Taíno Elder Mildred Karaira Gandia Crosses Over Into Koaibei (Spirit World)

Miami, Florida (UCTP Taíno News) – Taíno elder, Mildred “Karaira” Gandia Reyes de Ziegelasch crossed over into Koaibei (the spirit world) on Sunday, February 6, 2022, due to complications arising from COVID 19. A long-time representative of the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP), and a member of the Guainía Taíno Tribe of Borikén, Bibi (Grandmother) Karaira was beloved across Taíno communities through the islands and the Diaspora. Karaira was an alumnus of Tribal Link Foundation’s Project Access Global Capacity Building Workshop for Indigenous Peoples, a human rights activist, an avid gardener, a spiritual advisor, and a devoted mother and grandmother. 

“We are greatly saddened to learn about Bibi Karaira’s passing and the Confederation will pause in its work to honor and her commitment not only to the UCTP but to all Taíno Peoples” stated Kasike R. Múkaro Agüeibaná Borrero, President of the UCTP and a leader of the Guainía Taíno Tribe. Borrero continued by stating “Bibi Karaira had strong opinions, a big generous heart, and a great pride regarding our ancestors and our culture. She will be missed in this physical world and our sincere condolences extend to her immediate and extended family around the world.” 

During her time as a liaison for the Confederation, she participated in many community and international gatherings. Karaira helped to organize the Taíno delegation to the 32nd Anniversary International Indian Treaty Council Conference hosted by the Independent Traditional Seminole Nation of Florida in 2006, was a UCTP delegate to the IITC's Guatemala Treaty Conference in 2008, and was the main delegate and a signatory on a treaty between the Confederation and the St. David's Indian Community of Bermuda in 2009. In 2016, Bibi Karaira represented the UCTP at the panel on Climate Change organized by the City of Hialeah.  

The Honorable Governor of Bermuda, Sir Richard Gozney, UCTP
Liaison Mildred Karaira Gandia, and Stephen Tucker, Chairman of the
St. David’s Islanders and Native Community in Bermuda, 2009. (UCTP Photo)

Bibi Karaira made her home in Miami, Florida with her family and was on extended medical leave from her liaison responsibilities from the UCTP. She continued to mentor and offer spiritual counseling to many. 

Behike Miguel Sobaoko Koromo Sague of the Caney Indigenous Spiritual Circle stated “The hupia (Spirits) have welcomed a new soul into their community of Koaibei, and even as we mourn the loss of this beautiful grandmother, we know that she will continue to guide and advise us from the spirit realm.”

Bibi Karaira blessing Behike Miguel Sague in 2017. 

Karaira was a featured participant in many of the spiritual ceremonial gatherings organized by Behike Sague in the Miami area.

Bibi Karaira is survived by her two sons, Jose Richard Cruz Gandia Jr. and Justin “Seiba” Ziegelasch Gandia and her husband Roland Ziegelasch.

UCTPTN 02/07/2022 

Women's March Brings Thousands Together Across the U.S. and Beyond

UCTP Representative Chali'naru Dones (at center) opens the 4th Annual Pioneer Valley Women's March on Saturday, January 18, 2020, with a spiritual invocation. 
Photo: Kevin Gutting 

Springfield, Massachusetts (UCTP Taíno News) – From coast to coast, thousands of women and their allies took to the streets across the U.S. on Saturday, January 18, 2020 to raise the visibility of a variety of issues such as climate change, immigration, reproductive rights, pay equity, gun safety, and voting. 

Marches took place in Washington D.C., New York City, Chicago, Denver, Colorado, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,  New London, Connecticut, Dayton, Ohio, and Springfield, Massachusetts, among many others. The march in Washington D.C. was expected to be the largest, with a permit filed for 10,000 people. Colorful and passionate messages of resistance, empowerment, and solidarity were consistent across events.
In Springfield, Massachusetts, several hundred demonstrators made their way down Main Street to City Hall holding signs and chanting at the fourth annual Pioneer Valley Women’s March. The Springfield mobilization was opened with a spiritual invocation by Chali’naru Dones, a representative of the United Confederation of Taíno People and a member of the Guainía Taíno Tribe. 

Before beginning her invocation, Dones called on those gathered to acknowledge local Indigenous Peoples and to keep the “women and all the people of Borikén (Puerto Rico) in [their] hearts” as they were still suffering from the effects of recent earthquakes. She also called for more attention on the issue of “missing and murdered Indigenous Women from throughout the hemisphere.” 

Also at the Springfield rally, Rhonda Anderson, a member of Inupiaq Athabaskan Tribes of Alaska called on the crowd to “Resist racism, resist marginalization, resist colonization, resist harmful legislation that seeks to turn back the clock against women, against minorities and against our Mother Earth.

The over 200 Women’s Marches that took place on Saturday were not limited to the U.S. as others took place in Paris, Berlin, London, Prague, Sydney and beyond. 

UCTPTN 01/19/2020

Tata’niki Iraheta Takes First Place in Junior Men Traditional Dance

Tata'niki Iraheta (Taíno) at the 2019 Mohegan Wigwam Festival.
(Photo credit: Marisol Velasco)

Uncasville, CT (UCTP Taíno News) – Tata’niki Iraheta, a member of the Guainía Taíno Tribe, took first place in the Junior Men Traditional Dance at the Mohegan Wigwam Festival, which was held August 17 -18, 2019 in Connecticut. Eight-year Tata’niki has been participating in the Northeastern pow wow circuit since he was two-years-old, attending with his mother Chali’naru Dones, a representative of the United Confederation of Taíno People. His 1st place recognition at the Wigwam Festival follows two other place awards this year achieved during the Bear Mountain Pow Wow in New York and the Narragansett Pow Wow in Massachusetts. 

 UCTPTN 08/19/2019

Taíno delegation at Boston Puerto Rican Parade

Members of the Taíno delegation at the 52nd Annual Puerto Rican Festival in Boston, Massachusetts
(Photo courtesy of Chali'naru Dones) 

Boston, MA (UCTP Taino News) - The 52nd annual Puerto Rican Festival was held on Sunday, July 28, 2019, at Boston City Hall Plaza. The day began with a parade whose route began in Copley Square and ended at City Plaza. Among the parade participants was a delegation of Taíno people organized by Chali’naru Dones, a representative of the United Confederation of Taíno People. Dones is also a member of the Guainía Taíno Tribe. The annual celebration of Puerto Rican cultural heritage attracted thousands and festival featured cultural entertainment including storytelling and workshops, traditional food stands, and a health fair, as well as rides and games for children and adults.

UCTPTN 07/30/2019

Claudia Fox Tree, UCTP Liaison, Speaks at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. event

UCTP Liaison Officer Claudia Fox Tree at the World of Wellesley MLK event

Wellesley, MA (UCTP Taino News) - Claudia Fox Tree, an educator and a Liaison Officer for the United Confederation of Taíno People spoke at the World of Wellesley’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. event on January 21st, Martin Luther King Day. The event featured Ms. Fox Tree’s keynote address which highlighted the need for allies and an introduction into First Nations history including atrocities committed by Columbus and the contributions of Caribbean Indigenous Nations. The Kuumba Singers of Harvard College also performed. The World of Wellesley is an organization dedicated to making Wellesley, MA a welcoming community where diversity is celebrated. 

UCTPTN 01.23.2019