Taino Leader to Speak at Florida University

Miami, Florida (UCTP Taino News) - The President and Chairman of the United Confederation of Taino People’ Office of International Relations and Regional Coordination, Roberto Borrero is scheduled to give the opening address at Florida Atlantic University’s Native American Indian Heritage Celebration. Borrero’s special address will be presented on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 11:30am at the University’s campus, Traditions Plaza Breezeway, in Boca Raton, Florida. This special event is sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs and launches a series of activities focusing on Indigenous Peoples in the United States.

The Native American Indian Heritage month celebrations at FAU are free and open to students, faculty, and the general public. The celebration activities were coordinated in consultation with Dr. Enid Conley, FAU Alumna; the South Florida Story-telling Project; and Student Government BSUMP.

“This is such an honor for our local Taino community” stated Mildred Karaira Gandia, one of the Confederation’s two Liaison Officers in Florida. “This is an historic opportunity for the general public to understand that South Florida was and remains a part of the traditional Taino homelands.”

Karaira will host a welcome reception for Borrero in Miami that will be open to local Taino community members as well as representatives from other local Tribes and allies on Tuesday evening, Nov. 3. Community members that would like to attend or have more information about the reception should contact Karaira at Karaira@uctp.org as RSVPs are required.

In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations have been issued each year since 1994.

UCTPTN 10.26.2009

Indigenous people in Guyana encouraged to recognise development during Amerindian Heritage Month

By Kevin Lindon

Caribbean Net News Guyana Correspondent

Email: kevin@caribbeannetnews.com

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Ministry of Amerindians Affairs in Guyana on Monday launched the annual celebrations of Amerindian Heritage Month, which is being observed under the theme “Inspiring our nation to move forward in Unity”.

See full story at http://www.uctp.org/

Pakuri Arawak Women Take National Cricket Competition

Georgetown, Guyana (UCTP Taino News) - The Amerindian Ladies Softball Cricket Team from Pakuri Arawak Territory played in the exciting final match of the National Amerindian Heritage Competition on Sunday September 16th 2007. Held at the Carifesta grounds in Georgetown, Guyana, the challenging team was the Kabakaburi Ladies Softball Cricket Team (from Region #1). The final score was 88 runs in 15 overs with 2 out for Kabakaburi - and 89 runs in 15 overs with 7 out for Pakuri (better know as St. Cuthbert's Mission)from Region #4 (Demerara/Mahaica).

The Captain of the winning Pakuri Arawak team, Denise Daniels received a trophy and GY$50,000 ($246 USD) in prize money on behalf of her team. The second place team received a trophy and GY$35,000. This was the fifth consecutive year that the talented Lokono Arawaks of Pakuri/St. Cuthbert's have won the National Amerindian Heritage Cricket Competition.

Since 1995, Amerindian Heritage Month has been officially celebrated annually in Guyana.

Guyana Ministry plans nationwide campaign to educate Amerindians about their rights...

Basil Joseph explains his painting to two admiring viewers. He
was one of several persons at the launching of Amerindian
Heritage Month 2006 at the Umana Yana on Friday, where items
made by the Amerindian people were on display.

Guyana, South America - Shortly before it was announced by President Bharrat Jagdeo that Carolyn Rodrigues would remain the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, she told the huge crowd that flocked the Umana Yana on Friday for the launching of Amerindian Heritage Month 2006, that the ministry planned to have to a nationwide campaign to educate the Amerindian people about their rights.

The launch which was attended by President Jagdeo, Opposition Leader Robert Corbin, members of the diplomatic community and ministers of government, among others, has become an annual event since 1995 when a bill was passed for September to be designated Amerindian Heritage Month. This year the theme is 'Succeeding in the Quest for Progress' and the Heritage Village is Annai in Region 9.

The gathering, which was significantly smaller than the one last year, was entertained with a number of Amerindian songs rendered by the hinterland students.

The first verse of the National Anthem was sung in a native Amerindian language.

Dr Desrey Fox, the curator of the Walter Roth Museum, plans to translate the entire National Anthem and the Pledge into all nine Amerindian languages.

Rodrigues in her address said that in February this year the Amerindian Act had been passed in Parliament and signed by the president in March, and that communities had already started implementing its provisions.

