who is matå'pang?
when i was little (i’m in my 30’s now) being “matå'pang” was an insult. when i would throw a fit i’d be met with, “gosh, you’re so matå'pang!” and for the longest time i thought it was a word that just meant “silly” or “stubborn.” i didn’t know the history of the name until my adulthood.
did you expect a history lesson here?
“omg, it was just a little non-consensual baptism of your infant daughter that i raided your chiefly home to kidnap, u guys are so mean.” - san vitores probably
we have to go back to the 1600s when the taotao tåno' (along with thousands of other indigenous groups) were being reducción(ed) by spanish colonizers. in the middle of the century maga'låhi matå'pang was in charge in tomhom, guåhan (aka tumon, guam). he was converted to christianity via baptism as a gesture of gratitude to a priest to helped him in a time of illness.
HOWEVER, this conversion was short lived because he then renounced the religion as soon as he realized that it was about ~*control*~. he clearly saw that the religion was used as a tool to manipulate his people, convolute their identity and extract their precious resources.
long story short, matå'pang and his comrade hirao killed the priest san vitores and his partner pedro - thus instigating the militarization of the spanish and the 20 year war between the taotao tåno' and the colonizers.
CUT TO NOW(ish): when i learned this history i was confused why we desecrated maga'låhi matå'pang’s name and venerated the names of those he killed. he symbolized resistance and the perpetuation of the spirit of his people, island, and culture. why did we turn his name into an insult?
so matå'pang said, we’re resisting.
and the catholic church said, oh no, how do we get him to side with us so we can sway more indios to be christian so we can control their land?
and the spanish priest pictured to the left was like, i know! i’ll break into his house with my bestie, kidnap his child and baptize her*.
the answer was: ~*THE COLONIZED MIND*~
our people were so deeply traumatized by the rapid decimation of our culture, religion, community and land that we agreed with the sentiment -resistance is futile-.
and if you’re resisting something, you’re a crybaby and should just hop on the train with everyone else to make life easier.
but that’s not the case anymore is it?
Nasion CHamoru jumping the fence at the naval air station in tiyan, guåhan. ai adai, so matå'pang.
*the duo was kind of famous for non-consensual conversions and spearheading colonization in låguas (aka the mariana islands).
over 400 years have passed
and the spirit of resistance is strong
the blood of our ancestors awakens inside of us
against imperialism
against militarization
against environmental destruction
for our entire ocean nation
and demands reclamation
