Aghurubw

Aghurubw (Pronounced A-GA-BU-RU) was a Carolinian (Refaluwasch) Chief and master navigator[1] who led his people from Satawal to what is now Saipan in the early 19th century.

This is the island where Aghurubw settled his people.

Journey to Saipan and settlement
This is the full view of Tinian.

After an 1815 typhoon destroyed life on their home island, Chief Aghurubw of the Ghatoliyool clan[2] and Chief Nguschul (Pronounced NU-GU-SCHUL) of Elato asked permission from the Spanish Governor Farallon de Medinilla for their people to settle on Saipan.[3][4] The Spaniards allowed them to move there to manage their cattle herds, turning the island into a ranch or cattle plantation[5][6] They were also allowed to go to Tinian which neighbors Saipan. Aghurubw received a legal certificate and traditional symbols of a leader. He was given a cane in addition to a tall black hat. Due to the tall hat he was called parúng.[7] This made him a paramount chief.

His family followed his wishes to have him buried here. This place is a mile away from the area he brought his people.
This is the entrance to American Memorial Park where Arabwal is located.[8] The park has memorials to WW2 victims as well.

To get to the island he used an ancient sea route called metawal wool. The island of Satawal is five hundred miles from Saipan. [9] They landed on a beach called Micro Beach. After bringing his people there the Carolinians built a village called Arabwal.[10] He gave the village that name.

Legacy

After his death, Chief Aghurubw was buried on Managaha (Ghalaghal) island. The man was buried upright which was a request of his so that he could see Micro Beach.[11][12]

On the island there is statue of him. Due to him being buried there the place is sacred to Refaluwasch people in CNMI. People come to the island every year to celebrate him.[13][14]

More Carolinians came after the two leaders brought their people and setup villages. The Carolinians' who setup settlements on Saipan were successful after the chiefs brought their people.[15]

The Chief has his own holiday called Chief Aghurubw Day. This holiday is considered a big part of the Refaluwasch culture on the CNMI.[16] In addition to this there is a foundation named after him called Chief Aghurubw Foundation.[17] It was formed by the Ghatoliyool Clan.[18]

References
  1. "Over 200 pay homage to Chief Aghurbw". Saipan News, Headlines, Events, Ads | Saipan Tribune. 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  2. "| Managaha campaign impact report : Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands - :14343 | Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) | National Ocean Service (NOS)". repository.library.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  3. Marianas Island Legends: Myth and Magic. Bess Press. 2001. ISBN 9781573061025.
  4. Variety, Marianas. "Chief Aghurubw Day celebration". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  5. "Navigating Modernity / The Carolinians, a tiny group of islanders on Saipan, in the western Pacific, have seen their ancient culture succumb to consumerism. As they try to salvage what they can of their past, they are helping to lead a cultural revival am - SFChronicle.com". www.sfgate.com. 1999-03-07. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
  6. McKinnon, Jennifer; Nahabedian, Sarah; Raupp, Jason (2016). "A Colonial Shipwreck in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands". International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. 45 (1): 94–104. doi:10.1111/1095-9270.12140. ISSN 1095-9270.
  7. Hat in English
  8. Saipan, Mailing Address: P. O. Box 5198; Us, MP 96950 Phone:234-7207 x2002 Contact. "People - American Memorial Park (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
  9. Flood, Bo; Strong, Beret E.; Flood, William (2002). Micronesian Legends. Bess Press. ISBN 9781573061292.
  10. Saipan, Mailing Address: P. O. Box 5198; Us, MP 96950 Phone:234-7207 x2002 Contact. "People - American Memorial Park (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  11. The Nature Conservancy and NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. NOAA. The Nature Conservancy and NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, 2013, https://data.nodc.noaa.gov/coris/library/NOAA/CRCP/other/grants/NA09NOS4190173/CNMI/CNMI_TNC_Managaha_Pride_Campagin.pdf
  12. Variety, Marianas. "BC's Tales of the Pacific: Refaluwasch come to Saipan". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  13. "page8" (PDF). Marianas Variety. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
  14. "Chief Aghurubw commemoration this weekend". Saipan News, Headlines, Events, Ads | Saipan Tribune. 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  15. Flood, Bo; Strong, Beret E.; Flood, William (2002). Micronesian Legends. Bess Press. ISBN 9781573061292.
  16. Marsh, Kelly G. & Na'puti, Tiara R. "Pacific Islanders in the U.S. and their Heritage: Making Visible the Visibly Absent." NPS. AAPI National Historic Landmarks, n .d.https://www.nps.gov/articles/upload/12-Essay-12-Heritage.pdf
  17. "Marianas Variety - Managaha's cultural heritage". www.mvariety.com. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  18. "Ghatoliyool clan forms Chief Aghurubw Foundation". Saipan News, Headlines, Events, Ads | Saipan Tribune. 2016-05-19. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
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