http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2018/02/13/1716839115
Taino Ancient DNA has revolutionized the field of archaeology, but in the Caribbean and other tropical regions of the world, the work has been hampered by poor DNA preservation. We present an ancient human genome from the Caribbean and use it to shed light on the early peopling of the islands. We demonstrate that the ancestors of the so-called “Taino” who inhabited large parts of the Caribbean in pre-Columbian times originated in northern South America, and we find evidence that they had a comparatively large effective population size. We also show that the native components in some modern Caribbean genomes are closely related to the ancient Taino, suggesting that indigenous ancestry in the region has survived through the present day.
Showing posts with label Taino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taino. Show all posts
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Saturday, February 13, 2016
The Taino Movement, Tearing Down the Lies of Colonialism
http://www.mnialive.com/articles/the-taino-movement-tearing-down-the-lies-of-colonialism
I can say this because back in 2003, a biologist named Juan C. Martínez Cruzado did a DNA study in Puerto Rico that came up with some astonishing results. A whopping 61% of those he studied had Taino DNA of maternal mitochondrial origin. What this illustrates is that far from being extinct, the Taino bloodline has survived on a massive scale. So far the DNA testing has found Taino bloodlines existing today in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Carib. -
Why has this been ignored? Because a well thought out plan of genocide was perpetrated against the Taino people. It best served the interests of the colonial governments that there be no indigenous West Indians who could claim indigenous rights. And so it was, that with a pen as their weapon, they wrote the Taino people into extinction, calling them Creole or Mulatto, or some other name, so as to divert from their true native ancestry. Many West Indians walking amongst us today have no idea of the Taino DNA that is flowing through their veins.
People Think There is a Test for Native American DNA, There isn't
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129554-400-there-is-no-dna-test-to-prove-youre-native-american/
I can say this because back in 2003, a biologist named Juan C. Martínez Cruzado did a DNA study in Puerto Rico that came up with some astonishing results. A whopping 61% of those he studied had Taino DNA of maternal mitochondrial origin. What this illustrates is that far from being extinct, the Taino bloodline has survived on a massive scale. So far the DNA testing has found Taino bloodlines existing today in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Carib. -
Why has this been ignored? Because a well thought out plan of genocide was perpetrated against the Taino people. It best served the interests of the colonial governments that there be no indigenous West Indians who could claim indigenous rights. And so it was, that with a pen as their weapon, they wrote the Taino people into extinction, calling them Creole or Mulatto, or some other name, so as to divert from their true native ancestry. Many West Indians walking amongst us today have no idea of the Taino DNA that is flowing through their veins.
People Think There is a Test for Native American DNA, There isn't
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129554-400-there-is-no-dna-test-to-prove-youre-native-american/
Why
has this been ignored? Because a well thought out plan of genocide was
perpetrated against the Taino people. It best served the interests of
the colonial governments that there be no indigenous West Indians who
could claim indigenous rights. And so it was, that with a pen as their
weapon, they wrote the Taino people into extinction, calling them Creole
or Mulatto, or some other name, so as to divert from their true native
ancestry. Many West Indians walking amongst us today have no idea of the
Taino DNA that is flowing through their veins. - See more at:
http://www.mnialive.com/articles/the-taino-movement-tearing-down-the-lies-of-colonialism#sthash.MKl0clkB.dpuf
I
can say this because back in 2003, a biologist named Juan C. Martínez
Cruzado did a DNA study in Puerto Rico that came up with some
astonishing results. A whopping 61% of those he studied had Taino DNA of
maternal mitochondrial origin. What this illustrates is that far from
being extinct, the Taino bloodline has survived on a massive scale. So
far the DNA testing has found Taino bloodlines existing today in Puerto
Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Carib.
- See more at:
http://www.mnialive.com/articles/the-taino-movement-tearing-down-the-lies-of-colonialism#sthash.MKl0clkB.dpuf
I
can say this because back in 2003, a biologist named Juan C. Martínez
Cruzado did a DNA study in Puerto Rico that came up with some
astonishing results. A whopping 61% of those he studied had Taino DNA of
maternal mitochondrial origin. What this illustrates is that far from
being extinct, the Taino bloodline has survived on a massive scale. So
far the DNA testing has found Taino bloodlines existing today in Puerto
Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Carib.
- See more at:
http://www.mnialive.com/articles/the-taino-movement-tearing-down-the-lies-of-colonialism#sthash.MKl0clkB.dpuf
I
can say this because back in 2003, a biologist named Juan C. Martínez
Cruzado did a DNA study in Puerto Rico that came up with some
astonishing results. A whopping 61% of those he studied had Taino DNA of
maternal mitochondrial origin. What this illustrates is that far from
being extinct, the Taino bloodline has survived on a massive scale. So
far the DNA testing has found Taino bloodlines existing today in Puerto
Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Carib.
- See more at:
http://www.mnialive.com/articles/the-taino-movement-tearing-down-the-lies-of-colonialism#sthash.MKl0clkB.dpuf
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Native American Languages: History, Reclamation, and Examples
We have a
very different experience bring in our own country/on our own land and
not allowed to speak our languages. From Wikipedia: The Native American
Languages Act of 1990 is the short cited title for executive order
PUBLIC LAW 101-477 enacted by Congress on October 30, 1990. Public Law
101-477 of 1990 gave historical importance as repudiating past policies
of eradicating Indian Languages by declaring as policy that Native
Americans were entitled to use their own languages. The fundamental
basis of the policy's declaration was that the United States "declares
to preserve, protect and promote the rights and freedoms of Native
Americans to use practice and develop Native American Languages". In
addition, to "fully recognize the right of Indian Tribes and other
Native American governing bodies, States, territories, and possessions
of the United States to take action on, and give official status to
their Native American languages for the purpose of conducting their own
business".
