Taino Highlighted at Springfield, MA Puerto Rican Parade

UCTP Liaison Officer, Chalinaru Dones with Grand Marshall Waleska Lugo DeJesus 

during the 33rd Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade in Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield, MA (UCTP Taíno News) – On Sunday, September 17, 2023, hundreds marched through downtown Springfield to celebrate the 33rd annual Puerto Rican Parade. Puerto Rican flags were waved by the thousands of spectators who lined the streets while Latin Music filled the air. The 2023 Parade theme was “Nunca Olvides Tus Raices, Never forget your roots.” 

The parade's Grand Marshall, Waleska Lugo DeJesus was featured atop a large float decorated in the style of a tropical forest from Borikén (Puerto Rico) that was presented to pay respect to the Indigenous Taíno Peoples of the Caribbean. A Liaison Officer for the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP), Chalinaru Dones, was invited by the Grand Marshall to not only accompany her on the special float, but to also open the Parade with a Taíno prayer. Dones is a citizen of the Guainía Taíno Tribe. 

Lugo DeJesus stated “I wanted to bring authentic representation to help educate that we still exist and Chalinaru reminded me that when we don’t acknowledge our history we can be erased.” 

Waleska Lugo DeJesus is the CEO of Inclusive Strategies and the founding director of the Healing Racisim Institute. She is widely known for her anti-racism advocacy and for identifying educational strategies to create equity.

UCTPTN 09182023

Caribbean Indigenous Peoples participate at Mashpee Pow Wow

In photo from left to right, Gustavo Cardona, Tataniki Dones, Chalinaru Dones, and Claudia Fox Tree were some of the Caribbean Indigenous Peoples present at the 96th Mashpee Wampanoag Pow Wow 

Historic Mashpee Wampanoag Territory, Massachusetts (UCTP Taíno News) – A contingent of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples participated at the 96^th annual Mashpee Wampanoag Pow Wow this past weekend from June 1-3 2017. Taíno and Arawak Tribal members joined this historic celebration of culture, traditions and heritage in solidarity with the Mashpee Wampanoag and other Indigenous Peoples from throughout the Northeast and beyond. The Pow Wow featured indigenous dancing, drumming, games, food, art, jewelry, wampum (beads made from quahog shells), gifts, crafts, and clothing. Drum and dance competitions also took place with United Confederation of Taíno People’s Massachusetts Liaison Officer, Claudia Fox Tree winning the “spot” dance and receiving a prize. This year’s Pow Wow theme was “Honoring Our Traditions” and several thousand visitors were received at the event over the weekend held at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in East Falmouth, MA.

UCTP Taíno News 07.03.2017