This image was taken during the 1982-1983 apprenticeship of Rob under Tun Segundo Blas, one of the last traditional CHamoru carvers in postwar Guam. Although CHamorus once sailed the open ocean, navigated using the stars and were accomplished seafarers, much of this was lost due to colonization. By the 20th century, CHamorus were only carving simple dugout canoes with an outrigger called galaide’, no longer the great såkman of the past.

This apprenticeship with Tun Segundo Blas was one of the first of its kind, continuing the transmission of traditional knowledge to the next generation at a time when many practices were no longer being taught. It was made possible by the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency, which has regularly offered these types of apprenticeships for carvers, weavers, blacksmiths, and net-makers since.

Rob would later go on to study navigation and canoe carving on the island of Polowat, where he learned under Polowatese Master Seafarers Tawa and Rapwi.