Taíno People will join the Indigenous Peoples March in D.C.

Taino leader Roberto Múkaro Borrero will attend the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington D.C.

WASHINGTON D.C. (UCTP Taíno News) — The United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) is co-sponsoring and represented on the organizing committee of the Indigenous Peoples March, which takes place on January 18, 2018, in Washington D.C. Other co-sponsors include Indigenous Nations, Peoples, comminutes, and organizations such as the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe; Schaghticoke First Nations; Ramapo Lenape Nation; Piscataway Nation; International Indian Treaty Council; and Redrum MC; among many others. 

The day's event begins with an opening ceremony on the steps of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) at 1849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. at 8 a.m. From the BIA building, a march will commence to the Lincoln Memorial where a day-long rally will be held featuring many distinguished speakers and cultural presenters. Several thousand are expected to attend. 

UCTP President, Roberto Múkaro Borrero will be present and will serve as one of the Masters of Ceremonies at the March’s associated rally. “This is a historic, unifying event and it is an honor for the Confederation to be a part of it representing Caribbean Indigenous Peoples” stated Borrero. 

UCTPTN 01/01/2019

Native Runners Continue On Sacred Journey

Photo: Two Peace and Dignity East Coast runners - Maximus Matos and Rafael Landron - joined by supporters Vanessa Inarunikia and Kuyayaku Pastrano displaying some of the sacred staffs that are being run in an incredible journey from New York to Panama.

UCTP Taino News – Runners participating in the East Coast Tributary route of the Peace and Dignity Journeys have made their way from New York through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland heading toward Virginia. With their final destination scheduled for Panama, the group of runners and supporters began their journey in New York City on June 13 with sacred staffs representing the prayers of various Indigenous Nations. This year’s East Coast route is a historic first for the Peace and Dignity Journeys inter-continental run, which has taken place every four years since 1992.

At a ceremony for the East Coast runners held at Riverbank Park in Manhattan, approximately 75 representatives from many Indigenous nations gathered in one circle to welcome the sacred staffs the runners will carry throughout their journey. At the ceremony led by Grupo Cetiliztli Nauhcampa Quetzalcoatl, six representatives from East Coast Native Nations offered prayers. Messages of support were also received from Tonya Frichner (Onondaga) a UN representative, and Chief Dwayne Perry (Sachem Maqua/Chief Bear) of the Ramapo Mountain Lenape Nation.

The group of runners included Elizabeth Rexford (Inuit/Alaska), Elvira Colorado (Chichimec/Otomi), Hortensia Colorado (Chichimec/Otomi), Teyekahliyos “Dagots” Edwards (Onieda), Jennie Luna (Xicana/Caxcan/Mexica) as well as two Taino community members Maximus Matos (Taino) and Rafael Landron (Taino). At sunrise on Saturday, morning June 14, representatives of the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) presented an additional unity staff to the group. The presentation was made by community leader Roberto Mukaro Borrero who explained that the Taino staff was a symbol of unity between the Arawak, Carib, and Taino Nations as well as a representation of the Guaraguao or Caribbean Red Tail Hawk within the Eagle and Condor prophecy.

Following the sunrise departure ceremony the group crossed the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey and made their way to Pennsylvania where they connected to Art Woolsey, PA coordinator for the Longest Walk II. Woolsey was instrumental in the logistical organizing for the runners through the state. While in Pennsylvania the group visited the grounds of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and offered prayers at the institution’s cemetery. Over 100 indigenous children who were taken from their parents to attend the infamous boarding school died there and were interred on the grounds.

According to the East Coast Run coordinator Jeannie Luna the runners met up with the Longest Walk group in Greensburgh, PA. The two groups were able to share experiences and ceremony before the Peace and Dignity runners headed to Pittsburg where they were greeted by Taino community member Miguel Sobaoko Koromo Sague. A member of Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center – the only Native Center in all of PA - Sague along with other PA Native community members contributed supplies and extended much appreciated hospitality to the group. Sague who is also the founder of the Caney Spiritual Circle offered an additional Taino staff to join the UCTP’s prayer for Taíno unity.

Following their visit to a local Pow Wow in Farmington, PA that was held to honor the birth of a White Buffalo at a local zoo, the runners made their way to Friendsville, MD and Petersburgh, West Virginia.

The runners will also visit Washington DC plan and while in the area they plan to link up with the Haudenosaunee Spirit of the Youth Unity Run. These two groups will continue running together until July 5th when they will unite with the Trail of Tears runners in Tahlequah, Oklahoma for the closing ceremonies of the East Coast portion the route. From Oklahoma the sacred staffs will be run to Taos, New Mexico where they will join the main group making their way south.

This southern route from New Mexico will unite all runners of the East Coast Tributary and other routes and connect them to the main route, carrying all the prayers, work and energy towards Panama.

