Volcano eruptions in St. Vincent Creating a Humanitarian Crisis

Ash coats a hillside on St. Vincent on April 11, 2021. (Photo by UWI-Seismic Research Centre, Prof. Robertson)

St. Vincent and the Grenadines (UCTP Taino News) - La Soufrière, a volcano on the Caribbean Island of St. Vincent began a series of intense eruptions last Friday. For close to a week, subsequent eruptions have covered the island in volcanic ash. Super-heated gas and lava flows have gushed down the mountainside. Thousands of residents in the affected “Red Zone” area are now displaced or have been evacuated. A humanitarian crisis is now emerging as islanders are left without clean water and electricity. Several news sources are reporting that government officials fear the situation will also exacerbate the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These are the times we need to be ready to support our relatives” stated Irvince Auguiste, a co-President of the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO). Auguiste is a member of the Kalinago (Carib) Nation of Dominica and a former Chief of the territory. He continued by stating “CADO and the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) will be collaborating on a relief effort for the Indigenous Kalinago community and others in St. Vincent.”

The dome of the volcano was completely destroyed during the periodic eruptions. Reports estimate that more than 460 million cubic tons of earth and rock have jettisoned into the atmosphere from the eruptions. The wind is carrying the volcanic ash to St. Vincent’s island neighbors such as Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Lucia. Eruptions and seismic activity are expected to continue over the next few days.

UCTPTN 04/15/2021

Online Gathering of Ethical Women Includes a Taíno Leader

Tai Pelli, UCTP Officer

Madrid, Spain (UCTP Taíno News) - A successful virtual encounter of Ethical Women with Equity Souls, was organized by La Red Internacional de Mujeres y Hombres Girasol Asorbaex (International Network of Sunflower Asorbaex Women and Men) and El Foro de Mujeres de Iberoamérica (Ibero-American Women’s Forum) on August 9, 2020. More than 80 women and men virtually from across Latin America  and Spain including talented professionals, businesswomen, associate weaving women, social activists for peace, human rights, and the environment, as well as poets, writers, cultural managers, academics, teachers, investigators, and doctors, among others.

Tai Pelli, International Relations and Human Rights Officer of the United Confederation of Taíno People and Co-President/ Co-founder of the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO), was one of the featured speakers. The 7-hour meeting, made possible by the Jitsi Platform, generated new perspectives on empowerment, equity, sorority, equality, and gender identity through the exchange of ancestral knowledge, experiences, ways of knowing, labor, talent, and wisdom. The Board of Directors of ASORBAEXexpressed how grateful they were to be able to count on this diverse network of dedicated individuals from around the world who are all working toward well-being, cohesion, social justice, and peace. 

The organizers are planning a series of virtual meetings running between September through October 2020. Dates to be announced. 

TEATRO BREVE de San Juan, PR ridiculiza al Pueblo Indígena Taíno/Jíbaro/Borikua en Parodia Teatral en las redes sociales

12 de abril 2020 - La Confederación Unida del Pueblo Taíno, junto a la comunidad Indígena Caribeña Taíno, Jíbaro, Borikua Arawak denuncia el acto de discriminación racial y burla cometido en su contra por Teatro Breve con la parodia titulada Un Viaje a nuestras raíces que ridiculiza al Pueblo Indígena de Borikén recientemente dispersándose a través de las Redes Sociales. Teatro Breve, hasta ahora había sido considerado la versión de “SNL”(Saturday Night Live) de Puerto Rico y entre otros, “la mejor compañía de Teatro en Puerto Rico”. 

El Pueblo Indígena Caribeño ha sido un pueblo resiliente por 527 años ante los abusos que comienzan con su invisibilización a través de la retórica colonial de la extinción, abuso a nuestras mujeres indígenas, la opresión, demonización y deshumanización,  incluyendo la religiosa. Esto se ha convertido en una licencia para ridiculizar a aquellos y aquellas que afirman su herencia e identidad Indígena como es su Derecho Humano inherente, universal, básico y fundamental, como lo es el Derecho a la libre determinación e identificación. 

El Gobierno Federal de los Estados Unidos, y por su estatus colonial, el gobierno local de Puerto Rico, tienen la obligación  de implementar al igual que de respetar la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas, finalmente adoptada por Estados Unidos en diciembre de 2010. 

El Artículo 8.1 - Los pueblos y los individuos indígenas tienen derecho a no ser sometidos a una asimilación forzada ni a la destrucción de su cultura.

Artículo 8.2 Los Estados establecerán mecanismos eficaces para la prevención y resarcimiento de: 

a.) Todo acto que tenga por objeto o consecuencia privarlos de su integridad como pueblos distintos o de sus valores culturales o su identidad ética;

           

d) Toda forma de asimilación forzada o integración forzada;

e) Toda forma de propaganda que tenga como fin promover o incitar la discriminación racial o étnica dirigida contra ellos.