Language reclamation is a big deal across nations.
Wampanoag
Wampanoag words in the English language
http://www.wlrp.org/
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/we-still-live-here/
http://ourmothertongues.org/language/Wampanoag/12
Reclaiming the language
Wampanoag words/name on Cape Cod
Nipumuc http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/native_now/language_nipmuc
Narragansett https://www.facebook.com/narragansettlanguage
Taino http://www.taino-tribe.org/tedict.html
http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/puerto-rico/native-lingo
Historical Native American colleges
https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~rnelson/asail/mla.pdfhttp://cas.ou.edu/native-american-language-program
https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~rnelson/asail/mla.pdfhttp://cas.ou.edu/native-american-language-program
And then there is the interesting history piece - destroying the language
Code Talkers (many are from boarding schools where they were not allowed to speak their language) http://navajocodetalkers.org/
http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/navajacode.htm
And, developing the language
Cherokee/Sequoyah http://www.cherokee.org/AboutTheNation/History/Facts/SequoyahandtheCherokeeSyllabary.aspx
http://www.manataka.org/page81.html
And, being bilingual
Fighting for the right http://m.learningenglish.voanews.com/a/navajos-study-to-save-their-language/2999599.html
Across generations http://www.neh.gov/humanities/2005/septemberoctober/feature/speaking-across-generations
Talibah Begay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDf8DNlFIX8
Across generations http://www.neh.gov/humanities/2005/septemberoctober/feature/speaking-across-generations
Talibah Begay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDf8DNlFIX8
I Love You in multiple languages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjtHXRyZhGs
Bilingual songs (I picked well known popular ones)
Sharon Burch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixmJMN9-gzM
Buffy St. Marie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLCk066o9sU
Kalolin Johnson/The Climb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDOn6CZJwxg
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Last Taino "Queen"
Loiza Aldea: Legend of Yuiza. Taino Cacique of Boriken
The Legends of Loiza are many but perhaps the most popular one is about the female Taino Cacique (chief) named Yuiza ( Yuisa, Loaiza, Luisa, Loiza).
When the Spanish Conquistadores invaded Puerto Rico and enslaved the Taino Indians the indians resisted. They never adapted to slavery, most of the Taino men were killed. Many of the women lived on as wives of the spanish sailors.
Legend has it (that to protect her people) Yuiza became the lover of mulatto conquistador Pedro Mejias and because of this she was killed by other Taino Caciques (who felt she was a traitor to have been with a spaniard). She actually was a hero and greatly admired by her own tribal people, even today. This may be the legend that gives meaning to the mix in Loiza of black Africans and Taino Indian, or it may, in fact be a historical truth. In actual fact, there are no historical documents to prove this, her marriage with Mejias.
History records show that the colonial government of Puerto Rico, by a crown decree from Spain in the 1600's, was instructed to place runaway slaves from the British colonies in what is today Loiza
Aldea. This area was chosen by the Crown because it was the weakest flank of defense of the island, and they hoped that the freed slaves would help defend the island against British invaders. It is said
that the majority of these Africans were from Nigeria.
Somewhat inexplicable would be the great quantity of fishermen among the people of Loiza Aldea. Fishing by escaped slaves was considered an aberration because slaves were traditionally taught a fear of the sea as a way to keep them enslaved. Historians argue that the Africans of Loiza developed their fishing skills through direct contact with the Tainos of Puerto Rico. The presence of Amerindian
mtDNA in Loiza, supports this hypothesis. Loiza is populated by the largest community of African descendents on the island of Puerto Rico.
In later years Inigo Lopez de Cervantes y Loayza, a prestigious Spaniard, had great extensions of land in this region. His second last name could have been used to name this territory.
Foundation: In 1692 Loiza was appointed as an urban section because it had approximately 100 houses and 1,146 inhabitants. In the year 1719 the Spanish government recognized its importance by declaring it an official town. Its founder was Gaspar de Arredondo. It wasn't declared a municipality until August 16, 1970.
The Catholic congregation of Loiza is the oldest established congregation in Puerto Rico. The church has been rebuilt, but is still significantly old.
"…The legend is that the name Loiza was that of a Taino woman, Chief Loiza or Yuisa, who governed a territory called Jaymanio in the margins of the Cayrabon river now named the Rio Grande de Loiza."
Source: http://bohioatabei. blogspot. com/2007/ 12/last-taino- queen.html
The Legends of Loiza are many but perhaps the most popular one is about the female Taino Cacique (chief) named Yuiza ( Yuisa, Loaiza, Luisa, Loiza).
When the Spanish Conquistadores invaded Puerto Rico and enslaved the Taino Indians the indians resisted. They never adapted to slavery, most of the Taino men were killed. Many of the women lived on as wives of the spanish sailors.
Legend has it (that to protect her people) Yuiza became the lover of mulatto conquistador Pedro Mejias and because of this she was killed by other Taino Caciques (who felt she was a traitor to have been with a spaniard). She actually was a hero and greatly admired by her own tribal people, even today. This may be the legend that gives meaning to the mix in Loiza of black Africans and Taino Indian, or it may, in fact be a historical truth. In actual fact, there are no historical documents to prove this, her marriage with Mejias.
History records show that the colonial government of Puerto Rico, by a crown decree from Spain in the 1600's, was instructed to place runaway slaves from the British colonies in what is today Loiza
Aldea. This area was chosen by the Crown because it was the weakest flank of defense of the island, and they hoped that the freed slaves would help defend the island against British invaders. It is said
that the majority of these Africans were from Nigeria.
