GUAM TO PARTAKE IN WORLD INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL GAMES

PRESS RELEASE – The Department of Chamorro Affairs (DCA), in conjunction with the Council of Indigenous Peoples, and with support from the Guam Visitors Bureau, proudly announces that a 27-member delegation will represent Guam at the World Indigenous Traditional Games, taking place December 6–13, 2025 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. This marks Guam’s first-ever appearance at these international Games celebrating Indigenous identity, heritage, and traditional sport.

The 2025 World Indigenous Traditional Games will bring together over 300 athletes from Indigenous communities across the globe. Participating countries include Palau, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, Guatemala, New Zealand, Japan, Guam, Hawai‘i, the Northern Mariana Islands, Canada, and the Philippines, creating a powerful platform for global Indigenous exchange and athletic excellence.

Organized by Taiwan’s Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP), the Games honor ancestral knowledge, athleticism, and cultural resilience. The event strengthens global understanding of Indigenous identity through traditional sports—values that strongly align with the mission of the Department of Chamorro Affairs.

“These Games represent an important step forward in Guam’s Indigenous empowerment,” said Melvin Won Pat-Borja, President of the Department of Chamorro Affairs. “Our participation strengthens our cultural presence on the international stage and reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting and promoting the Chamorro identity.”

GVB President Régine Biscoe Lee added, “It is an honor for Guam to compete in the WIT Games, which have brought together indigenous peoples from around the world to celebrate their cultural heritage and compete in traditional sports. Our island now has the unique opportunity to connect with our Austronesian ancestry and showcase our culture to the world through our talented athletes. We also look forward to building more cultural connections through events like the Guam International Dance Festival this December and the Guam Micronesia Island Fair in June 2026.”

Guam’s inaugural delegation will compete across multiple disciplines including traditional archery, music and dance, wrestling, road running, weight carrying, and tug-of-war. Participants include both emerging young practitioners and experienced cultural athletes, each representing the strength and spirit of the Chamorro people.

Guam Delegation

Traditional Archery

• Tano Lizama

Traditional Music & Dance

• Daniel Stone Jr.
• Jesus Flores
• Christian Wells
• Raithan Quichocho
• Joray Martinez
• Javin Meno
• Jerome Camacho
• Zachary Santos
• Landon Aguon
• Adrian Ceraos
• Riley Cruz
• Caleb Flores
• Shane Untalan

Traditional Wrestling

• Austin Gogo
• Landon Taitingfong

Traditional Road Running

• Michael Rosario
• Malakai Chargualaf
• Keira Pulmones Paz
• Jennifer Pulmones

Traditional Weight Carrying

• Jaime Paulino III
• Zachariah Ruiz
• Victoria Manley
• Melanie Escobar

Traditional Tug of War

• Jaime Paulino III
• Zachariah Ruiz
• Austin Gogo
• Caleb Flores
• Raithan Quichocho
• Jesus Flores
• Keira Pulmones Paz
• Victoria Manley
• Jennifer Pulmones
• Melanie Escobar

Staff

• Dolores Santos
• Melanie Escobar

Head of Delegation

• Vincent Reyes