Taíno Daka Receives Award at Wisconsin Film Festival

Filmmaker Alez Zacarias; UCTP Liaison Officer, Martha Bahaku Brito; and UCTP President, Roberto Borrero attending the screening of Taíno Daka (I am) at the 2019 Green Bay Film Festival

Green Bay, Wisconsin (UCTP Taíno News) - The 7th annual Green Bay Festival took place January 31-March 3, 2019 at St. Norbert College’s Abbot Pennings Hall of Fine Arts in De Pere, Wisconsin. Among the various selected entries screening at the festival was the documentary “Taíno Daka (I am)” by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Alex “Guaragua’ko” Zacarias. After the film’s screening, a question and answer session was held with Zacarias and Roberto “Múkaro Agüeibaná” Borrero, President of the United Confederation of Taíno People. Borrero was featured in the film. Taíno Daka was awarded 1st Runner Up in the Audience Choice/Wisconsin’s Own category. The film is currently available for download at the VIMEO platform. 

UCTP Taíno News 3.4.2019

UCTP News Photo of the Day: January 18, 2018

UCTP Photo of the Day: Roberto Múkaro Borrero, President of the United Confederation of Taíno People, speaking on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. during the Indigenous Peoples March and Rally held on January 18, 2019. This is the same location that Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963. (Photo credit: Lidia Arriagada-Garcia) 

National Day of Action supported by Taíno Confederation

Roberto Múkaro Borrero, President of the United Confederation of Taíno People addresses the crowd gathered for the National Day of Action on behalf of Puerto Rico at Union Square Park in New York 

Union Square, NY (UCTP Taíno News) - Hundreds of Puerto Ricans and allies came out on Wednesday, October 11 to Union Square Park to support a "National Day of Action" on behalf of Puerto Rico, which was ravaged by Hurricane Maria last month. Millions of people across the archipelago are still without electricity. There continues to be limited access to food, water, and many residents have completely lost their homes. The Climate Justice Alliance called action urging people to organize marches and hold rallies to support a “just recovery and transition”for Puerto Rico. Speakers called for full debt relief for Puerto Rico; permanent lifting of the Jones Act; transparent decision-making process for the distribution of resources; detailed screening for environmental justice concerns; among other demands. Roberto Múkaro Borrero was among the first to address the assembly affirming the support of the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) for the National Day of Action. He also recognized the island's over 500 years of colonial history as a part of the root cause of its current situation. The UCTP has set up a webpage for updated information following the hurricane and is working with community members on and of the island toward relief efforts.

UCTPTN 10/12/2017

CADO Launches Relief Mission for Kalinago in Dominica

On foot, Chief Charles Williams surveys the
destruction iacross the 8 villages of
Kalinago Territory in Dominica

Barbados (UCTP Taíno News) – The Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO) recently launched an appeal for hurricane relief focusing on the indigenous Kalinago Nation of Dominica. In cooperation with the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP), the CADO office in Barbados will receive donations to ship by air for the Kalinago Territory. In a recent post on social media, a number of donation items needed included dry food light-weight items, large tarpaulins, building tools/equipment (hand saws, hammers etc), rain-proof tents and sleeping mats, lanterns, assorted nails and screws, coolers, water purifiers, and pampers for elderly and babies were among the request. 

The first shipment of relief donations to Kalinago Territory will depart today, Friday Oct. 6, 2017. An additional shipment is scheduled for the following week. Contact with the CADO office can be made by email to caribbeanamerindian@gmail.com or by sending a message to CADO's Facebook page. 

While no deaths have been reported in Kalinago Territory as a result of the storm, community members have affirmed that many homes were completely destroyed and communications are still difficult. Both CADO and the UCTP have pledged ongoing support and will issue updates on the situation as reliable information becomes available. 

UCTPTN 10.06.2017

A Taíno Kasike joins other Indigenous Leaders at Historic Gathering in Peru

Kasike Roberto Múkaro Borrero (at left) with Chief Caleen Sisk (Wintu - at center) and Casey Campy (Ponca - at right) at the Pachacamac Ceremonial Center in Peru

Pachacamac, Peru (UCTP Taíno News) – Indigenous leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere gathered in Peru from 23-25 August 2017 in recognition of the 10^th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The events where organized by the indigenous organization Chirapaq and the agenda included a ceremonial gathering at the sacred ceremonial center of Pachacamac and a two-day conference, which focused on the history of the global indigenous movement including a current assessment of state of Indigenous Peoples around the world. Among the respected delegates invited was Roberto “Múkaro Agueibaná” Borrero, chief of the Guainia Taíno community and President of the United Confederation of Taíno People. Borrero was representing the International Indian Treaty Council and invited to share information on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Post2030 Agenda.