Somewhat inexplicable would be the great quantity of fishermen among the people of Loiza Aldea. Fishing by escaped slaves was considered an aberration because slaves were traditionally taught a fear of the sea as a way to keep them enslaved. Historians argue that the Africans of Loiza developed their fishing skills through direct contact with the Tainos of Puerto Rico. The presence of Amerindian
mtDNA in Loiza, supports this hypothesis. Loiza is populated by the largest community of African descendents on the island of Puerto Rico.
In later years Inigo Lopez de Cervantes y Loayza, a prestigious Spaniard, had great extensions of land in this region. His second last name could have been used to name this territory.
Foundation: In 1692 Loiza was appointed as an urban section because it had approximately 100 houses and 1,146 inhabitants. In the year 1719 the Spanish government recognized its importance by declaring it an official town. Its founder was Gaspar de Arredondo. It wasn't declared a municipality until August 16, 1970.
The Catholic congregation of Loiza is the oldest established congregation in Puerto Rico. The church has been rebuilt, but is still significantly old.
"…The legend is that the name Loiza was that of a Taino woman, Chief Loiza or Yuisa, who governed a territory called Jaymanio in the margins of the Cayrabon river now named the Rio Grande de Loiza."
Source: http://bohioatabei. blogspot. com/2007/ 12/last-taino- queen.html
Sunday, November 18, 2012
New Video with Taíno History
Santa Clara,
CA (UCTP Taino News) - Raindrop Games has launched a new historical game entitled “Arrival:
Village Kasike” for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Arrival:
Village Kasike is the first game in the planed Arrival series,
which focuses on the history of the indigenous Taíno peoples. Players will lead
an ancient Taíno village to thriving prosperity or a struggling existence with
challenges including hurricane preparation, food cultivation, village defense,
and morale management, etc.
Arrival:
VillageKasike presents the story of Naniki,
a Taíno woman, who, through fate, must lead a struggling village somewhere in
the Caribbean. The iOS game was developed in collaboration with the United Confederation of Taíno People with
Roberto Múkaro Borrero, President of
The United Confederation of Taíno People as project’s lead consultant. Borrero
reviewed the various aspects of ancient Taíno life portrayed - from clothing, farming
techniques, and socio-ceremonial presentations – in an effort to provided the
highest standard of accuracy in this setting. In his personal capacity as a
renowned Taíno musician, Borrero also provided Taíno music and speech to create
a more immersive and authentic experience.
OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY
To Roberto Borrero, Members of the
UCTP and the Greater Taino Community,
On behalf of Raindrop Games, I am
writing this letter to answer some of the more common questions about the
Taino-themed video games we are building.
"Why do you want to make games about the Taino people?"
Our goal is to use video games to help create a better world. We believe one of the best solutions to the world's problems is to inspire people to be better. We specifically chose the Taino as an historical exemplification of this spirit, having persevered and survived a cultural clash that brought them close to extinction. We hope that by educating people about who the Taino are will help provide a more accurate glimpse into their history. We believe when people understand a culture that is foreign to them, it expands their empathy and provides a deeper insight into humanity's broader issues.
"Why make a video game? Why not a movie or book? Wouldn't a video game trivialize the subject matter?"
Games have one strength that no other entertainment medium has, they are interactive. Interactivity allows the player to become more involved in the story as an active participant. What happens to the main character in a story happens directly to the player. In the long run, our plan is to use this unique property of games to create deeper emotional experiences for players. Video games are an upcoming medium with vast potential and we are doing our part to create games used for good.
"Arrival: Village Kasike" gives the player some exposure to the Taino culture before the arrival of Europeans. The player is put in charge of building a village while dealing with threats such as hurricanes, etc. Players will engage in traditional farming and fishing techniques as they provide for their village while informative texts share aspects of historical Taino life. Through the narrative of Naniki, the player can experience the connection between a Village Kasike and her people.
For over four years we have had the great pleasure of working with Roberto Borrero, President of the UCTP, to create video games about the Taino. Roberto's knowledge and insights have made it possible for us to complete our first Taino-themed game. The whole team is grateful for his help and willingness to see the large potential good of this project.
If any members of the community have any questions or concerns about what we are doing, please feel free to reach out to me via our web site (http://www.arrivalgame.com/
Josh Samuels
Project Lead on the Arrival Video Game Series
www.arrivalgame.com
Founder and CEO of Raindrop Games, Inc
www.raindropgames.com
"Why do you want to make games about the Taino people?"
Our goal is to use video games to help create a better world. We believe one of the best solutions to the world's problems is to inspire people to be better. We specifically chose the Taino as an historical exemplification of this spirit, having persevered and survived a cultural clash that brought them close to extinction. We hope that by educating people about who the Taino are will help provide a more accurate glimpse into their history. We believe when people understand a culture that is foreign to them, it expands their empathy and provides a deeper insight into humanity's broader issues.
"Why make a video game? Why not a movie or book? Wouldn't a video game trivialize the subject matter?"
Games have one strength that no other entertainment medium has, they are interactive. Interactivity allows the player to become more involved in the story as an active participant. What happens to the main character in a story happens directly to the player. In the long run, our plan is to use this unique property of games to create deeper emotional experiences for players. Video games are an upcoming medium with vast potential and we are doing our part to create games used for good.
"Arrival: Village Kasike" gives the player some exposure to the Taino culture before the arrival of Europeans. The player is put in charge of building a village while dealing with threats such as hurricanes, etc. Players will engage in traditional farming and fishing techniques as they provide for their village while informative texts share aspects of historical Taino life. Through the narrative of Naniki, the player can experience the connection between a Village Kasike and her people.
For over four years we have had the great pleasure of working with Roberto Borrero, President of the UCTP, to create video games about the Taino. Roberto's knowledge and insights have made it possible for us to complete our first Taino-themed game. The whole team is grateful for his help and willingness to see the large potential good of this project.
