Case file · Folklore / legend
Taotaomoʻna, ancestor spirits of Guam
In Chamorro belief the taotaomoʻna, spirits of the ancient people, dwell around latte stones and banyan trees; the date marks the arrival of Spanish missionaries who condemned ancestor veneration.
1668 CE · 13.44, 144.79 · status: legend
The account
People still ask permission ('Guelo yan Guela, ekkungok…') before entering the jungle or taking anything from it. Unexplained bruises or illness are sometimes blamed on offended spirits, treated by a suruhånu (healer).
The sceptical view
A living tradition of respect for ancestors and land, not a claim to be tested.