Nå’an Lugǻt
Guam Place Names
Scope of Authority
Indigenous CHamoru place names contain cultural, historical, and environmental information that reveal much about our people’s relationship to place over time. As place names are forgotten or replaced, important historical knowledge that can support our efforts to reclaim and reinforce the CHamoru heritage are lost forever. In order to advance the cause of CHamoru revitalization and cultural self-determination, the Kumisión has for many years made a concerted effort to advocate for the perpetuation of indigenous place names. When the Guåhan Legislature enacted Public Law 33-236, the Kumisión i Fino’ CHamoru was also charged with serving as the Kumisión i Na’an Lugǻt (Guam Place Name Commission).
The duties and responsibilities outlined in the Guam Code Annotated Section 88105 (l) and (m) provide legal support to the efforts of the Kumisión to revive, reinforce, and perpetuate the CHamoru language and culture through place naming. The Kumisión oversees and approves all of the proposed changes, alterations, or renaming of place names in Guåhan through it’s
Kumitéhan Na’an Lugǻt.
While the Kumisión has been charged with the restoration of indigenous place names, there are limits to our jurisdiction. We have no formal role in deciding the names of roads, schools, villages, or the boundaries between municipalities. Public facilities or named areas like parks are usually designated by the Guam Legislature. The Kumisión does, however, have jurisdiction over the naming of rivers and streams, summits, area/locale, springs/water basins, beaches, bays, valleys, capes/points, planned unit developments, and commonly-used names. This is consistent with the use of the term “geographical features” as used by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN) of the US Geological Survey.
Political jurisdictions like the municipalities (or villages) or the island itself (Guam, not Guåhan) will only change if accompanied by legal action from the Government of Guam. The recent changes to five village names have been submitted in accordance with Guam Public Law. The name change to Hagåtña will automatically change to Hagåtña River, but will not affect Agana Heights. The river is a geographical feature whereas the latter is a political jurisdiction.
US Geological Survey
Guam Hydrologic Survey
The US Board of Geographic Names (BGN) was first established in 1890 and formed by Public Law (80-242) in 1947. The main purpose is to maintain uniform geographic name usage throughout the Federal Government. The BGN is under the United States Geological Survey, Department of Interior. In carrying out its functions, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) maintains the list of geographic names. Geographic names generally apply to rivers, coastlines, traditional places, mountains, and other geographic features. They do not apply to political jurisdictions unless there is specific political action via legislation. Geographic names do not apply to official designations for buildings, parks, or facilities.
As agreed in a meeting on July 27, 2022, the Kumisión i Fino’ CHamoru is now officially recognized as the body from which the BGN will receive information regarding geographic names for Guam. Historically, they received input from a variety of sources including the Department of Defense and the Department of Interior. Any information regarding official changes and future geographic changes will be accepted by the BGN Census Bureau / Civil Division if they come from the Kumisión.
Future federal government maps and information as listed in the GNIS will follow the decisions of the Kumisión if the Kumisión proceeds in accordance with its own processes as required by Guam Public Law. Internet mapping will likely follow the lead of the Kumisión as reflected in the GNIS.