Ritidian families split from Prutehi Litekyan
By Ron Rocky Coloma
In a deepening dispute over the representation of ancestral lands, the Ritidian families, organized under the coalition Hita Litekyan, have renewed their call for the local group Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian to remove “Ritidian” from its name.
This demand, formalized in September 2023, comes after a long-standing separation from Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian, a group that once shared their cause but now, according to the families, no longer represents their interests or struggle.
The Ritidian families are direct descendants of the original landowners of Ritidian, an area in the northernmost tip of Guam, also known as Litekyan. These families have been embroiled in a decades-long battle over the fate of their ancestral lands, which were taken from them by the U.S. Navy in the early 1960s.
The military’s initial promise to return the land if it was no longer needed has gone unfulfilled, as the property was handed over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1993 to create a wildlife refuge. Now, that land is facing new threats with the proposed use of Ritidian as a Surface Danger Zone for a U.S. Marine Live Fire Training Range Complex.
The Ritidian families are oppose the development and have made it clear that they want their land returned. They also emphasize that they wish to be the sole representatives of their struggle, a stance that has led them to distance themselves from Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian.
“This group does not represent our land or our families’ struggle,” said Maria Hernandez May, a direct descendant of Ritidian’s original landowners. “Community members regularly ask us if we are connected to the group, and we want to clear up that we are not affiliated.”
The rift between Hita Litekyan and Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian is rooted in differing visions and approaches to advocacy. While both groups initially worked together to protect Ritidian, the Ritidian families now feel that PLSR no longer aligns with their values or priorities.
“Prutehi Litekyan’s values don't align with our families, and so we decided to move away from their organization,” Hernandez-May said.
The formal request for Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian to remove “Ritidian” from its name was made on Sept. 8, 2023. The Ritidian families were informed that the group would consider the request and provide an updated timeline should they decide to proceed with the name change.
However, nearly a year later, the families have yet to receive any update from PLSR.
“Every day that goes by is a day that this group represents our land and our families’ struggle without our consent,” Hita Litekyan wrote in a press release.
In response, Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian has acknowledged the request and claims to be working on the name change.
“We’re working on the name change and have been,” said Moneaka Flores, a representative of the organization.
Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian said it has been “working diligently to complete the formal process that is required to legally change our organization’s name. We remain committed to respecting and supporting families who identify as original landowners.”
Despite this assurance, the Ritidian families remain frustrated with the lack of concrete action and communication from Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian. The use of the Ritidian name, they argue, not only misrepresents their struggle but also creates confusion within the community about who truly speaks for the land and its rightful stewards.
Hita Litekyan continues to advocate for the return of their ancestral lands, as well as broader issues related to native land stewardship, indigenous rights and environmental justice.
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