UCTP Liaison Officer Fox Tree Presents Program on Stereotypes

UCTP Liaison Officer Claudia Fox Tree (at center in red) with members of
Marblehead's Indigenous Day Committee.

Marblehead, Massachusetts (UCTP Taíno News) - The Indigenous Peoples Day Committee of Marblehead invited UCTP Liaison Officer Claudia Fox Tree to present at a public program held the St. Andrews Church on April 29th. Fox Tree shared an activity about stereotypes, speaking for about an hour and 15 minutes on relevant history and reasons stereotypes are a problem. The program ended with 15 minutes of Q & A.

The event was well attended, and Fox Tree was able to distribute information and speak to people who attended the program to learn about their heritage or who were just interested in the subject. There were many elders in attendance. During the Q & A Fox Tree responded to various interesting topics and questions, including to persons who wanted to “focus on eliminating reservations and integrating indigenous peoples into the larger culture,” others who felt "everyone is an immigrant so why was IPD was needed,” and those who didn't think “one day was enough.”

Fox Tree also joined the group earlier the same day to raise awareness about Indigenous Peoples Day. Next week, Marblehead’s townspeople will vote on whether to change the name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.

UCTPTN 04/30/29/2019

Indigenous Peoples Day Established in Pennsylvania

Several participants at the 2012 Indigenous Peoples Day in Philadelphia. From left to right - Peta-Gay Roberts (Taino), Hon Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, UCTP President R. Mukaro Borrero, Joselyn Borrero (Tlingit), and Ramon Ramos (Taino). 

Pennsylvania (UCTP Taino News) - The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on October 3^rd, recognized “Pennsylvania’s American Indian peoples and communities”, as well as the first Saturday in the month of October as Indigenous Peoples Day. The recognition was issued in “noncontroversial” House Resolution No. 861, introduced to the Assembly by Hon. Representatives V. Brown, Bishop, Brennen, Caltagirone, Digirolamo, Kirkland, Parker, Cultler, M.O’Briean, Staback, and Frankel.  

The resolution acknowledges the “many great nations that inhabited the territory”, such as the Lenape, as well as the many “American Indian Peoples living in urban cities like Philadelphia”.  At the presentation of Resolution 861 in Harrisburg, several local Indigenous representatives were invited to address the Assembly including Carlos Rivera, leader of Yucayeque Taino Ma’Oconuco.    

Following the presentation of House Resolution 861, a celebratory festive was held in Muhammad Park in Philadelphia to commemorate Indigenous Peoples Day on October 6th. Indigenous Peoples from around the State and from as far as Canada gathered to share history and culture. The gathering was attended by Hon. Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown, who distributed copies of Resolution 861 to the participants and attendees. Seventh Generation Radio host and local Indigenous activist, Brother El “Owl” Ali addressed the gathering citing the significance of the Day for all Indigenous Peoples of Pennsylvania. El Ali was one of the main proponents lobbying for Indigenous Peoples Day, which was first recognized, last year at the local governmental level in Philadelphia.  

At the event, El Ali also acknowledged the United Confederation of Taíno People and its President, R. Múkaro Borrero, for being the “inspiration” to lobby for an “Indigenous Peoples Day in Pennsylvania”. Borrero was on hand to receive a copy of the Resolution on behalf of the Confederation.   

UCTPTN 10.11.2012

Occupy Wall Street Welcomes Indigenous Peoples

A Day of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples at Occupy Wall Street. From left to right: Jen Yazzie (Navajo), Roberto Mukaro Borrero (Taino), Kent Lebsock (Lakota, and Tiokasin Ghosthorse (Lakota).
Photo credit: Alyssa Macy

New York, NY (UCTP Taino News) – As the United States officially celebrated Columbus Day on Monday, indigenous peoples joined thousands of activists to commemorate “Indigenous Peoples Day” at Occupy Wall Street in Lower Manhattan. Representatives of several local, national, and international indigenous organizations and community groups led a “teach-in and then an historic march down to the National Museum of the American Indian. The indigenous representatives also presented an ‘indigenous platform’, which noted that “without addressing justice for indigenous peoples, there can never be a genuine movement for justice and equality in the United States.”


See the full story at UCTP Taino News:
http://www.uctp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=666&Itemid=2

Bolivians mark Columbus Day and Indians' return to power

Thousands of Bolivians gathered
to celebrate the day when power
was restored to Indians, and
President Evo Morales quelled rumors of a coup.

BY DAN KEANE Associated Press

LA PAZ, Bolivia - About 15,000 people packed a plaza Thursday in La Paz as President Evo Morales hosted a rally to mark the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas in 1492 and celebrated the return of Bolivia's Indian majority to power more than five centuries later.

Morales, who was elected last December as the country's first Indian president, spoke on Columbus Day -- commemorated as Día de la Raza, or Indigenous Peoples Day, in much of Latin America. The crowd also came to support his populist government amid vague rumors this week of a coup.''