Hacemos también hincapié al hecho de que Estados Unidos (por ende aplica  Puerto Rico en su estatus colonial) es una de las Partes que adoptó el Convenio Internacional sobre la Eliminación de todas formas de Discriminación Racial; énfasis a todos sus artículos y a su preámbulo, entre éste: 

“Convencidos de que toda doctrina de superioridad basada en la diferenciación racial es científicamente falsa, moralmente condenable y socialmente injusta y peligrosa, y de que nada en la teoría o en la práctica permite justificar, en ninguna parte, la discriminación racial,..”

Nosotros apreciamos el Arte, después de todo, somos un Pueblo de muchísimas destrezas artísticas. Reconocemos y nos dedicamos a la revitalización de nuestros lenguajes indígenas, como lo están haciendo las más de 476.6 millones de Personas Indígenas en el mundo. Sin embargo, no podemos permitir que ésto suceda en un entorno de ridiculización y chiste sobre nuestra cultura, especialmente cuando se trata de asuntos de la Mujer que dentro de las Culturas Indígenas tienen un simbolismo muy sagrado, como lo es la Menstruación. 

No tenemos duda que un excelente trabajo pudiera haber sido hecho para enseñar sobre uno de nuestros lenguajes, sin embargo rechazamos y denunciamos este acto que deshumaniza, irrespeta, y ridiculiza nuestra Cultura Indígena. El esfuerzo de nuestros ancestros en la sobrevivencia y respeto; el movimiento organizado de nuestro pueblos de ya casi 50 años (como lo han hecho millones de hermanos indígenas en el mundo) y ante los cuales no somos una excepción; la defensa proactiva de nuestros derechos en el ámbito local, nacional, e internacional, entre otros, no puede venir a ser insultado y minimizado para hacer reír a unos cuántos. 

Nuestra Cultura es una Cultura VIVA. Conocemos nuestros Derechos y le pedimos a TEATRO BREVE, una disculpa pública a nuestro Pueblo Indígena Caribeño y a todos los Pueblos Indígenas, porque la burla hacia uno, es la burla hacia todos. También le pedimos a TEATRO BREVE que desista de la exhibición y distribución de este video de tan mal gusto no solo para los miles de Taíno, Jíbaro, Borikuas del Caribe y la Diáspora, sino por la dignidad de 476.6 millones de personas que han sido resilientes ante la adversidad de la mentalidad colonizada. 

Para más información contacte: Tekina Tai Pelli,

Confederación Unida del Pueblo Taíno (United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) 

Oficial de Relaciones Internacionales y Derechos Humanos;

Organización para el Desarrollo Indoamericano del Caribe (CADO, por sus siglas en inglés)

Co-Fundadora y Co-Presidenta

Taipelli21@gmail.com

   Comunicado de Prensa - Confederación Unida del Pueblo Taíno (CUPT) Para distribución inmediata

Cali Tzay Nominated for UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Jose Francisco Cali Tzay, Mayan Cakchiquel, former President of UNCERD

United Nations (UCTP Taino News) - The UN Human Rights Council accepted nominations for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples until October 2019. Among the nominees are Jose Francisco Cali Tzay, a Mayan Cakchiquel from Guatemala and former member (through December 2019) and past President of the UN CERD. In addition to his many other accomplishments, he is also the President of the Board of Directors of the International Indian Treaty Council for the past 20 years. 

Indigenous organizations from around the world have already submitted letters of support for the nomination of Cali Tzay, including the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP). 

In a joint statement with the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization, UCTP President, Roberto Múkaro Borrero stated: “We commend the remarkable work Mr. Cali Tzay has accomplished in the field of human rights, in particular, issues concerning indigenous peoples internationally, over his career.” 

In 2001, the Commission on Human Rights decided to appoint a Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, as part of the system of thematic Special Procedures. The Special Rapporteur’s mandate was renewed by the Commission on Human Rights in 2004, and by the Human Rights Council in 2007. 

Appointments of Special Procedures Mandate Holders are expected to be made at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 24 February - 20 March 2020. 

UCTPTN 02/15/2020

Taíno Representative to Participate on International Round Table on International Indigenous Day

UCTP Taino News – Representing both the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) and the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO), Tai Pellicier has been invited, as part of the activities of the United Nations Indigenous Peoples Day, to participate via Skype in an event that will focus on the Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The invitation was extended by members of the indigenous Crimean Tatar community in Ukraine. The event will be attended by several international experts on the rights of indigenous peoples and other indigenous peoples’ representatives. Pellicier will be the sole indigenous person from the western hemisphere to participate in the round table program taking place on August 9, 2019. The UN International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is celebrated around the world. It was first pronounced by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1994, marking the day of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, in 1982.