Before the two-day conference, participants gathered at the sacred ceremonial center of Pachacamac, which is about 40 kilometres southeast of Lima, Peru in the Valley of the Lurín River. While the ancient ceremonial complex is now designated as a museum, Indigenous Peoples from around Peru continue to use the ceremonial grounds for spiritual purposes at various times during the year.  In earlier times, the area was used by pre and post-Inca cultures after being first settled around A.D. 200. It was named after the "Earth Maker" Creator Pacha Kamaq and its role as a significant ceremonial center flourished for about 1,300 years until the Spanish invaded.

The ceremony held on August 23^rd was led by indigenous women and it focused on peace and the health of Indigenous Peoples’ communities. Borrero was the only male who was invited to share a statement and a ceremonial song at the historic gathering.

UCTPTN 08.30.2017

Taíno join opposition to Financial Control Board for Borikén (Puerto Rico)

Vanessa Inarunikia Pastrana and Roberto Mukaro Borrero sound the guamo 
(conch shells) to open the demonstration in New York opposing the 
U.S. imposed Financial Oversight and Management Board for Borikén 
(Puerto Rico). Photo courtesy of Mario Rubén Carrión

New York, NY (UCTP Taino News) - On Friday, September 30, a diverse group of human rights defenders rallied in New York to voice their opposition to the first formal meeting the newly created and U.S. imposed Financial Oversight and Management Board for Borikén (Puerto Rico). The rally was held outside the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House in New York, home to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in NY. The rally opened with an indigenous Taíno invocation to the 4 directions and followed with about 3 hours of passionate calls to abolish the board and end colonialism for Puerto Rico. 

The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico was created by the Obama administration’s Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act, or Promesa as a way to deal with Puerto Rico’s economic crisis, which includes a debt of over 70 Billion dollars. Many activists and analysts note that it is the colonial condition of Puerto Rico that has created the crisis and the U.S. should be accountable for the debt. This control board named Jose Carrión III as chairman, clearing the way to officially take over financial decision-making from Puerto Rico’s government. A Republican, Carrión was recommended by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). He also presides over the Puerto Rico subsidiary of HUB International, a global insurance brokerage company. His appointment is controversial as he is the brother-in-law of Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s non-voting member in Congress. 

At the demonstration, Roberto Múkaro Borrero stated the “imposition of this financial control board by the United States violates Puerto Rico’s right to self-determination.” Borrero continued stating that “Promesa and along with the continuance of the Jones Act are clear proof of the island’s colonial status.” Borrero is a community leader representing the Guainia Taíno Tribe and is the current President of the United Confederation of Taíno People. Borrero continued stating that a specific area of concern with the legislation is that “it gives the board the power to expedite approvals of energy and other projects they deem critical, which could have severe consequences to the island’s environment if the projects are not evaluated properly.” 

Puerto Rico’s central government, three retirement systems (teachers, judicial and employees), university (UPR) and all its public corporations, including the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority and Electric Power Authority, are now under the immediate control of the new entity. The board also has oversight over the restructuring negotiations with creditors. The governor of Puerto Rico holds a non-voting position on the board, In addition, the board and its employees are exempt from liability claims. 

There is no information as to when the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico will meet next. 

UCTPTN 09.30.2016

Hundreds Support Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Washington D.C.

Representing the International Indian Treaty Council, UCTP President Roberto Mukaro Borrero addresses the large crowd gathered in Washington D.C. to support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in their fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. 

Washington D.C. (UCTP Taino News) – Several hundred American Indians and allies rallied outside the Washington D.C. Federal District Court on August 24, 2016 to support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who are seeking an injunction to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Tribe argues that the pipeline construction was approved by the Army Corps of Engineers without proper consultation with the tribal government of the Standing Rock Sioux. 

While the court proceedings took place inside, supporters gathered outside to hear a full day of solidarity statements from American Indian leaders and community members, environmental activists, and celebrities such as Susan Sarandon and Shailene Woodley, as well as American Indian drumming and singing. Representatives of the Piscataway Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Redrum Motorcycle Club, the American Indian Community House, and the International Indian Treaty Council were among the many who addressed the gathering. Taino community members representing the Bohio Atabei Caribbean Women’s

Vanessa Inarunikia and Gina
Rixturey of Bohio Atabei at the
rally in Washington D.C.

Circle, a member of the United Confederation of Taino People, also participated and addressed the crowd. 

The proposed construction is scheduled to cross the Missouri River, which would greatly endanger the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s only source of drinking water. Star of the Divergent series, actress Shailene Woodley noted that the Missouri River is also a water source for 18 million Americans. The pipleline’s construction also endangers and could possibly destroy indigenous sacred places, including burial sites along its route. 

Judge James Boasberg is expected to rule on the motion by Sept. 9, 2016. The construction of the pipeline in North Dakota is halted until a ruling is issued. 

