Mandalas and cultural identity: Increasing positive identification with Chamorro native heritage
Graduation Date
Spring 2016
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Granting Institution
Notre Dame de Namur University
Program Name
Art Therapy
Dean
John Lemmon, PhD
First Reader
Amy Backos, PhD, ATR-BC
Second Reader
Louvenia Jackson, PhD, ATR-BC
Abstract
This graduate research study explored the effectiveness of adapting a traditional art directive of mandalas for use with individuals of Chamorro descent to develop positive identification with Chamorro native heritage. Fifty participants participated in the study; the majority were females who resided on the island of Guam; a US territory. Almost half of the participants indicated a positive increase in their identification with Chamorro native heritage after creating their own sea turtle mandala artwork. Data findings from the Chamorro cultural questionnaires indicated specific words, namely ‘Family/Familia’, ‘Food’, and ‘Respect’ as strongly associated with Chamorro culture. Additionally, said words were used frequently by the participants within their artwork. Analysis from 24 submitted artwork indicated ‘Trees and Flora’ as the dominant symbol category. Findings from this study contribute to the growing archive of culturally based research with indigenous populations residing in the contiguous forty-eight states, the non-contiguous states, and territories of the US.