 UCTPTN 08/09/2019

CADO Launches Relief Mission for Kalinago in Dominica

On foot, Chief Charles Williams surveys the
destruction iacross the 8 villages of
Kalinago Territory in Dominica

Barbados (UCTP Taíno News) – The Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO) recently launched an appeal for hurricane relief focusing on the indigenous Kalinago Nation of Dominica. In cooperation with the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP), the CADO office in Barbados will receive donations to ship by air for the Kalinago Territory. In a recent post on social media, a number of donation items needed included dry food light-weight items, large tarpaulins, building tools/equipment (hand saws, hammers etc), rain-proof tents and sleeping mats, lanterns, assorted nails and screws, coolers, water purifiers, and pampers for elderly and babies were among the request. 

The first shipment of relief donations to Kalinago Territory will depart today, Friday Oct. 6, 2017. An additional shipment is scheduled for the following week. Contact with the CADO office can be made by email to caribbeanamerindian@gmail.com or by sending a message to CADO's Facebook page. 

While no deaths have been reported in Kalinago Territory as a result of the storm, community members have affirmed that many homes were completely destroyed and communications are still difficult. Both CADO and the UCTP have pledged ongoing support and will issue updates on the situation as reliable information becomes available. 

UCTPTN 10.06.2017

Caribbean Indigenous Peoples Condemn Trumps withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement: A Joint statement from the United Confederation of Taíno People and the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization

The United Confederation of Taíno People and the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization condemn the shameful June 1st, 2017 announcement made by the President of the United States that his government will withdraw from the Paris Climate Change Agreement. 

Indigenous Peoples around the world, including the Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean are on the frontlines of the global climate crises. Our communities contribute the least to global warming, yet we are and will continue to be affected the most by its negative impacts. 

In the Caribbean region, the effects of climate change are real. We are experiencing erratic and shifting weather patterns, rising sea levels, increased intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes, negative effects on local fauna, as well as the bleaching of coral refers, which are integral component of the Caribbean Sea and its ecosystem. All these biophysical impacts will continue to evoke significant economic, social and political consequences in the near and distant future in the region and beyond. 

While the Paris Agreement did not fulfill all our aspirations and by itself, will not solve the global climate crises, it is an important step forward that includes the “rights of indigenous peoples” in its framework. 

The U.S. government’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is an irresponsible act that not only supports an immoral anti-environmental agenda, but also it also threatens the well-being of our future generations. We therefore call upon the U.S. government to reconsider its current position and convert this injustice into an historic opportunity to ensure a safer future for our children’s children.

Signed: 

Roberto Múkaro Borrero, President 
United Confederation of Taíno People 

Damon Gerard Corrie, President 
Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization

The Paris Agreement: An “Incremental Advance” for International Recognition of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Some members of the Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus at COP21 in Paris

Paris, France – The 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC-COP21) officially adopted the Paris Agreement on Saturday, December 12, 2015.  The Agreement, with the legal force of a UN Treaty, was agreed to by all the 195 States (countries) present.  Once ratified by at least 55 States, it will go into legal force in 2020.  It commits all countries, for the first time ever, to cut their carbon emissions while also recognizing the special circumstances of developing countries.  The States also adopted the “Paris Decision” which is not legally binding, but commits States to immediately begin the process of reducing greenhouse emissions that cause climate change.

Some commentators are denouncing the Paris Agreement as a failure while others are hailing it as an historic triumph.  But for Indigenous Peoples, the Paris Agreement can be seen as another step forward for the recognition of their rights in international law.

The International Indigenous Peoples Forum of Climate Change (IIPFCC) and the Indigenous Peoples Caucus representing over 200 indigenous delegates attending this session from around the world, was invited to make a formal statement at the COP21 closing plenary. The IIPFCC closing statement, presented by elder Frank Ettawageshik (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians), highlighted the three key messages advocated by Indigenous Peoples during the two-week session.  These included a call for the rights of Indigenous Peoples [to] be recognized, protected, and respected within a broad human rights framework in both the preamble and the operative sections of the Agreement; a temperature goal of no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius increase over pre-industrial levels; and recognition, respect for and use of Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge, with their free, prior, and informed consent, in measures for adaption to climate change.   The IIPFCC statement, while expressing that Indigenous Peoples were “keenly disappointed” at the shortfalls in meeting these calls, noted that all three Indigenous Peoples messages were “addressed to some degree” in the final Agreement.

In particular, the inclusion of “the rights of Indigenous Peoples” in the preamble paragraph of the Agreement, achieved despite the consistent opposition of some States throughout the process, is a significant and unprecedented step forward.  This is the first time this phrase has appeared unqualified in a legally binding UN Treaty, environmental or otherwise.  The same phrase was included the preamble of the Paris Decision, although both say that States “should consider”, while Indigenous Peoples and human rights advocates called for the use of the stronger word  “shall”.

