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

Indigenous Peoples lead Peoples Climate March in Washington D.C.

Indigenous Peoples at the frontline of the Peoples Climate March are joined by actor Leonardo DiCaprio

WASHINGTON D.C. (UCTP Taíno News) — On Saturday, April 29, over 200,000 people took to the streets in Washington D.C. to demand action on Global Climate Change on the local, national, and international level. Indigenous Peoples were among those who led the march, which took place in sweltering heat that tied a record for April 29. The People’s Climate March for “climate, jobs, and justice” coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s 100th day in office. Along with the main march and related activities in Washington D.C., more than 300 “sister marches” were held across the U.S. and around the world. 

“This is more than a march, it is a global movement to affect positive change.” said Roger Guayakan Hernandez, a Borikén Taíno representing the United Confederation of Taíno People at the march. Hernandez was a “bus captain” for one of two buses from New York organized by the International Indian Treaty Council to assist local NY Tri-State Area Indigenous Peoples, as well as indigenous delegates to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues participate in the Peoples Climate March. 

A large and diverse representation of Indigenous Peoples from around the country and the world were present at the march. Indigenous Peoples began the day with a sunrise water ceremony that opened with a welcome from Gabrielle Tayac of the local indigenous Piscataway Nation. During the march, Indigenous Peoples were a part of the led contingent, representing frontline communities. Among the Indigenous Peoples represented at the march from throughout the Americas and the world, were Taíno, Lokono-Arawak, and Maya from Belize alongside Lakota, Dine (Navajo), Schaghticoke, Sapara, Mexica, Mohawk, Quechua, Maori, Nuba, Maasai, and many, many other indigenous Nations.

“I am marching for Mother Earth and our future” said Mainaku Borrero, Taíno/Tlingit, 10yrs old. “Climate change is real.”

 UCTPTN 05.09.2017

Latin America and the Caribbean Indigenous Peoples Prepare for World Conference

Guatemala City, Guatemala (UCTP Taino News) – Indigenous Peoples from throughout Latin American and Caribbean are meeting in Guatemala to discuss and organize regional perspectives on the upcoming United Nations World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in 2014. Supported by the Government of Guatemala, This preparatory meeting began on April 11 with a Mayan blessing ceremony lead by Felix Sarazua, a Maya Spiritual Guide.  The meeting will end on Saturday, April 13, 2013. 

The Latin American and Caribbean Regional Preparatory Meeting for the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples is a part of a global preparatory process toward the United Nations General Assembly high-level plenary entitled the “World Conference on Indigenous Peoples,” scheduled to take September 2014.  Some of the themes being discussed in Guatemala  include the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Indigenous perceptions of land and territories; the post-2015 UN Agenda; and the a strategic plan for the World Conference. 

Among the invited delegates attending the meeting in Guatemala is Roberto Mukaro Borrero, President of the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP). Borrero is representing the Confederation and the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO). 

“From the start of this process the UCTP and CADO have been concerned with the lack of effective participation of indigenous Caribbean Islanders during these important preparatory stages” stated Borrero. The UCTP and CADO jointly submitted their concerns to the Latin American and Caribbean Coordinating Committee as well as the Global Indigenous Women’s Caucus.

In its resolution (A/RES/66/296), the UN General Assembly decided that the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly, to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples would be held on 22-23 September 2014 in New York at UN Headquarters. A goal of the World Conference is to share perspectives and best practices on the realization of the rights of Indigenous peoples, including to pursue the objectives of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

    

UCTPTN 04.12.2014

Possible pyramid discovered in Dom. Republic

Kiskeia/Dom. Republic (UCTP Taino News) – A local Dominican newspaper reported the discovery of a possible ancient pyramid in the Puerto Plata district of the Dominican Republic on Friday. The so-called pyramid is in the form of a large pile of stones that was found by the property owner who is deciding to remain anonymous at this time. The owner also claims to have alerted local authorities who he feels are ignoring an important archeological find.

Reactions from the Taino community have been mixed as there is caution over the report which could turn out to be a hoax.

Taino community member Miguel “Sobaoko Koromo” Sague states “I am skeptical concerning the possibility that our ancestors were so influenced by Maya and other Mesoamerican cultures that they would have begun to build pyramids". Sague continued stating that in spite of the doubts “it is a little exciting to allow myself to imagine that maybe... this man is really saying the truth.”

Another community member, Vanessa Inarunikia said that “As Taino, we know exchanges took place with Mesoamerica but [if this claim is true] this would confirm our oral tradition as fact for the academics and others who usually tend doubt everything unless they say it was so.”

In addition to local Taino oral tradition contacts between Mesoamerica and the Caribbean have been sporadically documented over the years. In his journal Columbus identified a group of Maya traveling from the Yucatan to the Caribbean islands by canoe. Recent archeological finds in Cuba have also confirmed some trade interaction. Several anthropologists and linguists have also noted some Mesoamerican influence in Taino culture and language.

Roger Guayacan Hernandez, a representative of the United Confederation of Taino People in Boriken (Puerto Rico) states that “we have heard about some mound type structures from a few elders here on the island. They say that many of these were destroyed with the building of modern roads. Unfortunately, we have not been able to physically verify these claims so it will be interesting to see what the find in Kiskeia is really about.”

Reports from internet archeology groups indicate that an archeology reporter, Mairobi Herrera from the newspaper Listin Diario will follow-up on this story. According to these sources Herrera has so far contacted Dominican archeologist Adolfo Lopez to investigate the claim and he has pledged to provide an update soon.

UCTPTN 10.05.10