buildup construction. We echo recent requests for a halt to the clearing of vegetation and construction of the
Marine’s Cantonment at Finegayan and of the Live Fire Training Range Complex at Northwest Field, where the ancient
village of Tai’lalo stands to meet the same fate as Magua if we do nothing to protect it.
Since May, four ancestral sites have been haphazardly and disrespectfully “discovered” by the military at their
construction sites. Among the discoveries were latte, lusong, an earthen oven, and other tools. We have cringed as we’ve
seen photos circulating of these sacred artifacts cracked into pieces or removed from their original location without our
consultation or consent. In the rush to level our native limestone forests to make way for military construction plans, the
military has knowingly destroyed artifacts and natural resources that belong to the people of Guam. In public statements
they have been released about the desecration of these sites, the military continues to say that adverse impacts are
“unavoidable due to proposed developments on the site (Guam Daily Post).” However, adverse impacts are avoidable
with a halt to construction.
We write to you as our Maga’håga because we cannot keep driving along Route 3 feeling powerless as we gaze through
fences at hundreds of acres of deforested native habitat, mourning the loss of the endemic and healing plants that had been
thriving there. We do not want to read about another desecrated sacred site. Enough is enough. Our island has reached a
point in our history where only a few of these historic sites and native limestone forests remain. We look to you to be our
voice, and to help us fight to protect them for future generations to learn and thrive from.
We hope that we can meet with you at your earliest convivence. For more information and to schedule a meeting, kindly
contact Maria Hernandez at hernandezm2086@outlook.com.
Kon Respetu,
Independent Guåhan
Prutehi Litekyan
Fuetsan Famalao’an
Nasion CHamoru
Mañe’lon Marianas
Manhoben Para Guåhan
Guåhan Coalition for Peace and Justice
Our Islands Are Sacred
Håya Foundation
Chief Hurao, Inc.

Duk Duk Goose, Inc. (Nihi!)
GCC EcoWarriors
ChamGlam Botanika
Health Shack
Z’s Green Canteen
Alternative Zero Coalition
Pågan Watch
Micronesia Climate Alliance
The Peace for Okinawa Coalition
David Lotz