Inspection of the Jákanas River Section near PO29

May 4^th, 2012: Inspecting the  Jákanas (Jacanas) River section near the PO29 Jákana Taino Sacred Site of the Portuguese Dam Project in Ponce, I could hear the roar of the river valley discharging 3 days of solid rainstorm water runoff.

You can see by the photographs taken this afternoon that the river is swollen with runoff water.  This happens often. 

I visited the public access road to the security outpost that prevents unauthorized persons from entering the $ 375 million dollar dam site.  I was stopped and questioned and not allowed to proceed.  The swollen river was contained by the steep riverbank with no obvious flooding.

By accessing internet maps of the area I determined that the sacred site is some distance from the actual dam with a overhead height difference of only 50 feet.  The dam is expected to be 220 feet high for the primary purpose of flood control providing flood protection for 40,000 people and over 13,000 residential structures downstream in the city of Ponce. The dam is the final component of the Portugues and Bucana Flood Protection Project.  (check out youtube video at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xksbMvB7bLA and in English at   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-QFub1fsYQ)

Security Check Point at "Jacanas" (UCTP Photo)

The dam is not finished, it has progressed at a rapid rate but still is only half complete.    The river continues to pass through the dam area thru conduits of the Portugues  Dam outlet works designed to provide for river diversion during construction of the dams.

During excavation, a 130 x 160 ft (49 m). A Pre-Columbian era ceremonial plaza, "batey" or ball court used by the ancient Taino was discovered at a disposable site for the Portugues Dam's construction. A 60 ft (18 m). long row of intricately carved stones bearing petroglyphs that appeared to date to the 11th or 12th Century were discovered. Additionally, a burial ground containing at least 40 well-preserved sets of human remains was discovered. 15% percent of the site is believed to be discovered with as many as 400 bodies buried. The site had been initially marked during a cultural resource survey in 1979 but excavation work in 2007 prompted the major discovery.^[6]

^{Report submitted by Roger Guaiakan Hernandez, UCTP Council member and Liaison Officer in Boriken}

Sacred reclamation and Grand-Clean-up of Jacanas in Puerto Rico

UCTP Taíno News - The Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos in collaboration with other organizations and agencies has organized a clean-up of the sacred site of Jacanas in Ponce, Puerto Rico from April 11th through the 13th. The council invites the general public as well as other indigenous peoples to join with them in this noble effort for conservation and in memory of the ancestors. The effort is part of a larger effort to save ancient indigenous sacred sites in Puerto Rico. Camping will be available as well as an orientation of the spiritual, environmental, and cultural importance of the area on April 13th. For further information on the event, contact Elba Anaca Lugo at 787-568-1547 or 787-760-5078, or Grandmother Shashira at 787-858-4855.

UCTPTN 04.01.2008

Third Taino Council Meeting with Jacanas Community

Jacanas, Boriken (UCTP Taino News) - The Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos held their third community gathering at the Jacanas PO 29 site in Ponce, Puerto Rico this past weekend. Taino activists and supporters from around the island, met with local residents as well as interested archeologists to plan follow-up strategy around this controversial archeological site.

Workshops, discussions, cultural presentations, and ceremony were led by various representatives of the Consejo.

With the support of the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) and concerned community members, the Consejo has maintained a consistent vigil as well as an information camp in Jacanas.

Among the Consejo’s future plans is major clean-up of the area scheduled for February 2008.

Photo courtesy of Connie Laboy

UCTPTN 12.18.2007

Taino Leaders Speak Out on Sacred Site in Puerto Rico

San Juan, Puerto Rico (UCTP Taino News) – Taino community leaders Elba Anaka Lugo and Naniki Ocasio Reyes will be interviewed tonight on 1320 Radio Isla starting at 10 PM to provide an update on the recent Taino archeological find in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

During the two-hour program they will also provide commentary on Taino community concerns as well as ways the community plans to address this controversial situation.

Lugo is the Director of the Consejo General of Tainos Borincanos and Ocasio Reyes is the founder of the Caney Quinto Mundo. The first local indigenous organizations to respond to violations being committed at the site known as PO29, the Consejo and the Caney have continued to monitor the situation closely. Besides meeting with local officials to address the issue, the organizations have also jointly organized spiritual ceremonies on behalf of the Taino ancestors, which have been carried out at the site by Taino elders and spiritual leaders.

Listeners can tune in tonight for the 2 hour special program in Spanish by visiting the station's live on-line link at http://www.radioisla1320.com/index_html.php.

UCTPTN 11.02.2007