The minister gave the assurance that her ministry would have land issues affecting Amerindians sorted out as soon as possible: "Some Amerindian communities have already received titles to their lands. Over 13% or 11,205 square miles is the amount of land owned by the Amerindians - more than double [that] in years gone by."

Highlighting some of accomplishments of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Rodrigues said that the Suddie hostel in Region 2 had been completed about four months ago to cater for those persons accompanying the injured from the interior. She added that the hostels at Port Kaituma and Moruca should be completed later this month.

Rodrigues informed the gathering that Sheleza Reid, a hinterland student had placed third at the recently concluded CSEC examinations. She had gained ten grade ones and one grade two, and was a product of the Anna Regina Secon-dary School.

In terms of further improving education, she stated that the St Cuthbert's school would be completed later this year. According to Rodrigues, improving communities was a necessity, and that was why the ministry continued to provide radio sets and outboard engines. Some communities, she continued, such as Santa Rosa and Annai had also benefited from the installation of telephones by GT&T.

Meanwhile the president in his speech said that Rodrigues would continue to act as the Minister of Amerindian Affairs since he was very impressed with her work.

Highlighting some of the things that would be done for the Amerindian people in the coming years, he announced that by 2008 the ferry stelling would be upgraded.

"At present we are building a boat for Orealla and the Demerara River so that people can get transportation facilities..."

The head of state added that efforts would be made to give Amerindian children the same educational opportunities as the rest of the country enjoyed.

In closing he said, "I hope that Guyana can take the lesson of their Amerindian brothers and sisters - that is to work together".

Following the launching people congregated outside the Umana Yana to view or buy the craft, paintings, sculpture, jewellery and food which were on display.

Among the activities scheduled for the rest of the month are an exhibition and sale of arts and craft and Amerindian dishes from September 1-6 at the Umana Yana; Heritage Day Celebrations at Annai on the 10th, a fund-raising dinner on the 22nd at the Guyana Pegasus and a Cultural Extravaganza on the 30th at the National Cultural Centre to close off activities.

Source: Starbroek News 09/03/06

Guyana: Carolyn Rodrigues for new Cabinet

Guyana, South America - President-elect Bharrat Jagdeo last evening named the first minister in his new Cabinet. Carolyn Rodrigues will retain her portfolio as Minister of Amerindian Affairs. Jagdeo who was re-elected president in the just concluded general and regional elections made the announcement while addressing an audience at the Umana Yana at the launching of Amerindian Heritage month.

According to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) the President also said that that he was hurt when he heard that an unnamed country (Suriname) was preparing to accommodate Guyanese refugees in anticipation of a possible outbreak of violence following Monday's polls. Post-elections violence has blighted this country since 1992 and many were fearful that there would have been attacks this time around.

Jagdeo did not give any further hints of the make-up of his cabinet, but he lauded the performance of Rodrigues, describing her as a wonderful person who has worked hard and genuinely cares for the people. He said he needed people like Rodrigues to work with him. Jagdeo also said that much more work needs to be done in indigenous communities, promising that his government for the next five years would focus on that.

He also addressed a few words to PNCR-1G presidential candidate Robert Corbin who was also at the event.

"I want to say to Mr. Corbin who is here that it will be our task over the next five years to take this country forward. We have to find ways, innovative ways to work together to solve the problems of our people".

Source: Starbroek News 09/02/06

Guyana: Amerindian Heritage Month Launch Today

Guyana, South America (UCTP Taino News) - September is designated as `Amerindian Heritage Month'. During Heritage Month, Indigenous Peoples from all around the country will come together to celebrate and showcase their products and resources.

During the month-long commemoration, focus will be on cultural, sports and environmental activities in and out of Amerindian communities. There are 9 different indigenous peoples who have inhabited the land which is known as Guyana for several thousand years.

In 1995, the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan designated September as Amerindian Heritage Month to showcase and promote Amerindian culture and contributions as Guyanese. The observance in September has received recognition from various Amerindian groups because on September 10, 1957, the first Amerindian Parliamentarian Mr. Stephen Campbell of Santa Rosa, Moruca, was sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP).

UCTPTN 09.01.2006