If any members of the community have any questions or concerns about what we are doing, please feel free to reach out to me via our web site (http://www.arrivalgame.com/
Josh Samuels
Project Lead on the Arrival Video Game Series
www.arrivalgame.com
Founder and CEO of Raindrop Games, Inc
www.raindropgames.com
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Taino Culture and Art
My friend is starring in another video. He is here with his daughters at home in his garden telling singing a family song. As he sings, they ask questions, and learn about their culture and ancestors.
A beautiful artist: http://vimeo.com/3nvideopro/review/84523074/052a20df6c
Daniel 'Guayacan' Silva Pagan de Bieke (Vieques), Boriken (Puerto Rico) shares his story and work as a Taino artesan. (Video en Español)
A beautiful artist: http://vimeo.com/3nvideopro/review/84523074/052a20df6c
Daniel 'Guayacan' Silva Pagan de Bieke (Vieques), Boriken (Puerto Rico) shares his story and work as a Taino artesan. (Video en Español)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
DNA Research (We Are Not Extinct!)
This article (erroneously) says the Taino are extinct.On average, the genomes of Puerto Ricans contain 10 to 15% Native American DNA, which is largely Taíno, says Bustamante.
* Comments from many of my friends, Robert, Licy, and Vanessa are on the bottom.
* This is SO EXCITING - the COMMENTS from UCTP and my friends CAUSED THE ARTICLE TO CHANGE
As a result of the feedback from community members, thetitle of the article in question has been changed from "Breathing life into an extinct ethnicity' to "Rebuilding the genome of a hidden ethnicity". All references to "extinction" have been removed. At the end of the article there is now a corrective statement that reads:
"Corrected: This article originally stated that the Taíno were extinct, which is incorrect. Nature apologizes for the offence caused, and has corrected the text to better explain the research project described."
The original article appeared on Oct. 14, 2011 and was corrected on Oct. 17, 2011. It took three days from the time of the first post to not only receive apologies from one of the scientists leading the project but also from the magazine itself.
While it is still not a "perfect article", I have left a message on the site to thank the editor Brian Owens and Professor Bustamante for the public apology and the corrections. I felt it was the Taino thing to do…
In achieving these corrections and apologies, I feel we accomplished something historic. Think about the alternative if we did nothing at all.
This article demonstrates the sad consequences of DNA testing
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/10/13/bitter-fight-determine-who-american-indian-turns-dna-testing-57165
People interviewed for this story, whether they are for or against the use of DNA testing, agree there is already a litmus test—for you to be considered Indian any of the following statements are true:
A) Your family/people experienced a traumatic history with disease, displacement and death;
B) Your family/people endured generations of intense poverty and disenfranchisement;
C) That you are alive means your family/people survived repeated attempts by various governments to exterminate them—physically, culturally, spiritually.
“Really, the measure of being Indian should be a pain index,” Alexie says. “You know, how many funerals have you gone to?”
DNA results that reveal unpleasant surprises about parentage are a frequent occurrence in Indian country, where grandmothers or aunties often care for infants born into bad domestic situations. “That’s one of the things about DNA testing—it is letting all of the skeletons out of the closet,” says James Mills, president of Creating Stronger Nations, a consulting firm that works with tribes to create policy documents on a range of governance issues, including enrollment. “The moment you draw a line in the sand on enrollment, the moment you have rules, there is going to be some unfairness. There is no perfect system. There just isn’t one.”
But even that test is subjective. “It comes down to who is a tribal member,” says Mills, pointing to the authority granted by Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez, a landmark 1978 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that notes sovereign Indian nations determine their own membership. “Tribes have rules about membership and for many years, many tribes were very lax about their rules. [But now], if you are a successful per-capita tribe, people will come out of the woodwork,” clamoring to be members. “Tribes began to get stricter about the enforcement of their rules…and thus you have this disenrollment phenomenon.”
This site has some information on Native American DNA testing.
Over the past few weeks a number of agencies have contacted one or more editors of the Caribbean Amerindian Centrelink (http://www.centrelink.org/) with news and details concerning DNA testing services for those interested in verifying or documenting their Taino or other Amerindian biological parentage.
And this site talks about cultural survival - The Taino of the Caribbean: the People Who are Not Supposed to Exist
Here is another article, The Perils of Human Genomics (with a lot of sarcasm in the comments), about reclaiming/identifying as Taino. Scroll down to read these two comments:
16. Kolibri Carrillo Says:
October 26th, 2011 at 6:52 am
17. Maurice Travers Says:
October 26th, 2011 at 7:14 am
Sirs
I am one of those so called “taino ” activists whose lies onur goes on about . I am a white anglo / saxon british male who is blessed to be friends with many of these “extinct ” people . Dr Bustamente and the authour of the article graciously admitted that they had made an error of Judgement when presented with facts that dispelled the Columbian myth of extinction . For the information of onur a study carried out over a wide spectrum of inhabitants of Boriken (Puerto Rico ) in a sample of 700 61% showed Mitrochrondial DNA indicating Amerindian (Taino ) decendency The reasearch was carried out by prof Vasesquez of the university there as to the fact that he claims greek origin he should read his history the Greeks are extinct as is every other race in this world .There is no pure anyone left today. I am minded to remind Everyone here of a greeting used by the Lakota soiux Tribe of North america .
Miyakuye Oyasin WE ARE ALL RELATED
Blessings to all
M
Rejoinder to Roberto Mucaro http://www.prdream.com/wordpress/?p=3376
Mr. Borrero is correct in pointing out that the number of people in Puerto Rico who self-identify as “Indian” has increased 49 percent from 13,336 in the year 2000 to 19,510 in 2010. But this is still only less than 1 percent of the total Island population of 3.7 million.
