Taíno Confederation joins the opposition to U.S. interference in Mexico’s phaseout of glyphosate and GM corn

Washington, DC (UCTP Taíno News) - Today, 80 U.S. organizations delivered a letter to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai, opposing the interference by U.S. government officials and agribusiness interests in Mexico’s planned phaseout of glyphosate and genetically modified corn. Signatories to the letter included representatives of Indigenous Peoples, American farmers, workers, consumers, public healths, sustainable agriculture, and other food systems research and advocacy groups. Further, over 6,900 petition signatures from concerned individuals were delivered as well. 

As revealed by a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by the Center for Biological Diversity, under the Trump administration, public officials at USTR and USDA strategized with agrochemical industry representatives from CropLIfe America and Bayer AG (which produces glyphosate) on ways to urge the Mexican government to rescind its policy decisions. After, USTR warned Mexico’s Minister of Economy that Mexico’s action threatened the “strength of our bilateral relationship.” 

The United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) and the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO) were signatories to the letter. UCTP President and CADO Co-President, R. Múkaro Borrero stated, "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the world the importance of food security and food sovereignty at national and local levels. Moving toward a right relationship with food and the Earth should be at the top of our global priorities. Other countries should follow Mexico’s example for the phaseout. If you claim to care about the present and future generations, there is no sane reason to be in opposition." 

The joint letter and petition to USTR and USDA urged that the agencies should respect Mexico’s sovereignty and refrain from interfering with its right to enact its own protective policies. The U.S. groups and individuals echoed concerns from agricultural and civil society organizations in Mexico:

"We reject the pressure from corporations such as Bayer-Monsanto — and their CropLife trade association — which are working in both the United States and Mexico to undermine the presidential decree that phases out the use of glyphosate and transgenic corn," declared Fernando Bejarano, director of Pesticide Action Network in Mexico (RAPAM).

Bejarano went on to explain, “We are part of the No Maize No Country Campaign, a broad coalition of peasant organizations, non-profit NGOs, academics and consumers, which support the presidential decree and fight for food sovereignty with the agroecological transformation of agricultural systems that guarantee the right to produce and consume healthy, nutritious food, free of pesticides and transgenics.”

UCTPTN 04.30.2021

Pueblo Taíno ignorado por el Ministerio de Cultura de la República Dominicana sobre asunto de Repatriación del Semí de Algodón Taíno en Italia

Comunicado de Prensa para difusión inmediata - Pueblo Taíno ignorado por el Ministerio de Cultura de la República Dominicana sobre asunto de Repatriación del Semí de Algodón Taíno en Italia

27 de abril de 2021 - La Confederación Unida del Pueblo Taíno, junto a varias Organizaciones representativas del Pueblo Taíno interesadas en colaborar con el proceso de Repatriación Internacional del Sagrado Semí de Algodón ubicado en Italia nos dirigimos a la Ministra de Cultura de la República Dominicana, la Sra. Carmen Heredia Vda. de Guerrero en comunicación por escrito y enviada a través de correo electrónico el día 23 de febrero de este año.
Se esperó un tiempo razonable, y sin embargo no recibimos respuesta de nadie de dicha oficina ni a través del mensaje que se le había enviado por Twitter a la Sra. Ministra.
“...Afirmando además que todas las doctrinas, políticas y prácticas basadas en la superioridad de determinados pueblos o individuos o que la propugnan aduciendo razones de origen nacional o diferencias raciales, religiosas, étnicas o culturales son racistas, científicamente falsas, jurídicamente inválidas, moralmente condenables y socialmente injustas, Reafirmando que, en el ejercicio de sus derechos, los pueblos indígenas deben estar libres de toda forma de discriminación, Preocupada por el hecho de que los pueblos indígenas han sufrido injusticias históricas como resultado, entre otras cosas, de la colonización y de haber sido desposeídos de sus tierras, territorios y recursos, lo que les ha impedido ejercer, en particular, su derecho al desarrollo de conformidad con sus propias necesidades e intereses,
Reconociendo la urgente necesidad de respetar y promover los derechos intrínsecos de los pueblos indígenas, que derivan de sus estructuras políticas, económicas y sociales y de sus culturas, ….”
- Preámbulo de la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas
El 23 de marzo de 2021, considerándolo ya un tiempo más que razonable para contestarnos, volvimos a tratar de comunicarnos por teléfono y explicamos el motivo de nuestra comunicación y ahora con la preocupación de que nadie nos había respondido. Se nos indicó que el correo electrónico había sido pasado al Sr. Octavio Mejía, Director de Gabinete. El caballero aparentemente se encontraba de reunión y se le dejó recado para que se comunicara con nosotros. Se nos indicó que tan pronto saliera de su reunión se haría entrega del recado y que podíamos esperar su llamada esa tarde o al día siguiente. Nunca recibimos dicha llamada.
Hoy 27 de abril de 2021, volvimos a llamar y fuimos atendidos por recepción, expresamos nuevamente el asunto, la recepcionista tomó nuestros datos y razón de llamada para pasar el mensaje, y también nos hizo transferencia a la oficina de la Ministra. No hubo nadie que respondiera, ni oportunidad para dejar mensaje grabado.
Nuestra comunidad Taíno lleva ya más de dos meses tratando de establecer un diálogo con la Oficina de la Ministra de Cultura de la República Dominicana para tratar un tema de extrema importancia para nuestro Pueblo y de un proceso al cual tenemos derecho de acuerdo a la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas y la cual el mismo estado miembro, la República Dominicana, presentó junto a otros estados miembros ante la Asamblea General de la ONU, y endosó.
Recurrimos por esta razón a la prensa con el único deseo de traer enfoque a los derechos del Pueblo Indígena Taíno y para integrarnos en un esfuerzo colaborativo y como partícipes del proceso de repatriación internacional que incluya los mecanismos internacionales disponibles a los Pueblos Indígenas como lo pudiera ser el Mecanismo de Expertos sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas de las Naciones Unidas, entre otros.