As noted by hereditary Chief Damon Corrie, Lokono Arawak of Barbados, “strong support by a group of States including Philippines, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, Tuvalu, Indonesia, Canada and others, standing in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples throughout the negotiations, was required to achieve these inclusions in the final Agreement.

Despite disappointment that the phrase ‘rights of Indigenous Peoples’ and Human Rights in general did not also appear in the Agreement’s operative section, International Chief, attorney and member of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) Wilton Littlechild, Ermineskin Cree Nation, clarified that “the preamble of a Treaty provides the context and framework for interpreting and implementing the entire document.”  The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties supports his assessment. On this basis, Chief Littlechild called the Paris Agreement an “incremental advancement for recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in international law.”

The Paris Agreement also calls on State parties (countries) to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.” The 1.5 temperature goal was a core position not only of Indigenous Peoples, but the Small Island Developing States.

Article 7 of the Agreement addressing Adaptation affirms the need for a participatory, transparent, gender-sensitive approach based on science and “as appropriate, traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local knowledge systems”.  UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Victoria Tauli Corpuz noted that Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge, innovations and practices are recognized in both the Agreement and the Decision, and stated that moving forward “the challenge is how to operationalize this decision.”

The inclusion of Indigenous Peoples’ core positions both in the Paris Agreement and Decision was the result of the monumental, coordinated and unified efforts by the Indigenous Peoples Caucus throughout COP21.  Despite the shortfalls, the inclusion of “the rights of Indigenous Peoples” in both preambles provides a basis for future advocacy to ensure that all programs addressing Climate Change are carried out with respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples as affirmed in the UN Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including land and resource rights, free prior and informed consent, traditional knowledge and Treaty rights.

Source: http://www.iitc.org/the-paris-agreement-an-incremental-advance-for-international-recognition-of-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples-121615/

Lokono Chief Damon Corrie Attends Climate Change Consultation in Peru

Chief Damon Corrie (Lokono Arawak) presents a Taino necklace to
Lima meeting Chairperson Benito Callixto, head of the Indigenous Forum
of Abya Yala (FIAY in Spanish). The gift made was made by Taino leader and artist
Roberto Mukaro Borrero and presented on behalf of the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO) and the United Confederation of Taino People.

Lima, Peru (UCTP Taino News) - Lokono Arawak leader Damon Corrie attended the UN Climate Conference (COP21) Regional Consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean in Lima, Peru from 12-15 October 2015. The consultation sought to consolidate regional positions on Climate Change, which would add to outcomes of similar consultations being conducted around the world. The Indigenous Peoples Global Climate Change Consultations are an initiative of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Corrie was the only indigenous representative from a Caribbean Small Island State in attendance. Speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO) and the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) Corrie expressed concerns of Indigenous Peoples of Caribbean small islands including global sea level and temperature rise, increasingly intense hurricanes and tropical storms, food sovereignty, and unusual rain and drought patterns. Chief Corrie intends to be present at and share these concerns, among others, at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21), which will take place in Paris, France 30 Nov. - 11 December 2015. 

UCTPTN 10.16.2015 

OAS draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Position the Indigenous Caucus of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas

Distinguished Chairman of the Permanent Council, we the representatives of Indigenous Peoples want to express our position in regards to the last session of negotiations of the working group responsible for drafting the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

We regret that some States insist to hinder negotiations which have been held for more than 17 years, by introducing at the last minute, new text to make the provisions in the American Declaration ambiguous, below the standards of the Declaration of the United Nations and not recognize the rights of Indigenous Peoples, which is contrary to international human rights law. 

The Caucus considers this a vile disrespect and bad faith and will not accept any disposition that limits the human rights of Indigenous Peoples to the constitutions, domestic laws and public interest and allow the continued violation of indigenous rights and destroy all progress we have achieved in the American Declaration.

The Indigenous Caucus denounces before the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs, the Permanent Council and the General Assembly that the conditions for the adoption of an American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas do not exist, because there is no respect for the principles of the negotiation process that led Indigenous Peoples to the negotiation of an American Declaration without weakening it and without taking it below the standards of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

We ask the Committee on Legal Affairs, the Permanent Council and the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), to take the necessary measures to enable the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in the discussion and adoption of the American Declaration in an environment of respect and equality.

We the Indigenous Peoples will not accept any language that is contrary to the UN Declaration. We Indigenous Peoples reject and denounce the text of the American Declaration submitted for discussion and consider it illegitimate.

Having said that and in view of the fact that there are no conditions for negotiations at this eighteenth session, we the indigenous peoples remove ourselves from the negotiating table and will not recognize any text.

Washington D.C. 15^th May, 2015.

Contact: Anita Tzec anitatzec@yahoo.com

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