There are other NeoTaíno organizations and subgroups that are sometimes in conflict with each other, such as the Jatibonicu Taíno Tribal Nation of Boriken, the Taíno Turabo Aymaco Tribe of Puerto Rico, and the Consejo General de Taínos Borincanos, with the issue of purity coming up in statements on occasion. For example, the “Tribal Charter” of the Taíno Turabo Aymaco Tribe of Boriken states that their tribe “is made-up of: documented and non-documented, pure blood, and non-pure blood descendants of the Taíno Turabo and Aymaco Tribes,” and “pure and non-pure blood descendants of other various Taíno Tribes from the entire Caribbean.”
A little more to think about here: http://voxxi.com/2011/12/12/taino-ancestry-goes-beyond-dna-its-cultural/ Advocates for Taíno people say their culture is passed down through oral traditions, not solely DNA. Taíno supporters have a problem with academic scholar Dr. Gabriel Haslip-Viera’s recent paper where he says Taíno advocates are using a DNA study to claim “a pure indigenous pedigree.”
They say they never made that claim and have challenged Haslip-Viera to prove it. According to the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) the concept of a “degree of Indian blood” was not set by them, but by those whose ultimate goal is to eliminate indigenous tribes. Taíno advocates say Haslip-Viera omits any reference to oral tradition as a form of community and national history.
Roberto “Múkaro” Borrero, president of UCTP said in a statement:
“It should be further noted that Taíno descendants do not require the approval of Dr. Haslip-Viera or others to be Taíno. This position is also affirmed by the world community as per the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
Should your ancestry be based on how you see yourself or how much DNA you have of that ethnicity?
This article shows why There is no DNA test to prove you're Native American
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4318236742527300206#editor/target=post;postID=6841055636249105922
* Comments from many of my friends, Robert, Licy, and Vanessa are on the bottom.
* This is SO EXCITING - the COMMENTS from UCTP and my friends CAUSED THE ARTICLE TO CHANGE
As a result of the feedback from community members, thetitle of the article in question has been changed from "Breathing life into an extinct ethnicity' to "Rebuilding the genome of a hidden ethnicity". All references to "extinction" have been removed. At the end of the article there is now a corrective statement that reads:
"Corrected: This article originally stated that the Taíno were extinct, which is incorrect. Nature apologizes for the offence caused, and has corrected the text to better explain the research project described."
The original article appeared on Oct. 14, 2011 and was corrected on Oct. 17, 2011. It took three days from the time of the first post to not only receive apologies from one of the scientists leading the project but also from the magazine itself.
While it is still not a "perfect article", I have left a message on the site to thank the editor Brian Owens and Professor Bustamante for the public apology and the corrections. I felt it was the Taino thing to do…
In achieving these corrections and apologies, I feel we accomplished something historic. Think about the alternative if we did nothing at all.
This article demonstrates the sad consequences of DNA testing
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/10/13/bitter-fight-determine-who-american-indian-turns-dna-testing-57165
People interviewed for this story, whether they are for or against the use of DNA testing, agree there is already a litmus test—for you to be considered Indian any of the following statements are true:
A) Your family/people experienced a traumatic history with disease, displacement and death;
B) Your family/people endured generations of intense poverty and disenfranchisement;
C) That you are alive means your family/people survived repeated attempts by various governments to exterminate them—physically, culturally, spiritually.
“Really, the measure of being Indian should be a pain index,” Alexie says. “You know, how many funerals have you gone to?”
DNA results that reveal unpleasant surprises about parentage are a frequent occurrence in Indian country, where grandmothers or aunties often care for infants born into bad domestic situations. “That’s one of the things about DNA testing—it is letting all of the skeletons out of the closet,” says James Mills, president of Creating Stronger Nations, a consulting firm that works with tribes to create policy documents on a range of governance issues, including enrollment. “The moment you draw a line in the sand on enrollment, the moment you have rules, there is going to be some unfairness. There is no perfect system. There just isn’t one.”
But even that test is subjective. “It comes down to who is a tribal member,” says Mills, pointing to the authority granted by Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez, a landmark 1978 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that notes sovereign Indian nations determine their own membership. “Tribes have rules about membership and for many years, many tribes were very lax about their rules. [But now], if you are a successful per-capita tribe, people will come out of the woodwork,” clamoring to be members. “Tribes began to get stricter about the enforcement of their rules…and thus you have this disenrollment phenomenon.”
This site has some information on Native American DNA testing.
Over the past few weeks a number of agencies have contacted one or more editors of the Caribbean Amerindian Centrelink (http://www.centrelink.org/) with news and details concerning DNA testing services for those interested in verifying or documenting their Taino or other Amerindian biological parentage.
And this site talks about cultural survival - The Taino of the Caribbean: the People Who are Not Supposed to Exist
Here is another article, The Perils of Human Genomics (with a lot of sarcasm in the comments), about reclaiming/identifying as Taino. Scroll down to read these two comments:
16. Kolibri Carrillo Says:
October 26th, 2011 at 6:52 am
The more I read about this topic, the more I am compelled to address this issue of the so called Taino extinction. I am Taino by blood and culture. I do not need a DNA test nor recognition from any faction political or cultural. I am not from a poor or disadvantage life, I am educated and do not need any financial assistance from government as reparation. I am retired from a government agency in NYC and on full pension. I pay taxes like everyone else. Why do I identify myself to the indigenous culture of my home island called Boriken (Puerto Rico)? My mother’s birth certificate says so. Why do I claim to be of both indigenous culture of the Caribbean? I am Taino and Carib because my Mother told me so. I do not need the Smithsonian study or the speculations of scientist to tell me who I am. I do not need a card from my country’s government to tell me who I am. I am Taino and Caribe mixed with Spanish. Thus I am mestizo like my own Mother. My post here does not come from a need to have some form of identity, I am an American; born and raised in the United States of America. That is my citizenship. I am a Taino and Carib woman, that is my identity. I am not looking for any social or economic advantage at claiming my identity as Taino. I do not need anyone’s approval to know who I am. Mr. Onur whoever you are, I am not a Taino identity activist. I am Kolibri Carrillo daughter of a Taino/Carib woman. I am entitled to self identity.