Para mayor información favor de comunicarse con Tai Pelli, Oficial de Relaciones Internacionales y Derechos Humanos de la Confederación Unida del Pueblo Taíno,

taipelli21@gmail.com ó (321)444-1386.

Volcano eruptions in St. Vincent Creating a Humanitarian Crisis

Ash coats a hillside on St. Vincent on April 11, 2021. (Photo by UWI-Seismic Research Centre, Prof. Robertson)

St. Vincent and the Grenadines (UCTP Taino News) - La Soufrière, a volcano on the Caribbean Island of St. Vincent began a series of intense eruptions last Friday. For close to a week, subsequent eruptions have covered the island in volcanic ash. Super-heated gas and lava flows have gushed down the mountainside. Thousands of residents in the affected “Red Zone” area are now displaced or have been evacuated. A humanitarian crisis is now emerging as islanders are left without clean water and electricity. Several news sources are reporting that government officials fear the situation will also exacerbate the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These are the times we need to be ready to support our relatives” stated Irvince Auguiste, a co-President of the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO). Auguiste is a member of the Kalinago (Carib) Nation of Dominica and a former Chief of the territory. He continued by stating “CADO and the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) will be collaborating on a relief effort for the Indigenous Kalinago community and others in St. Vincent.”

The dome of the volcano was completely destroyed during the periodic eruptions. Reports estimate that more than 460 million cubic tons of earth and rock have jettisoned into the atmosphere from the eruptions. The wind is carrying the volcanic ash to St. Vincent’s island neighbors such as Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Lucia. Eruptions and seismic activity are expected to continue over the next few days.

UCTPTN 04/15/2021

Dr. Erica Mercado Moore Join appointed UCTP Liaison Officer in South Dakota

South Dakota (UCTP Taíno News) - The United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) has appointed Erica Mercado Moore as a UCTP Liaison Officer in the State of South Dakota. Dr. Moore is a community member of Iukaieke Guainía and South Dakota State University's American Indian Student Center Director. She began her work at SDSU in July 2019 after spending four years as the chief academic officer at the Lower Brule Community College.

"We are very excited to welcome Dr. Moore as part of our leadership community. Her passion and experience in supporting American Indian students in higher education will greatly assist the Confederation in its work at the local, national, and international level," stated R. Múkaro Borrero, President of the United Confederation of Taíno People. 

Moore earned her bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Maryland University College and a master’s degree in history from the American Military University. She completed her doctorate from Northcentral University in 2016.

UCTPTN 03/03/2021

When the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman is a Taíno Woman

By Tai Pelli

We have all been part of the Awareness Campaigns for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). Many of our ituno (sisters) have been very active; just yesterday our itu Claudia Fox Tree, UCTP Liaison Officer for Massachusetts,  posted a picture on her social media page wearing a beautiful red and black outfit bringing awareness to the MMIW. 

Little did I know that early this morning I would learn that one of our own, Andrea Evita “Vita” Reyes, had been murdered on December 27th, 2020, purportedly, at the hands of an ex-boyfriend who was on parole for his already existing criminal record. 

It was not until yesterday that one of our Taíno ituno, Katt Vázquez Alicea, learned about the passing of whom she considered a good friend and Tribal sister; having shared beautiful moments together, including visiting our beloved Borikén (Puerto Rico) the summer of 2019. They said “presente” during the “Ricky Renuncia” Movement, where Borikuas and Puerto Ricans successfully demanded the resignation of the then Governor, Ricky Roselló.  

As I attempted to connect with other Tribal relatives that also knew our itu, one of our brothers wondered: “Why are our women not considered when speaking about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women?” It made me think of our Taíno ituno that have disappeared and/or have been murdered. Especially after Hurricanes Irma and María, where they vanished and no one has ever either found their bodies or heard from them. Leaving behind the pain to those who truly loved them and are thirsty for answers that seldom come. 

The reality is that while our Taíno people go and join efforts to defend other Indigenous Relatives and their challenges in other places, I am not finding the same type of support and/or inclusion when it is us that are facing the challenges. I understand colonialism all too well, and I am also aware that the school system continues to show us as an extinct Peoples, although everyone truly knows we have been here all along, with the exception of the colonial and euro-centric people  who while seeing us right in front of their noses, prefer to see us as anything but an “indi@”. 

Obvious and suspicious deaths are either categorized as “suicide”, when logic itself tells us that it was a homicide, yet in our case, there are never enough police to investigate nor money to pay someone who will make a difference. So, we continue to mourn our loved ones, feeling like besides grieving the death of our loved one, we have to recover from the punch in the gut delivered by the system itself.

No, familia, it is time to speak up and I am so saddened that it took the vile and vicious murder of our itu Andrea to face this reality of us, as a Peoples. We can no longer afford being invisible to our own relations. The “fighting terrorism since 1492” began with our Taíno Ancestors in the Caribbean. While we suffered a terrible genocide at the hands of the Europeans and eventually via the Environmental Violence that our people have been subjected to later and by others, we had survivors in all of our islands and ancestral territory. We are the descendants of those who survived. Our Women have risen just like other Indigenous sisters have. Our Love, respect, gratitude, and honor to our Culture, Great Spirit Yaya, and ancestors has never ceased. It is time to be visible, to count, to do way more than to repeat tirelessly: “We are still here!”

While I understand that no Tribal Nation deserves to be having to “become part” of the alarming situation of our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, it is important we do not leave any of our sisters out. Taíno Women are also falling victim to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Pandemic.

In memory of our beautiful itu Andrea Evita Reyes, now in Soraya.