The Taino Tradition of Generosity Lives in Arizona

Flagstaff, Arizona (UCTP Taino News) - Desire Caballer, a Borikén Taino of the Guainia Tribal community, lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, and began organizing to assist homeless persons in her area in June of this year. Her volunteer efforts have grown from a personal initiative, to receiving food, clothing, and toiletries donations from others; bringing her interactions with Flagstaff’s homeless community up to 3 times per week. 

Desire was inspired to make a difference after seeing a homeless teenager begging on the street for money. The scene touched her personally, as she also experienced life on the streets of Phoenix as a teen before being taken in by a concerned family who treated her as their own child. Once she was able to secure employment, the family urged her to get her on place, which she did. Today, she is married and has two beautiful children, a son - Pedro - and a daughter - Katrina. She really “wanted to give back” and her husband, Lorenzo Lee, and children are supporting her initiative with the area’s homeless. 

Katrina Caballer,  Desire Caballer, and Lorenzo Lee documenting their work in Flagstaff

“All the people [I meet on the streets] have different stories,” stated Desire, who does not have a non-for-profit, is on a fixed income, and is dealing with her own personal health issues. She continued stating, “I believe that we all need not to judge, instead we need to learn how to help, love, care, and give.” When Columbus encountered Taino People throughout in the Caribbean, he continuously remarked on their generous nature. While history is clear on Columbus’ response to this generosity, Desire Caballer is proof that the traditional Taino spirit of giving still lives among contemporary Taino people living far from their island homelands. 

 UCTPTN 10.22.2014

Schaghticoke and Taíno Declare Unity

East Haven, CT (UCTP Taino News) – History was made at the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe’s Fall Gathering when a historic “Declaration of Unity” was signed with the United Confederation of Taino People on October 18, 2014. The treaty signing was part of the special event held at the landmark Old Stone Church in East Haven. The gathering also featured inspiring presentations by several distinguished members of the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe, as well as other honored guests including Doreen Bennett (Maori) of Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Schaghticoke Sachem Robert Hawk Storm Bergin and Kasike Roberto Múkaro Agüeibaná Borrero, the president of the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) were the main signatories of the treaty, with several community members acting as witnesses including Heriberto “Guaragua’niki” Martinez (Taíno), Angel Ortiz (Taíno), and Ed Wolf-Walker Conley (Schaghticoke). 

According to the treaty document, the Declaration of Unity was entered into with the “present and future generations” of both Peoples in mind. Both leaders remarked on the importance of this level of recognition and solidarity between Indigenous Peoples and are looking toward to possible joint programs in the near future. 

 UCTP Taino News 10.19.2014

Treaty Council Commemorated 40th Anniversary in Oklahoma

UCTP President R. Mukaro Borrero; Alabama Quassarte Ceremonial Ground Mekko Bobby Yargee; UCTP Liaison Officer Tai Pellicier; and Bonnie Deere attend the historic 2014 IIITC Conference 

Muscogee Nation Territory, Oklahoma (UCTP Taino News) - The 40^th anniversary  conference of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) took place in Muscogee (Creek) Territory on September 10-12 at a newly constructed roundhouse dedicated to the late, revered Muscogee spiritual leader and activist Phillip Deere. The IITC conference was entitled “40 Years Defending the Rights and Recognition of Indigenous Peoples.”  

The IITC conference addressed the ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and the Pacific such as racism, food sovereignty, environmental health, climate change and reproductive health, among others. Campsites and meals were provided to the local and international participants. Two buffalos were donated from the Inter-tribal Bison Cooperative one from South Dakota and one from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Nation, to feed attendees at the conference.

Various dynamic issues panels were convened and conference participants adopted a number of resolutions for IITC work focus for the next year and beyond. Three organizations requested and were approved as IITC affiliates by the conference general assembly; among them was the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO).

The International Indian Treaty Council is an organization of Indigenous Peoples from North, Central, South America, the Caribbean, the Arctic, and the Pacific working for the Sovereignty and Self-Determination of Indigenous Peoples and the recognition and protection of Indigenous Rights, Treaties, Traditional Cultures and Sacred Lands. Since 1977, the IITC has been recognized by the United Nations as a category II Non-governmental Organization (NGO) with Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, making it the first indigenous NGO to gain such status.

