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

Indigenous Peoples Day Rally

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 10: Chali'Naru Dones, with the United Confederation of Taino People, marches past the Old State House while participating in the Indigenous Peoples Day rally and march in Boston on Oct. 10, 2020. The United American Indians of New England organized a demonstration on Saturday to continue the ongoing movement to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day and to demand the City remove the Columbus statue from Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park for good. (Photo by Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Women's March Brings Thousands Together Across the U.S. and Beyond

UCTP Representative Chali'naru Dones (at center) opens the 4th Annual Pioneer Valley Women's March on Saturday, January 18, 2020, with a spiritual invocation. 
Photo: Kevin Gutting 

Springfield, Massachusetts (UCTP Taíno News) – From coast to coast, thousands of women and their allies took to the streets across the U.S. on Saturday, January 18, 2020 to raise the visibility of a variety of issues such as climate change, immigration, reproductive rights, pay equity, gun safety, and voting. 

Marches took place in Washington D.C., New York City, Chicago, Denver, Colorado, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,  New London, Connecticut, Dayton, Ohio, and Springfield, Massachusetts, among many others. The march in Washington D.C. was expected to be the largest, with a permit filed for 10,000 people. Colorful and passionate messages of resistance, empowerment, and solidarity were consistent across events.
In Springfield, Massachusetts, several hundred demonstrators made their way down Main Street to City Hall holding signs and chanting at the fourth annual Pioneer Valley Women’s March. The Springfield mobilization was opened with a spiritual invocation by Chali’naru Dones, a representative of the United Confederation of Taíno People and a member of the Guainía Taíno Tribe. 

Before beginning her invocation, Dones called on those gathered to acknowledge local Indigenous Peoples and to keep the “women and all the people of Borikén (Puerto Rico) in [their] hearts” as they were still suffering from the effects of recent earthquakes. She also called for more attention on the issue of “missing and murdered Indigenous Women from throughout the hemisphere.” 

Also at the Springfield rally, Rhonda Anderson, a member of Inupiaq Athabaskan Tribes of Alaska called on the crowd to “Resist racism, resist marginalization, resist colonization, resist harmful legislation that seeks to turn back the clock against women, against minorities and against our Mother Earth.

The over 200 Women’s Marches that took place on Saturday were not limited to the U.S. as others took place in Paris, Berlin, London, Prague, Sydney and beyond. 

UCTPTN 01/19/2020

Special Screening of Women of the White Buffalo in Boston

Chali'naru Dones (at left), Deborah Anderson, and Darlene Flores at the screening of Women of the White Buffalo

Boston, Massachusetts (UCTP Taino News) – A special private screening of Deborah Anderson's documentary film "Women of the White Buffalo" was held at Leica Store & Gallery Boston on Saturday, November 9, 2019. 

According to the filmmaker, the intention of this film is to shine a light on Indigenous Women and include their voices in this current wave of global Women’s resistance. The film also seeks to inspire the next generation of Native Americans to remember who they are and utilize their own ancient wisdom in the much-needed healing of their communities. The screening was also an educational opportunity for non-Native people to learn from this beautiful and powerful culture and confront the forces that perpetuate inequality and historical racism causing separation among peoples. 

The film provides an intimate look into the lives of 8 women, ranging in age from 10 to 98, who deliver harrowing testimonials of loss and survival while providing direct insight into what it is to be a modern Native American. With the inclusion of current statistics along with historical accounts, the audience can track how these present-day conditions came to be. 

Attending the event were two Taíno community members, Chali'naru Dones and Darlene Flores. Dones, who is also a representative of the United Confederation of Taíno People, was asked by Anderson to give an opening prayer for this special event. While Dones shared the prayer in the Taíno language, Flores offered the English translation. 

 UCTPTN 11/10/2019

Kasibahagua shares Taíno Culture in Massachusetts

Haverhill, MA (UCTP Taíno News) - The Kasibahagua Taíno Cultural Society shared two successful presentations at the 31st Annual Inter-Tribal Pow Wow hosted by the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness (MCNAA). The event took place September 7-8 at Plug Pond in Haverhill, Mass. The Pow Wow featured the songs and dances of Indigenous Peoples from throughout the Americas, as well as artisan vendors, food, an educational component, and canoe and kayak opportunities. 

