Arawak Art Work Presented to Tribal Link Executive Director

Tribal Link Director Pamela Kraft receives a sculpture from the Eagle Clan Arawaks and the United Confederation of Taino People. In photo from left to right: Pamela Kraft, Roberto Borrero, Damon Corrie and Tai AnaYuisa Pellicier

United Nations, NY (UCTP Taino News) – An exquisite work of contemporary Lokono Arawak art was presented to Tribal Link’s Executive Director, Pamela Kraft, during the 11^th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in May. The piece, a wooden sculpture of a female leader, was carved by acclaimed Lokono artist Foster Simon.  The piece was presented to Kraft jointly by the Eagle Clan Arawaks and the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP). 

“Pamela Kraft has selflessly given of her time and effort to promote the rights of Indigenous Peoples,” stated UCTP President Roberto Mukaro Borrero. “She has continuously worked hard to provide a space for Indigenous Peoples to speak for themselves at the United Nations and other forums, presenting this special gift is a way for us to acknowledge her important work, and to say thank you.” 

The presentation of the sculpture was made during Tribal Link’s Project Access 2012 Training Session.  Project Access supports indigenous peoples’ participation in international meetings and conferences where decisions are being made that affect their rights, cultures and livelihoods.  Project Access is designed to provide support for the effective participation of 15-20 indigenous peoples from around the world at the UNPFII. Their participation begins with a three-day training session prior to the Forum's opening. 

“Simon’s sculpture represents a female leader, a chief,” noted Damon Corrie, the leader of the Eagle Clan Arawaks and the Pan Tribal Confederacy of Indigenous Tribal Nations. “To us Pamela is a leader and a chief of this session, we are very grateful to her, and all the Tribal Link staff for their commitment to Indigenous Peoples and to the Project Access students in particular.” 

Additional sculptures created by Foster Simon are featured in the Presidential collections of Guyana, Bolivia and Venezuela, and have been exhibited at the United Nations

UCTPTN 06.08.2012

Museum Recognizes Caribbean Heritage

Photo: Several works by Arawak artist Foster Simon of Pakuri Territory in Guyana will be exhibited at the American Museum of Natural History’s Caribbean Festival.

New York, NY (UCTP Taino News) - The American Museum of Natural History will host a Caribbean Heritage Festival in recognition of the region’s cultural legacy and diversity on Sunday, June 22, 2008 from 12 noon – 5:00 p.m. The celebration will highlight the region's contributions and cultures through family friendly programs with guest presenters, performers and films. A Caribbean art display will be featured in the Museum’s Grand Gallery with artists representing Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Caribbean indigenous artists Aguilar Marrero and Reina Miranda of Taino Spirit as well as acclaimed Lokono Arawak artist Foster Simon of Guyana will have works exhibited. The program is presented in collaboration with the Haitian Centers Council, Inc. and is free with suggested Museum admission.

UCTPTN 06.20.2008

Taino and Arawak Works on Display at UN Headquarters

United Nations (UCTP Taino News) – Contemporary Taino artists Reina Miranda, Mildred Mukara Torres Speeg and John Aguilar Marrero were among the indigenous artists whose selected works were featured at the opening of the United Nations Art exhibition entitled “Spirit of Our Ancestors”. The exhibition was launched in conjuction with the 7th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the opening took place on Tuesday, April 22nd 2008 at United Nations headquarters in New York. A testament to Caribbean indigenous survival, the paintings and their accompanying explanatory text have the potential to educate thousands of international visitors daily. Marrero and Miranda are members of the Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society. Torres-Speeg is a UCTP representative in the state of Georgia. Also on display are three wood sculptures by Foster Simon, an acclaimed Lokono Arawak from Guyana. Mr. Simon’s works are also featured in the Presidential collections of Guyana, Venezuela, and Bolivia. This special exhibition is free and open to the public during weekdays for a limited engagement closing on May 18, 2008.

Photo: Taino women at the opening of the "Spirit of Our Ancestors" exhibition at the United Nations. From left: Leenda Bonilla; Mildred Karaira Gandia, Maria Itomacunana Diaz, and Reina Miranda

UCTPTN 04.23.2008

Caribbean Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations

UCTP Taino News (United Nations) - The Seventh Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 21 April to 2 May 2008. The special theme will be "Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges." This year’s PFII theme is especially relevant to Caribbean Indigenous Peoples, many of whom from Small Island Developing States that are increasingly affected by the global climate crises.

In an effort to ensure Caribbean voices at the session, the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) is again facilitating administrative services and program coordination for delegates planning to participate within the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean (IPCGC) at UN Forum.

