Joe “Doc Sunshine” Leon crosses over

New York (UCTP Taíno News) – Taíno artist Joe “Doc Sunshine” Leon crossed over into koaibei (the Spirit World) peacefully on Friday, April 4th at 3:24 pm at Franklin Hospital in New York. Leon was well known and respected in the NY Native Community; often donating his time and selected artworks for Pow Wows and special events. He studied at New York University, the School of Visual Arts and the Art Students League. He successfully pursued a career as an award winning commercial artist for over 30 years. Leon’s works varied in media, from fine arts to digital techniques; 
which he felt were ways to “expresses the strength and spirit of  ‘The People’." Most recently, Leon donated a series of artworks to the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) for exclusive use as fund raising tools. He felt strongly that his life was enriched by his indigenous cultural experiences and that “he must return this gift”.

A registered tribal-member with the UCTP, Leon was long associated with organizations such as the Paumanauke Pow Wow Festival Committee and the Presencia Taina Cultural Arts Organization. Leon received his Taino name “Weihibo” in a ceremony led by community elder and long-time friend Vanessa Inarunikia Pastrana. He is survived by his wife Stacey. A memorial service in his honor is now being planned. 

UCTPTN 04.08.2014

Taino Prepare for Sacred Run

The Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos host a meet for community leaders and youth in Trujillo Alto, Boriken to discuss plans for the Boriken 2010 Peace and Dignity Run.
(Photo: Courtesy of Bohio Attabei)

Boriken (UCTP Taino News) - For many ancient Indigenous cultures runners were an important way to send messages between communities. Taino People soon plan to highlight this tradition by organizing a “four directions” run this July on the island of Boriken (Puerto Rico). The Boriken 2010 Peace and Dignity Run is linked to the “Peace and Dignity Journeys”, spiritual runs that embody the indigenous prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor. This prophecy mandates the reunification of Indigenous Peoples throughout the Americas.

Vanessa Inarunikia Pastrana, one of the organizers of the Boriken Run sees the inclusion of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples as an essential but often overlooked element of the Eagle and Condor prophecy.

“Our people need to be a part of this healing process” states Pastrana. “The Caribbean is a part of the sacred hoop of Indigenous Nations.”

Since 1992, Peace and Dignity Journeys are undertaken every four years with runners starting out from Alaska and South America. Carrying sacred staffs, the participants run over six months stopping to visit various Native communities along the way. The runners finally meet in ceremony somewhere in the “center” of the continent. In 2008 the runners met in Panama City.

“The next Peace and Dignity Journey will take place in 2012 and the run in Boriken will connect Taino and other relatives to this important moment in our collective history” continued Pastrana. “This is not about politics but it is rather a spiritual way to raise awareness about our ancestral traditions and to remind ourselves of who we are as Indigenous People.”

Updates and information on the Boriken 2010 run can now be found at the website, http://boriken2010peaceanddignityjourney.blogspot.com/. Volunteers and donations are being requested.

UCTPTN 04.15.2010

Indigenous Peoples Global Summit on Climate Change

Anchorage, Alaska (UCTP Taíno News) - The Inuit Circumpolar Council is hosting a Global Summit on Climate Change that will bring together indigenous delegates and observers from April 20-24, 2009 in Anchorage, Alaska.

The purpose of the summit is to enable Indigenous peoples from all regions of the globe to exchange their knowledge and experience in adapting to the impacts of climate change, and to develop key messages and recommendations to be articulated to the world at the Conference of Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009.

Among those represented at the meeting will be a delegation of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples from Watikubuli (Dominica), Barbados, Suriname, and Borikén (Puerto Rico). Each delegate will prepare a report based on experiences in relation to climate change from their local area and these reports will form the basis of a larger regional presentation.

UCTPTN 04.11.2009