My friends, surely 514 years ago the Western invaders thought to finish us off, sought to exterminate the indigenous people,'' Morales said. ``We have not only defended ourselves, we have not only resisted . . . here in Bolivia, we have begun to liberate ourselves.''

Oct. 12, once known as a day of disgrace, is now a day of liberation,' ' he continued.

Morales appeared with his customary wreath of coca leaves around his neck and confetti in his hair, speaking through clouds of incense. Many admirers waved the rainbow-checkerboard flag known as the Wiphala, a Bolivian symbol of Indian pride.

Morales also told the crowd that rumors of a coup against his government had been circulated by the conservative opposition to ''frighten and intimidate'' his government and its allies.''

They wanted to defeat us psychologically, but this gathering today demonstrates the unity of our people,'' he said.Earlier in the week, Heinz Dieterich, a Mexican university professor and sometime advisor to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, suggested in an article published in the opposition paper El Mundo that a coup against Morales was in the works.

Chávez on Thursday reiterated his own suspicions of an effort to depose his ally Morales, and said U.S. President George W. Bush would be to blame if there were a coup in Bolivia.''

If something were to happen to brother President Evo Morales, the president of the United States would be responsible, '' Chávez said while attending a celebration of his own country's indigenous heritage.

U.S. officials deny plotting against either Chávez or Morales, who are united by their leftist policies and have close ties with Cuba. Morales also said Thursday that ''nobody is going to stop'' sweeping reforms such as the nationalization of Bolivia's oil and gas reserves and the drafting of a new constitution for the country -- both longtime goals demanded by Bolivian Indian groups.

--------

Review related story on President Evo Morales at:
http://uctp.blogspot.com/2006/09/president-of-bolivia-meets-with.html

Indigenous Peoples Day: Volunteer Opportunity, Prayer Vigil & Unity Gathering

Indigenous Peoples Day
Volunteer Opportunity, Prayer Vigil & Unity Gathering
Monday, October 9th 2006
Brook Park in the South, South Bronx, NY
141st Street and Brook Avenue

Dig your hands in the Earth, chop wood, gather stones and celebrate Autumn! We invite you to join us in giving active and loving care to our Brook Park as well an opportunity to stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. We welcome both skilled and unskilled alike to join us for a day of service to Mother Earth and All Our Relations through focused and joyful work. Please let us know if you are intending to participate and sign up through our website via the Volunteer section at http://friendsofbrookpark.org/

Indigenous Peoples Day
Volunteer Opportunity, Prayer Vigil & Unity Gathering

10am - Volunteers needed to prepare purification lodge etc.

12noon - Lighting of Fire for the Stones

1pm - Reading of the Papal Bulls and Bulls Burning

3pm - Purification Ceremony (aka Inipi, Temascal, Kansi/Guanara), facilitated by Roberto Mukaro Borrero (Boriken Taino)

Following the Purification Ceremony will be a time for sharing from the heart around the sacred fire…

All are welcome - Bring food to share, instruments, tobacco, and a good heart as we pause to acknowledge Mother Earth and the over 500 struggle of Indigenous Peoples throughout the Americas and beyond. In solidarity, prayers and songs will be extended to Leonard Peliter who is enduring his 30th year of imprisonment, as well as those who are fasting for Leonard’s Freedom until October 12th.

Solidarity through prayer and song will also be extended to the Anti-Columbus Day rally in Denver as well as in other places around Turtle Island, the Mohawk protesters in New Caledonia, the Taino and other Caribbean Indigenous Nations, and for those preparing to lobby the United Nations for the passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

This gathering is sponsored by the Friends of Brook Park, the Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society and the UCTP Office of International Relations and Regional Coordination.

Directions:
Brook Park141st St. and Brook Ave.
South Bronx, New York

By train:#6 Local Subway - Ride to Brook Avenueget off at Brook Ave. Walk up 3 blocks to 141st - the park is on the corner

or #2, #5 Subways to 149th Street and Third Ave. walk down Willis Ave. to 141st St. take a left and walk to Brook Avenue there we are on the corner.

By car:
From the North West Side
Take the Major Deegan Expressway to 138th Street exit, take a left and go on 138th street for about 6-10 blocks, left on Willis Avenue, right on 142nd Street, right on 141st Street and park is there on the corner.

From the East side
Take the Bruckner Expressway exit at 138th Street, take a right on 138th Street, go a few blocks to St. Anns Avenue, take a right on St. Anns, and go to 141st Street. Take a left on 141st street, go one block, pass Brook Ave. and the park is there on the corner.

For Information on Brook Park visit http://friendsofbrookpark.org/ or call Harry J. Bubbins at 646.206.5288

For information on the UCTP visit http://www.uctp.org/ or contact uctp_ny@yahoo.com