UCTP representative Roberto Mukaro Borrero states “Our presence here at the United Nations has without question increased the visibility of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples.” He continued “We are beginning to see more agencies taking a closer look at the region for possible inclusion within their programs.”

Indeed, as a result of interventions made at previous sessions, UNICEF coordinated a precedent-setting regional meeting focusing on “Caribbean Indigenous and Maroon Children” in June 2007. Representatives of indigenous organizations and communities including the UCTP were invited to participate in this special session that took place in Georgetown, Guyana.

The Convention on Biological Diversity has also increased participation of Caribbean representatives a move Naniki Reyes Ocasio of the Caney Quinto Mundo hailed as a “significant step forward” considering the vulnerable situation of small island states. Reyes Ocasio - a respected Taíno community leader from Puerto Rico - also stressed that the next step is for the agencies to “get serious about capacity building in the region including Puerto Rico.”

“This year is important to us as it is our 10 year anniversary and our advocacy on behalf of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations has been a major focus” stated Borrero. “Twenty years ago no one would have imagined we could have impacted the system in the way we have but as a result of our unity and solidarity across international boarders the UN’s attitude toward Caribbean Indigenous Peoples is changing” he said.

“Of course there is much more we need to do and in many cases our situations, especially with regard to our sacred sites are urgent but we had to begin the process and our work as the UCTP or within the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean is precedent-setting.”

Mildred Karaira Gandia, a UCTP representative who has been participating in the UN sessions has also noticed a change in attitudes. She noted that “in collaboration with supportive NGOs like the Tribal Link Foundation, various representatives from the region have also been able to receive training on how to engage the United Nations System.” To date indigenous representatives from Guyana, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Barbados, and Dominica have been able to participate at the United Nations with assistance from the UCTP.

A highlight of Caribbean Indigenous participation at this year’s PFII session will be a special event entitled Climate Change, Bio-Cultural Diversity and Livelihoods: A Caribbean First Nations Perspective. Taino representative Elba Anaka Lugo from Puerto Rico along with Carib and Arawak delegates Chief Charles Williams from Dominica and Hereditary Chief Damon Corrie of Barbados will take part in this program on Wednesday, April 23, 2008.

Caribbean Indigenous Peoples will also be highlighted in the UN Art Exhibition “Spirit of Our Ancestors” along with other Indigenous Peoples from around the world. The featured works of Taíno artists Mildred Mukara Torres Speeg, Aguilar Marrero, and Reina Miranda, will be presented. Guyanese Lokono Arawak artist Foster Simon will also have several works on display in the public exhibition, which opens April 21 through May 18, 2008.

The Permanent Forum is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.

UCTPTN 04.20.2008

Arawak Master Woodcarver Names Son After Bolivian President

Pakuri Territory, Guyana (UCTP Taino News) – Internationally renowned master woodsculptor, Foster Simon of Pakuri Lokono Arawak Territory (St. Cuthberts Mission) celebrated the September birth of his newborn son by naming the child “Evo” Simon after President Evo Morales Ayma of Bolivia.

President Morales is hailed as the hemisphere’s first “full-blooded” indigenous Head of State in over 450 years of the European and neo-colonial occupation of the Americas. Many Indigenous Peoples throughout the Caribbean and the Americas consider President Evo Morales to be “their President”; he is a well-respected and revered personage among First Nations of the Hemisphere.

Foster Simon’s wooden sculptures form part of the Presidential collections of Guyana, Venezuela, and Bolivia. One of Simon’s most recent art works was presented to Bolivian Ambassador Reynaldo Cuadros who received the unique piece on behalf of President Morales. The work was gifted to the Ambassador by Simon’s brother-in-law, Damon Corrie (Arawak), who was invited to make the special presentation at the Presidential Palace in La Paz during a session of the Organization of American States held there in April 2007.

Photo: Proud Arawak parents, Margaret and Foster Simon with new

baby "Evo Simon" in Pakuri Territory, Guyana

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See related stories at:

Caribbean and North American Indigenous Peoples present sacred gifts for

President Evo Morales Ayma of Bolivia.
http://uctp.blogspot.com/2007/04/caribbean-and-north-american-indigenous.html

Bolivians mark Columbus Day and Indians' return to power
http://uctp.blogspot.com/2006/10/bolivians-mark-columbus-day-and.html

President of Bolivia Meets with Indigenous Leaders in New York
http://uctp.blogspot.com/2006/09/president-of-bolivia-meets-with.html