An organizational member of the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP), the Kasibahagua Taíno Cultural Society presented aspects of Taíno culture via dance and song, sharing stories and explanations of instruments and regalia. The group was lead by Kalichi'naru Lebron and featured an owl dance by Chali'naru Dones. 

In a related presentation, Claudia Fox Tree, M.Ed. (Yurumein Arawak), a board member of the MCNAA and a local Liaison Officer for the UCTP, led a featured educational component at the event.  Fox Tree held inter-active conversations both days for about 30 minutes with opportunities for Q & A after presentations that focused on inaccuracies and stereotypes about, as well as the contributions of Indigenous Peoples throughout history.  

UCTPTN 09/10/2019

Taíno delegation at Boston Puerto Rican Parade

Members of the Taíno delegation at the 52nd Annual Puerto Rican Festival in Boston, Massachusetts
(Photo courtesy of Chali'naru Dones) 

Boston, MA (UCTP Taino News) - The 52nd annual Puerto Rican Festival was held on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at Boston City Hall Plaza. The day began with a parade whose route began in Copley Square and ended at City Plaza. Among the parade participants was a delegation of Taíno people organized by Chali’naru Dones, a representative of the United Confederation of Taíno People. Dones is also a member of the Guainía Taíno Tribe. The annual celebration of Puerto Rican cultural heritage attracted thousands and festival featured cultural entertainment including storytelling and workshops, traditional food stands, and a health fair, as well as rides and games for children and adults.

UCTPTN 07/30/2019

Healing Boriken from Lowell, Massachusetts

Youth dancers at the Healing Borikén fundraiser in Lowell, Massachusetts 

Lowell, Massachusetts (UCTP Taíno News) - HEALING BORIKÉN, a locally organized fundraiser to help the people of Borikén (Puerto Rico) following the devastation of Hurricane Maria took place at UTEC in Lowell, Massachusetts on March 22, 2018. The event's main organizer, Patricia Chali'naru Dones noted that the successful event was an opportunity to help people in “La Isla Del Encanto (The Island of Enchantment aka Puerto Rico) while coming out to dance, pray and heal." 

All the funds collected were contributed to support the Hurricane Maria Community Recovery Fund established by the United Confederation of Taíno People, a 501c3 organization that focuses its work primarily on the indigenous Taíno People of Caribbean. The goal of the UCTP fund is to procure and distribute critical resources being requested by community members such as water purification products, insect repellent, mosquito nets, personal hygiene products, and solar lanterns, etc., as well as emergency cash disbursements for families and UCTP volunteers on the ground.

Healing BORIKEN featured an amazing showcase of multi-cultural performers who donated their time and incredible talents to this worthy cause. Among the special guests was Jacinto "SpiritWolf" Vega, an actor who appeared in the 20th Century Fox Film Production of Crooked Arrows and an art exhibition by Joel Rosario Tapia. A screening of the video "Life without Power" by Roger Hernandez was also presented. Vinny Tata'niki Iraheta, son of Chali'naru Dones, performed a special Pow Wow dance presentation. 

Chali'naru Dones is a member of the Guainía Taíno Tribe and a special representative of the United Confederation of Taíno People. 

UCTPTN 03/23/2018

Taino Confederation Representation at Pequot Pow Wow

UCTP Liaison Officer Angel Ortiz at the 2017 Honoring the Veterans Powwow

Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, Connecticut (UCTP Taíno News) - For the 6th year in a row, UCTP Liaison Officer Angel "Lion Heart" Ortiz  represented the United Confederation of Taino Peoples at the "Honoring the Veterans Powwow", Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center in Connecticut. 

A Guainia Taíno Tribal member, Ortiz commented "As every year, the Pequot Nation received us with profound respect including us not only at annual Grand Entry, but also at the Sacred Ceremony of the posting and retiring of the Flags." This year Ortiz's wife,  Carmela, also participated representing the U.S. Coast Guard and carrying the American Flag. 

Several Taíno Women and their family members also traveled from far distances in order to make it to this event, among them, Chali'Inaru SmileznBill Dones from Massachusetts and Nicole Luz from Rhode Island. 

Throughout 2017, the UCTP flag was presented by Ortiz at multiple Powwows throughout 
New England.

UCTPTN 11/12/2017