 UCTPTN 08.24.2016

UCTP President to Speak at Gaming Conference

A scene from Arrival: Village Kasike

Brooklyn, New York (UCTP Taino News) – The President of the United Confederation of Taino People, Roberto Borrero will join CEO of Raindrop Games, Josh Samuels on a panel focusing on Indigenous Peoples and video game development at the Different Games conference on Saturday, April 9^th, 2016.

After community consultation, the Confederation entered into a collaboration with Raindrop Games, which resulted in the production and release of the game “Arrival: Village Kasike” in 2012. The game is currently available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iTouch. According to Raindrop Games, plans are now being made to release Arrival: Village Kasike on other platforms, possibly as early as next year. A recent UNESCO report highlights Arrival: Village Kasike as a best practice initiative with regard to Indigenous Peoples and Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs).  

Different Games is New York City’s first conference on diversity and inclusivity in games culture, drawing more than 700 attendees to NYU’s Downtown Brooklyn campus, in addition to more than 100 arcade games and 150 presenters and speakers! The fourth annual Different Games Conference will be held over 2 days, April 8-9, 2016 at NYU MAGNET in Brooklyn.

See more information at the Different Games website: http://2016.differentgames.org/

UCTPTN 02.14.2015

Open-ended Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG-SDG)

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Please find below the announcement from DESA on what will happen during the Phase 2 of the Open-ended Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG-SDG) and Sustainable Financing. As you may know the OWG-SDG 8^th Session just finished. The Stocktaking Phase where they had views from governments and from Major groups on the various sustainable development issues is over. They will now move to the informals, which are meant to be intergovernmental negotiating processes where they will reach agreement on what will be the SDGs. These meetings will take place on the following dates;

March 3-7, 2014

March 31-April 4, 2014

May 5-9, 2014

June 16-20, 2014

July 14-18, 2014

The co-chairs  of the OWG-SDG are  Mr. Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya and Mr. Csaba Kōrōsi, Permanent Representative of Hungary. For more information on the reports of the various working groups please go to the website;

http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org

After July the Post-2015 Development Agenda Process will start in September 2014 at the beginning of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly. There will be a special event to review the MDGs during this event. After this High Level Event, the negotiations processes will take place on what the Post-2015 Development Agenda will be. The results of the OWG-SDG will feed into this process.

The other regional processes are the following: I cut this from the message of Chantal Line Carpienter who is the DESA focal point for Major Groups.

*Regional meeting dates: we will work with RCs to identify regional participants, please start outreaching to your constituency*

ESCAP HLPF meeting in April (2-4) with pre-consultation starting from 29 or 30 March, Bangkok

ESCWA 2-3 April in Aman, Jordan.

ECLAC first week of May in Peru

ECE may not have a meeting on the HLPF

ECA: no further info

We are planning to offer capacity building and advocacy opportunities at each meeting.

There will also be a meeting on SIDS which those in small-island developing states should consider. So this is very relevant for the Pacific Caucus and also the Caribbean. Please interact with Roberto Mukaro Borrero who is from the Caribbean and who is representing  IITC, one of the Organizing Partners for the OWG-SDGs, so he can help provide additional information on this.

*SIDS contribution and speaker for launching of International year of the SIDS*

REMINDER: deadline for submission of what the SIDS conference document should contain is 15 February,

http://www.sids2014.org/index.php?page=view&type=13&nr=56&menu=1504<http://www.sids2014.org/index.php?page=view&type=13&nr=56&menu=1504>

For the Launch of the international year of the SIDS, only C& Y and women submitted names. My colleagues have selected the C& Y candidate Ben Anthoy Bacar MOUSSA from Comoros*. *C&Y are working with him on his statement in French and will share with you shortly as this is a statement for all MGs.

Please let us know who from your constituency plan to be here for the PrepCom 24-26 Feb.

The Organizing Partners for the Indigenous Peoples' Major Group are Tebtebba and IIN (Indigenous Information Network from Kenya, for the South and International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) for the North. There is very minimal participation of indigenous peoples in these processes because there is very little support for this and the DESA only supports one or two persons from the South. For Tebtebba, we have Galina Angarova who is based in New York to engage on a more full-time basis with this process, among others and for IITC they have Roberto Mukaro Borrero., also based in NY. For IIN this is Lucy Mulenkei whose email is mulenkei@yahoo.com.

If you want more information please email them. Galina's email is galina@tebtebba.org and Roberto's is roberto@treatycouncil.org.

Best regards,

Vicky

Victoria Tauli-Corpuz

Executive Director

Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education)

Convenor, Asian Indigenous Women's Network

email: vicky@tebtebba.org

phone: 63-74-4447703

mobile: 63-9175317811

www.tebtebba.org

www.indigenousclimate.org

www.asianindigenouswomen.org