October 26th, 2011 at 7:14 am
Sirs
I am one of those so called “taino ” activists whose lies onur goes on about . I am a white anglo / saxon british male who is blessed to be friends with many of these “extinct ” people . Dr Bustamente and the authour of the article graciously admitted that they had made an error of Judgement when presented with facts that dispelled the Columbian myth of extinction . For the information of onur a study carried out over a wide spectrum of inhabitants of Boriken (Puerto Rico ) in a sample of 700 61% showed Mitrochrondial DNA indicating Amerindian (Taino ) decendency The reasearch was carried out by prof Vasesquez of the university there as to the fact that he claims greek origin he should read his history the Greeks are extinct as is every other race in this world .There is no pure anyone left today. I am minded to remind Everyone here of a greeting used by the Lakota soiux Tribe of North america .
Miyakuye Oyasin WE ARE ALL RELATED
Blessings to all
M
Rejoinder to Roberto Mucaro http://www.prdream.com/wordpress/?p=3376
Mr. Borrero is correct in pointing out that the number of people in Puerto Rico who self-identify as “Indian” has increased 49 percent from 13,336 in the year 2000 to 19,510 in 2010. But this is still only less than 1 percent of the total Island population of 3.7 million.
There are other NeoTaíno organizations and subgroups that are sometimes in conflict with each other, such as the Jatibonicu Taíno Tribal Nation of Boriken, the Taíno Turabo Aymaco Tribe of Puerto Rico, and the Consejo General de Taínos Borincanos, with the issue of purity coming up in statements on occasion. For example, the “Tribal Charter” of the Taíno Turabo Aymaco Tribe of Boriken states that their tribe “is made-up of: documented and non-documented, pure blood, and non-pure blood descendants of the Taíno Turabo and Aymaco Tribes,” and “pure and non-pure blood descendants of other various Taíno Tribes from the entire Caribbean.”
A little more to think about here: http://voxxi.com/2011/12/12/taino-ancestry-goes-beyond-dna-its-cultural/ Advocates for Taíno people say their culture is passed down through oral traditions, not solely DNA. Taíno supporters have a problem with academic scholar Dr. Gabriel Haslip-Viera’s recent paper where he says Taíno advocates are using a DNA study to claim “a pure indigenous pedigree.”
They say they never made that claim and have challenged Haslip-Viera to prove it. According to the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) the concept of a “degree of Indian blood” was not set by them, but by those whose ultimate goal is to eliminate indigenous tribes. Taíno advocates say Haslip-Viera omits any reference to oral tradition as a form of community and national history.
Roberto “Múkaro” Borrero, president of UCTP said in a statement:
“It should be further noted that Taíno descendants do not require the approval of Dr. Haslip-Viera or others to be Taíno. This position is also affirmed by the world community as per the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
Should your ancestry be based on how you see yourself or how much DNA you have of that ethnicity?
DNA testing is changing how Native Americans think about tribal membership. Yet anthropologist Kim Tallbear warns that genetic tests are a blunt tool. She tells Linda Geddes why tribal identity is not just a matter of blood ties
New Discoveries: http://nativeamericanresources.blogspot.com/2014/05/new-discovery.html
Single Ancestral Group:
http://www.geneticarchaeology.com/research/Native_Americans_descended_from_a_single_ancestral_group_DNA_study_confirms.asp
For two decades, researchers have been using a growing volume of genetic data to debate whether ancestors of Native Americans emigrated to the New World in one wave or successive waves, or from one ancestral Asian population or a number of different populations.
Risks to Tribes (Who Owns Native Culture?): http://web.williams.edu/AnthSoc/native/
What do Mormons think about our DNA? http://www.mrm.org/dna
http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/GeneWatch/GeneWatchPage.aspx?pageId=562
DNA evidence is immperfect
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/can-dna-determine-who-is-american-indian%3F-45442
It cannot determine blood quantum or cultural knowledge, among other things.
New Discoveries: http://nativeamericanresources.blogspot.com/2014/05/new-discovery.html
Single Ancestral Group:
http://www.geneticarchaeology.com/research/Native_Americans_descended_from_a_single_ancestral_group_DNA_study_confirms.asp
For two decades, researchers have been using a growing volume of genetic data to debate whether ancestors of Native Americans emigrated to the New World in one wave or successive waves, or from one ancestral Asian population or a number of different populations.
Risks to Tribes (Who Owns Native Culture?): http://web.williams.edu/AnthSoc/native/
What do Mormons think about our DNA? http://www.mrm.org/dna
Smart New Ways to Trace Your Native
Ancestry
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/08/13/3-native-american-genealogy-sources-you-may-not-know-about-156357
Taino DNA isn't accounted for in "land-based" studies…http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/GeneWatch/GeneWatchPage.aspx?pageId=562
DNA evidence is immperfect
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/can-dna-determine-who-is-american-indian%3F-45442
It cannot determine blood quantum or cultural knowledge, among other things.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Arawak & Taino Symbols and Meanings
These are handouts I have about Taino and Arawak symbols. Here is a website that uses a lot of the same information grouped in categories and also a site with more detailed explanations. Photographs of artifacts can be found in this book and of rock carvings at this website. These Taino tattos also have clear images and descent explanations.