UCTPTN 06.29.2008

Ramapough Pow Wow This Weekend

UCTP Taino News – The Wawayanda Northern Liaison Native American Pow Wow and Gathering is set to take place this weekend, May 17-18, 2008 in Warwick, New York. The event is being held to honor “Lenape People Who Dwelled Along the Path Stretching from the Delaware River to the Hudson River” and will take place at the Warwick Veterans Memorial Park, from 10am to 6pm, rain or shine. Sanctioned by the Ramapough Mountain Indians, Inc, the Wawayanda Pow Wow will feature dancing, drumming, craft, and food.

The Ramapough Mountain Indians have resided in the Ramapough Mountains for more than three hundred years, and are a part of the greater Lenape Nation.

On Sunday - May 18 - a special cultural presentation by members of the Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society takes place at the Wawayanda Pow Wow at 2:30pm and at 4:30pm. “Cacibajagua” is an inter-Tribal, inter-generational community of indigenous Caribbean singers, musicians, and artists dedicated to transmitting their ancestral heritage to their present and future generations.

The host drum for the Pow Wow is "Spirit of the Mountain" and Grand Entry begins at noon both days. For further information on the Wawayanda Native American Pow Wow, contact 845-610-3258 or 845-283-0764.

Photo: Jeannie Calcano, Maria Diaz, and Vanessa Inarunikia of the Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society (Photo by Mamarazi)

UCTPTN 05.14.2008

Taino Support Ramapough Lenape in Remembering an Ancestor

By SUZAN CLARKE
THE JOURNAL NEWS

MAHWAH, N.J. - Hundreds of people gathered in the woods around Stag Hill yesterday afternoon for an American Indian healing ceremony at the site where Emil Mann was mortally shot a year ago by New Jersey park police.

Many of those in attendance belonged, as Mann did, to the Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation.

Dwaine Perry, chief of the Ramapoughs, several members of Mann's family, local officials and representatives of local American Indian tribes were among those present.

The crowd, including many children and the elderly, was somber as it was urged through Native prayers, drumming and song to pray for the spirit of the 45-year-old Monroe, N.Y., man who was shot by police during a tribe cookout on April 1, 2006.

Mann was unarmed. The Ramapo town worker died of his wounds April 10.

Chad Walder, the officer who shot Mann, was indicted last week on a reckless manslaughter charge. Walder's attorney has said the officer was defending himself against Mann.

The crowd had gathered earlier in the day for a healing ceremony at the tribe's community center. People then walked 45-minutes - first on paved roadway, then on hilly, muddy unpaved paths through the woods - to get to the site where Mann was shot.

Some of the men wore fringed leather jackets, and several women had embroidered shawls over their coats.

In a clearing on the mountain, they stood in a circle and prayed for Mann's spirit, that his family, tribe and friends be comforted, and that there be peace on the mountain.

In the center of the clearing was a cloth folded lengthwise, upon which were placed containers of dried herbs or leaves, including tobacco, cedar, sage and sweet grass.

The herbs represented the four elements, which figured largely in the ceremony.

Speaking in their native language and in English, Roman Redhawk Perez, chief of the New York-based Maisiti band of the Taino Indians from the Caribbean, and Taino member of Kukarey spiritual circle Roberto Warawayute Delgado started the ceremony by blowing sharp blasts from conch shells to the north, south, east and west. The gathering followed suit by turning in each direction.

"Our people are not from this land," Redhawk said, "but we hurt... because it happened to us back home.

"Emil is an ancestor now, a young ancestor," Redhawk added.

Others who spoke remembered Emil Mann as a peacemaker. The crowd was urged to remember how Mann had touched their lives, for their memories would aid his journey.

Despite the overcast skies and the chilly air, the crowd remained standing during the ceremony, which lasted well over an hour. Afterward, people were invited to place flowers on a cross bearing Mann's name, which had been erected at the shooting spot.

Several colorful, shiny helium balloons bobbed near where they had been tied to the large wooden cross. One of the balloons bore the message, "Happy Birthday."

Mann's 46th birthday would have been tomorrow.

Joyce Coyote Woman O'Blenis, a Ramapough from Stag Hill, had known Emil Mann since he was a child.

"This should never have happened," she said of the shooting. "It was a senseless thing."

O'Blenis said the woodsy area was where the tribe taught its children Native ways and enjoyed peaceful recreation.

Mark Moore, a distant cousin and friend of the slain man's, said the ceremony was a good one.

"It gives him release, so he can go to the other side," the Wurtsboro, N.Y., man said. "It's needed."

Moore was present at the cookout the day Mann was shot. He was riding an all-terrain vehicle and didn't see the actual shooting, he said, but he came back to see Mann on the ground and Walder standing over him.

"My nephew told us to get out of here, that they're shooting us, so I went," he said. "And who do you call for help when the cops are shooting you?"

Moore said he called the media instead.

Moore cautioned the general public against the stereotyping that has seemed to plague the Ramapoughs.

"People are still calling us names," he said. The names are not as bigoted as they used to be, but they're unwarranted, Moore said. "Now they're calling us insular," he said. "We're people just like everybody else."

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Related Story:

Cop Indicted Ramapough Indian Killing
http://www.nynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070328/NEWS03/703280378