UCTPTN 09.13.2014

Indigenous Peoples Corn Conference Begins

Berenice Sanchez (Otomi) and Tai Pellicier (Taino) at the 

2nd International Indigenous Peoples Corn Conference

Okmulgee, Oklahoma (UCTP Taino News) - The 2nd International Indigenous Peoples Corn Conference entitled "Vce Ohfvnkv en Heromkv, “Corn is a Gift from the Creator” kicked off this morning at the Mvskoke Dome located on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Claude Cox Omniplex in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The event is co-sponsored by the International Indian Treaty Conference (IITC) and the Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative (MFSI). This two-day event brings together Indigenous traditional farmers, knowledge holders, food sovereignty activists, Tribal leaders, youth and elders together to share information, seeds, traditional knowledge and strategies to defend corn and other traditional foods vital to our ways of life as Indigenous Peoples. Among the distinguished delegates attending from throughout the hemisphere and beyond, Tai AnaYuisa Pellicier is participating in the conference as a representative of the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) and the Caribbean Amerindian Development Association (CADO).

UCTPTN 09.08.2014

Peoples Climate March in NYC

Indigenous Peoples’ traditional teachings have long warned that if human beings failed to protect and care for Mother Earth and the natural world, the survival of humanity would be threatened. Today, increasingly severe impacts of climate change threaten ecosystems and food production around the world and Indigenous Peoples are on the frontlines of climate change impacts.

Indigenous Peoples are participating in the People’s Climate March to bring attention to the devastating impacts of climate change and to share our hopes and teachings for living in harmony with Mother Earth.

For more information: 

http://peoplesclimate.org/indigenous/

Small Island Developing States: Last Day for Registration!

Dear colleagues,

The Third Conference on Small Island Developing States, taking place between 1-4 September in Apia, Samoa, is rapidly approaching.

Preceding the meeting, four Pre-Conference Forums will take place in select locations in Apia from 28-31 August 2014. The Pre-Conference Forums will be held outside of the UN security perimeter and therefore don’t require accreditation to the SIDS Conference. Further information on these activities is available on the SIDS website: www.sids2014.org/index.php?menu=1567

Participation in the Major Groups and other Stakeholders Forum, which will take place on Thursday, 28 (evening) and Friday, 29 August 2014, is subject to registration. Today is the last day to register - if you are planning on attending, you must fill out this form. More information on the Forum can be found here.

We would also like to use this opportunity to remind representatives of organizations that are accredited with the United Nations and plan to attend the official Conference to register here. Conference registration for Major Groups and other stakeholders’ representatives will close on Monday, 4 August 2014.

Warm regards,
Ms. Martina Muller
Major Groups Program
Communications & Outreach - UN DESA/DSD

In Times Square, unions and activists preview climate march

By Conor Skelding

12:03 p.m. | Jul. 30, 2014

Roberto Mukaro Borrero (Taino) addresses rally on Climate Change in Times Square
Photo Credit: Diane Lent

Unions and activists groups rallied in Times Square on Wednesday morning to officially launch the People's Climate March, which organizers hope will be the largest climate-related march in history.

The march is set for September 21 in New York City, two days before a United Nations summit on climate change.

"It is our desire to combat climate change," said Christopher Erikson, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' Local Union No. 3.

"Our momentum must be governed in an orderly fashion, that provides sustainability for our goal of a livable planet, along with the security of a reliable electrical grid," he added. "We must weigh the effects of jobs on U.S. citizens."

The march was been backed by a broad array of progressive groups. Last week, two New York health care unions announced that they would encourage members to participate the march. Councilman Donovan Richards has also introduced a resolution asking the City Council to officially endorse the march.

The rally on Wednesday included remarks from representatives for the Transport Workers Union, 1199 SEIU, and 32BJ, among other unions and activist groups.

"Indigenous Peoples all over the world are on the front lines of climate change!" shouted Roberto Borrero (Taino) of the International Indian Treaty Council. "We are the canaries in the coal mine! We can see the melting of the glaciers! We can see the desertification in Africa! We can see the rising waters for Indigenous Peoples in the Pacific islands."

"We are glad to see that some of you are finally listening to the warnings that Indigenous Peoples have been shouting for 500 years now on this side of the world," he said.

"We will be here on September 21 to march along with you. Not behind you, but as equals!" he finished, before chants of "The people, united, will never be defeated!" began.

Source: Capital New York