Mandalas and cultural identity: Increasing positive identification with Chamorro native heritage

<p>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.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Art Therapy

Year

2016

Author dc:creator

• San Nicolas, Aaron

Contributors dc:contributor

• Amy Backos, PhD, ATR-BC
• Louvenia Jackson, PhD, ATR-BC

• Art Therapy
• Chamorro Native Heritage
• Cultural Identity
• Intergenerational Trauma
• Art and Design
• Counseling Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.dominican.edu/art-therapy-electronic-theses-2015-2021/11

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.dominican.edu:art-therapy-electronic-theses-2015-2021-1010