Here are links to other websites with symbols for many diverse Native American Nations.
I found this link in 2016: http://www.tainoage.com/meaning.html
I found this link in 2016: http://www.tainoage.com/meaning.html
Here is a link to Creation Stories:
http://tainonaboriasociety.blogspot.com/2009/02/taino-creation-myths.html
Below are photos my friends posted on Facebook:
Here is a video of some of the original sites.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Taino Ceremony
New Sacred Site found! - issues of repatriation and sovereignty emerge. The site has been reburied, but this site below may still be viewed and visited.
Photos below by Cheyenne Fox Tree McGrath
Ceremonial Ball Park
Cemi - "three pointers"
Cohoba Spirit
MORE RESOURCES:
Taino Gallery
Taino Cultural Definitions: Explanations, etc.
Cacibajagua Cultural Society
Photos below by Cheyenne Fox Tree McGrath
Ceremonial Ball Park
Cemi - "three pointers"
Cohoba SpiritMORE RESOURCES:
Taino Gallery
Taino Cultural Definitions: Explanations, etc.
Cacibajagua Cultural Society
Monday, January 21, 2008
Arawak/Taino Videos
I Am the Tribe Called Arawak
Cacibajagua Taino Dance Group
Identity, Culture, and Political Power
First People of Suriname
More Videos
Cacibajagua Taino Dance Group
Identity, Culture, and Political Power
First People of Suriname
More Videos
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The Columbus Myth - MOST COMPLETE LIST ON THIS SITE
"Next time you think of Columbus and his accomplishments, keep in mind what he had to do in order to fulfill those accomplishments. He lied, he tortured, he abused, and he killed many native people of the time." AdiddaL3495
BACKGROUND
Maps
History behind the old rhyme "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…"
VISUALS
Videos
Posters
Books surrounding the events of 1492 (Arawak/Taino, Columbus)
MUSIC
Anti Columbus Song and Lyrics
Music, History, Culture of the Taino
ATROCITIES
5 Misconceptions about Columbus
"One of the Worst Human Holocausts the World has Ever Witnessed"
Christopher Columbus the Barbarian
Mutilation and Other Carnage: 7 Worst Atrocities Committed by Columbus
Legacy: https://m.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/12/1246553/-Columbus-and-The-Legacy-of-Genocide?detail=emailclassic
MYTHS
8 Truths Behind the Myths and Atrocities of Christopher Columbus and Columbus Day
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/10/14/8-myths-and-atrocities-about-christopher-columbus-and-columbus-day-151653 In an attempt to further thwart the celebration of this “holiday,” we at ICTMN have outlined eight misnomers and bloody, greedy, sexually perverse and horrendous atrocities committed by Columbus and his men.
Here's a website which uses the block prints from the time period and spells out the story in a "kid friendly" version. This site has similar details as the videos below listed by date. And this is a letter written by a Taino cacique.
Wiki Article Read Aloud Online
Let's Get the Facts Right - UCTP Post
Connection to Pledge of Allegiance
Columbus Day: A Real Education
Columbus and his Victims
Syphillis
First Columbus Day celebration was in 1792
Bartolomé de las Cases http://theoatmeal.com/comics/columbus_day
Here is an interesting summary of his four voyages with a connection to the 2010 Lunar Eclipse on Solstice, and his contribution of "ship worms" to Europe. 5 historical myths run down (video below) - Columbus is #2:
RECONSIDER COLUMBUS - A RE-EDUCATION LESSON
Website (Lessons and Graphics). Reconsider Columbus video below:
2011 Indigenous Day of Remembrance in New York
BACKGROUND
Maps
History behind the old rhyme "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…"
VISUALS
Videos
Posters
Books surrounding the events of 1492 (Arawak/Taino, Columbus)
MUSIC
Anti Columbus Song and Lyrics
Music, History, Culture of the Taino
ATROCITIES
5 Misconceptions about Columbus
"One of the Worst Human Holocausts the World has Ever Witnessed"
Christopher Columbus the Barbarian
Mutilation and Other Carnage: 7 Worst Atrocities Committed by Columbus
Legacy: https://m.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/12/1246553/-Columbus-and-The-Legacy-of-Genocide?detail=emailclassic
MYTHS
8 Truths Behind the Myths and Atrocities of Christopher Columbus and Columbus Day
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/10/14/8-myths-and-atrocities-about-christopher-columbus-and-columbus-day-151653 In an attempt to further thwart the celebration of this “holiday,” we at ICTMN have outlined eight misnomers and bloody, greedy, sexually perverse and horrendous atrocities committed by Columbus and his men.
- On the Way—Columbus Stole a Sailor’s Reward
- Columbus Never Landed on American Soil—Not in 1492, Not Ever
- Columbus Painted a Horrible Picture of Peaceful Natives
- Columbus’ Men Were Rapists and Murderers
- Columbus Enslaved the Native People for Gold
- Columbus Provided Native Sex Slaves to His Men
- Columbus’ Men Used Native People as Dog Food
- Columbus Returned to Spain in Shackles—But Was Pardoned
Here's a website which uses the block prints from the time period and spells out the story in a "kid friendly" version. This site has similar details as the videos below listed by date. And this is a letter written by a Taino cacique.
