Page 2 | Guampedia Newsletter, October 2020
Cultural Practitioner Profiles Body Ornamentation Julie “Jill” Quichocho Benavente is a traditional and contemporary CHamoru body ornamentation artist. Benavente has been creating and carving from local materials such as hima, spondylus, stone, cow bone, and wild boar tusks for over 15 years. As a traditional CHamoru jewelry artist, Benavente gradually established herself in this male-dominated art form of the 1990s. Benavente’s commonly commissioned and produced piece includes the men’s traditional sinåhi pendant made of hima with a full strand of cone shells. Benavente, fondly referred to as “Mama Jill” by younger artists and friends, provides many artists with a place to work, gives advice on design, instruction on technique and tool use, consultation on finishing, and even provides a recycled shipping
container for housing art pieces. On October 21, 2014, Benavente was awarded the prestigious title “Sainan Minehalom Manlasgue-Adotnon I Tatåotao,” or Master CarverBody Ornamentation from Guam Council of the Arts and Humanities for her role in passing on knowledge of her craft to young apprentices. Today, Benavente owns and operates a cultural shop, “Guinahan Chamoru” (What CHamorus Have), located at Sagan Kuttoran Chamoru in Ipao Point. Benavente’s jewelry is also available for purchase and mail delivery through Guampedia’s online gift shop. Click here to view Benavente’s artist profile on Guampedia and click here to shop for her pieces on Guampedia’s gift shop.
Traditional Healing Rosalia “Mama Chai” Fejeran Mateo Torres has been a practicing yo’åmte ( traditional healer) on the island of Guam for over 60 years. Torres’ journey to practice traditional healing began when she was just a young mother and her daughter had fallen ill. Torres took her daughter to yo’åmte Regina Terlaje, and through her healing, made a full recovery. To repay Tan Regina for her help,Torres continued to help Tan Regina’s practice by gathering and preparing the herbs needed to treat other clients who sought Tan Regina for healing. Tan Regina recognized this sincere, genuine care and commitment and offered Torres to apprentice at the age of 19. Torres worked closely with Tan Regina until Tan Regina was satisfied with the skills and knowledge she acquired. Sixty-four years later, Torres continues the practice of traditional healing as a yo’åmte. Her skills in healing have served countless
people in the community, from sick children to stroke patients, who on numerous occasions, have regained greater mobility as a result of seeing her. In 2014, Torres joined the Haya Foundation to help promote and perpetuate the healing tradition by helping those in need and apprenticing those interested. In 2016, she helped create “Haya Foundation’s Guma Yo’amte at Sagan Kotturan Chamorro” Guam’s first traditional healing center in Oka, Tamuning. In 2019 alone, Torres herself served over 1400 clients. Despite the challenges of this COVID-19 pandemic, Torres continues to serve the island in a limited way through over-the-phone consultation and traditional medicine preparation. Torres can be reached at (671) 727-6799. Click here to view the Haya Foundation’s website and here to read up on the history of traditional healing on Guam.
