Taíno Confederation Condemns Christies Auction House

A Taíno amulet among pieces to be auctioned by Christie's Auction House

UCTP Taíno News - Taíno community members have expressed outrage upon learning that the renowned Christies' Auction House will be auctioning off "Taíno Masterworks" in collaboration with France's Musee de l’Homme on November 10, 2021. An online petition calling for a halt to the auction and a return of the sacred items has garnered substantial visibility of the issue with thousands of signatories and mainstream press coverage. Individual community members have taken to the internet to support the call to stop the sale and for the repatriation of the cultural items. 

The United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) has expressed public support for the petition and condemned Christie's for facilitating these sales.  In a communication sent to Christie's representative, Fatma Turkkan-Wille, UCTP President, R. Múkaro Agüeibaná Borrero stated: 

"The UCTP condemns these auction plans and demands a halt to the scheduled proceedings. The UCTP further calls upon the seller to immediately enter into a dialogue with Taíno leadership and the Government of the Dominican Republic to plan an appropriate repatriation process." 

The UCTP communication further states that the pending sale is "a violation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples." 

UCTPTN 11082021

Newton, Massachusetts to celebrate its first Indigenous Peoples Day

Chali'naru Dones and Dr. Darlene Flores, co-founders of Indigenous Peoples Day Newton

Newton, Massachusetts (UCTP Taíno News) - Following a legislative recent action by the Newtown City Council, a committee has been formed to organize and commemorate the first annual Indigenous Peoples Day in Newton, MA. Co-founding the organizing committee are two Taíno women, Chali’naru Dones, a member of the Guainía Taíno Tribe, and Dr. Darlene Flores of the Higuayagua Union. 

“It is very encouraging and a source of pride to see Taíno women taking a lead on Indigenous Peoples Day in Newton” stated R. Múkaro Borrero, President, United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP). “The Confederation supported Newton’s official recognition of Indigenous People Day and presented testimony during the public hearing process.” 

The United Confederation of Taíno People is an official co-sponsor of the Indigenous Peoples Day, Newton, which will take place on October 11, 2021, at Albemarle Park in Newtown from 12-5:00 PM. Tai Pelli, a representative of the United Confederation of Taíno People, is confirmed as a keynote speaker.  

Indigenous Peoples Day in Newton promises to be a family-oriented cultural and spiritual celebration featuring musical, dance, and spoken word performances. The organizers are also planning a Talking Circle facilitated by Indigenous elders, immersive educational cultural exhibits, and a market featuring Indigenous artists and community groups. 

Donations are being accepted to support the program and its associated costs.

UCTPTN

Street Co-Naming Honors Matinecock Nation of Oueens and Long Island, NY

Chief Harry Wallace of the Unkechaug Nation,
Chief Osceola Townsend of the Matinecock
Nation, and Chief Roberto Mukaro Borrero
of the Guainia Taino Tribe. 

Little Neck, NY (UCTP Taino News) – The indigenous Matinecock Nation was honored in Little Neck on Monday, October 5, 2015 with the unveiling “Matinecock Way”, the new co-name of Northern Boulevard and Marathon Parkway. The special ceremony was the culmination of a joint effort by Matinecock descendants, the Bayside Historical Society, Councilman Paul Vallone (D-Bayside), Assemblyman Ed Braunstein (D-Bayside), Community Board 11, the Douglaston-Little Neck Community Library and other community partners. 

“Today we honor their legacy as a noble and harmonious people who remain our neighbors,” Councilman Vallone said. 

“Long before the arrival of Europeans, the Matinecock Tribe called the areas of what is now Douglaston and Little Neck home” stated Assemblyman Braunstien. 

In solidarity with the Matinecock and their Chief Osceola Townsend, various representatives of other indigenous Nations were attendance at the historic event including Chief Harry Wallace of the Unkechaug Nation and Roberto “Mukaro Agueibana” Borrero, President of the United Confederation of Taino People and chief of the Guainia Taino Tribe. 

The Matinecock are a branch of the Algonquin Indigenous language and cultural group, and once inhabited villages where Flushing, College Point, Bayside and Douglaston now stand. 

UCTPTN 10/06/2015

Happy Taíno New Year // Feliz Año Nuevo Taíno

Open Letter to the Taino 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/content/contact.htm).

Josh Samuels
Project Lead on the Arrival Video Game Series
www.arrivalgame.com
Founder and CEO of Raindrop Games, Inc
www.raindropgames.com

Taíno Flag Presented to National Museum of the American Indian

José Barreiro accepts Taino Confederation flag on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution

Washington D.C. (UCTP Taino News) - On Friday, July 13 2012, the flag of the United Confederation of Taíno People was formally presented to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. The flag will now become part of the Museum’s permanent collection and is scheduled to be displayed annually along with the flags of other Indigenous Peoples of the Western Hemisphere during the observance of Native American Heritage month. The Taíno flag was presented to José Barreiro, the Museum’s Assistant Director for Research by Confederation President Roberto Mukaro Borrero. The historic flag presentation opened a public symposium entitled “Beyond Extinction: Updates from the Field”, a program that culminated a week long workshop session focusing on indigenous Taíno related themes.

UCTPTN 07.08.2012