Wiki Article Read Aloud Online
Let's Get the Facts Right - UCTP Post
Connection to Pledge of Allegiance
Columbus Day: A Real Education
Columbus and his Victims
Syphillis
First Columbus Day celebration was in 1792
Bartolomé de las Cases http://theoatmeal.com/comics/columbus_day
Here is an interesting summary of his four voyages with a connection to the 2010 Lunar Eclipse on Solstice, and his contribution of "ship worms" to Europe. 5 historical myths run down (video below) - Columbus is #2:
Website (Lessons and Graphics). Reconsider Columbus video below:
2011 Indigenous Day of Remembrance in New York
MORE LESSONS and ACTIVISM
How to "Celebrate" Columbus Day without Celebrating: http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/10/celebrate-columbus-day/?utm_content=buffer12a87&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
What are the Papal Bulls? http://nativeamericanresources.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-is-papal-bull.html
Teaching Ideas (page 3 has a link to slideshow of protests: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/10/13/9-teaching-resources-tell-truth-about-columbus-157311?page=0%2C2
Direct link to slides showing contemporary people (from above article): http://www.westword.com/slideshow/columbus-day-parade-and-protest-2007-the-legacy-continues-5956616#1
What are the Papal Bulls? http://nativeamericanresources.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-is-papal-bull.html
Teaching Ideas (page 3 has a link to slideshow of protests: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/10/13/9-teaching-resources-tell-truth-about-columbus-157311?page=0%2C2
Direct link to slides showing contemporary people (from above article): http://www.westword.com/slideshow/columbus-day-parade-and-protest-2007-the-legacy-continues-5956616#1
OTHER TOPICS LINKED TO COLUMBUS
Looking at Genocide (and Thanksgiving)
Honoring Native Americans with "Civilization"
Did Native Americans "Discover" Europe?
If you have ever paddled a canoe, napped in a hammock, savored a barbecue, smoked tobacco or tracked a hurricane across Cuba,
you have paid tribute to the Taíno, the Indians who invented those
words long before they welcomed Christopher Columbus to the New World
in 1492…
Arawak Descendants http://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/pre-colonial-history/arawak-indigenous-caribbeans/
Why do we still have a holiday? https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/10/11/why-is-columbus-day-still-a-u-s-federal-holiday/?tid=sm_fb
Memes who why we should abolish Columbus Day: http://www.attn.com/stories/3561/columbus-day-memes?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=viralvideocomment&utm_campaign=videos
Arawak Descendants http://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/pre-colonial-history/arawak-indigenous-caribbeans/
Why do we still have a holiday? https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/10/11/why-is-columbus-day-still-a-u-s-federal-holiday/?tid=sm_fb
Memes who why we should abolish Columbus Day: http://www.attn.com/stories/3561/columbus-day-memes?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=viralvideocomment&utm_campaign=videos
Columbus's Map
On top, is something like the map Columbus used. As you can see, he thought if he traveled about 3000 miles west, he might find land, like Cipangu (Japan). And he was correct. Only he left out about another 3000 miles of the Earth's circumference (i.e. North and South America). Among others (like the Maya), the Greek, Eratosthenes of Cyrene (276 BC - 194 BCE), had already measured the circumference to within 16% accuracy.
Here is a link to a map detailing the islands that were stops for Columbus: http://imgace.com/pic/tag/the-indiginous-people-columbus-found-on-the-domican-republic-island-were-lucayan-taino-or-arawak/
Friday, October 12, 2007
Anti-Columbus Song
Anti-Columbus Song
by Nancy Schimmel (Malvina Reynolds' daughter)
(as sung by Faith Petric)
Here is online here: http://www.sisterschoice.
In fourteen hundred and ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue
It was a courageous thing to do
But someone was already there
Columbus thought that the world was round
So he looked for the East while westward bound
But he didn't find what he thought he'd found
For someone was already there
The Inuit and Cherokee
The Aztec and Menominee
The Onondaga and the Cree
Columbus sailed across the sea
But someone was already there
Now it isn't like it was empty space
The Caribs met him face to face
Could anyone discover a place
When someone was already there
So tell me who discovered what
He thought he was in a different spot
Columbus was lost but the Caribs were not
They were already there
Chorus
by Nancy Schimmel (Malvina Reynolds' daughter)
(as sung by Faith Petric)
Here is online here: http://www.sisterschoice.
In fourteen hundred and ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue
It was a courageous thing to do
But someone was already there
Columbus thought that the world was round
So he looked for the East while westward bound
But he didn't find what he thought he'd found
For someone was already there
The Inuit and Cherokee
The Aztec and Menominee
The Onondaga and the Cree
Columbus sailed across the sea
But someone was already there
Now it isn't like it was empty space
The Caribs met him face to face
Could anyone discover a place
When someone was already there
So tell me who discovered what
He thought he was in a different spot
Columbus was lost but the Caribs were not
They were already there
Chorus
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Columbus Posters
These are photos of posters I have. They were put out by the Episcopal Council of Indian Ministries Oklahoma Field Office around 1992.
One final thought…
One final thought…
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Contributions - Posters
These are photo close-ups of posters I have. I recommend getting a set of visuals for whatever you are teaching whenever you can. Scroll down on the right to link to places you can orders posters.
Native American foods
How American is corn?
Did Native Americans spread syphilis?
TECHNOLOGY
Fabric Dyes. Click here to learn more about the symbols and meanings behind the dyes.
Native American foods
How American is corn?
Did Native Americans spread syphilis?
TECHNOLOGY
Fabric Dyes. Click here to learn more about the symbols and meanings behind the dyes.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Columbus Video Clips
Video Clip Compilation
Columbus Day - Sanitized
500 Nations - A Class of Cultures (NOTE: WE ARE NOT EXTINCT!)
Reconsider Columbus Day. I know people in this video. They are my family and friends.
Columbus Day - Sanitized
500 Nations - A Class of Cultures (NOTE: WE ARE NOT EXTINCT!)
Traditional Columbus Tale below:
The Canary Effect
Kolumbus Day in Amerika
This clip has the wood prints, electronic music and voice narration, and brings the atrocities begun by Columbus up to modern day. It does have swear words.
Columbus: Continuation of a Genocidal Legacy
Ganjaman Columbus
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