Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

The James J. Peters VA Medical Center of New York,

in collaboration with the

Native American Indian Special Emphasis Program,
The United Confederation of Taino People – Regional Coordinating Office,
Tanama Yucayeke Taino,

Ku Karey Taino Spiritual Circle,

Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society,

and Yaboa Indigenous Women's coalition
welcome

Miss Indian World 2006, Violet John
for a Special Tribute To American Indian Veterans,

Saturday, November 18, 2006

The program begins at 12 noon – 3:00pm in room 3d-22 on the third floor of the

James J. Peters VA Medical Center

located at

130 West Kingsbridge Road,

Bronx, New York 10468.

For more information please contact:
Marie Maweiaru at 718-741-4212,
Vanessa Inarunikia at 718-796-2460,
R. Mucaro Borrero 212-604-4186

Adios Mr. Columbus…

(UCTP Taino News) - This year, the United Confederation of Taino People’s campaign to end the Columbus Day celebrations continued locally, nationally, and internationally.

Promotion of educational materials was a major focus of the campaign with a re-issue of the "Columbus the Exploiter" summary essay developed by UCTP Liaison Office Evelyn Dye-Garcia (Washington). The summary was distributed via the UCTP communications network with a recommendation that the information be forwarded to local news papers, radio stations etc. A new e-strategy was also implemented with the distribution of "Columbus the Exploiter" via thousands of free internet "e-cards". UCTP members and allies also noted a marked increase of other communities etc. using and adapting UCTP Columbus related resources since the expansion of distribution; widening the educational impact of the campaign.

In an effort to provide some of the most up-to-date materials available on this subject, UCTP web resources on the Columbus issue at http://www.uctp.org/archives.html#7a were also updated.

As in previous years, UCTP representatives were invited to appear on several radio broadcasts as well as support and participate in indigenous led actions, such as the Transform Columbus Day (TCD) action in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Enid Conley, a UCTP Liaison Officer in the State of Florida was a special guest of the TCD organizers. The UCTP is a proud member of the Transform Columbus Day Alliance.

Providing an alternative to Columbus Day, an Indigenous Peoples Day event was co-organized on Monday, October 9th 2006 in the Bronx, New York with Friends of Brook Park, the Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society, and the UCTP Regional Coordinating Office.

The Indigenous Peoples Day, Prayer Vigil & Unity Gathering focused on a central theme of "unity" and statements of solidarity were read as received from across Turtle Island and from as far as Nepal. The UCTP was also informed that Chief Sidney Hill, Taddadaho (Spiritual Leader) of the 6 Nations Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy burned sacred tobacco for the event in an important expression of support from the local Indigenous Nations.

After an opening ceremony and lighting of the central fire, the gathering began with a reading of the 1493 Papal Bull Inter-Caetera. The reading was followed by burning a copy of this document in solidarity with other Indigenous Peoples performing similar ceremonies around the world. Since 1992 Indigenous Peoples around the world have called for the revocation of this infamous document by the Vatican.

A significant focus of the event was also dedicated to re-affirming solidarity with Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist who has been wrongfully incarcerated for 30 years. Activists Esperanza Martell and Onaji who were on a 12 day fast to draw attention to Peltier’s case participated in the event.

Local Taino organizations such as Maisiti Yucayeke Taino, KuKarey Spiritual Circle, and Tanama Yucayeque Taino were also represented at the Indigenous Peoples Day event along with members of the local Native American and Mexica communities as well as various community activists from diverse backgrounds.

Later that week, on Sunday October 15th UCTP and other Taino representatives were invited to a “Festival of Corn and Resistance” at the non-denominational San Romero de Las Americas Church in New York. Led by Father Luis Barrios, a special mass focused on social justice as well as Indigenous, and African resistance in the Americas. Invited speakers included Esperanza Martell, Roman Guaraguaorix Perez, Marta Morales, and Roberto Mucaro Borrero. The speakers focused contemporary Taino affirmation, and the situation of Leonard Peltier. A poem “To be or not to be Taino” was read by Atabuxi (Jacqueline Rodriguez). Recognizing the importance of Maisi (corn) to indigenous communities throughout the Americas, a feast of corn based foods was celebrated after the gathering.

Though the far-reaching affects of these initiatives are at times difficult to determine, community members are noting they are having an affect on some of our young people.

Dr. Rose Quinones, a UCTP Liaison Officer in Ohio notes for example that her 9-year old niece Alexis stopped to pray for Native America Day at her school. On October 12th when young Alexis asked her fellow students to excuse her because she had to pray at that moment, a group of curious students asked what she was praying for. In the spirit of her ancestors Alexis replied that she was praying that Columbus Day would be renamed Native American Day. She added that “we weren't lost!”

Upon hearing her explanation the other children decided to join Alexis in prayer.

Volunteer Opportunity, Prayer Vigil & New Moon Unity Gathering

Volunteer Opportunity, Prayer Vigil & New Moon Unity Gathering
Saturday, October 21st 2006
Brook Park in the South, South Bronx, NY
141st Street and Brook Avenue

Dig your hands in the Earth, chop wood, gather stones and celebrate Autumn! We invite you to join us in giving active and loving care to Brook Park as well an opportunity to stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. We welcome both “skilled and unskilled alike to join us for a day of service to Mother Earth and All Our Relations through focused and joyful work. Please let us know if you are intending to participate and sign up through our website via the Volunteer section at http://friendsofbrookpark.org/

10am - Volunteers needed for garden and to plant bulbs! And to prepare
purification lodge etc.

12noon - Lighting of Fire for the Stones

3pm - Purification Ceremony (aka Inipi, Temascal, Kansi/Guanara), facilitated by Roberto Mucaro Borrero(Boriken Taino)

All are welcome - Bring food to share, instruments, tobacco, and a good heart. Please consider offering a contribution if you are attending the activity so that we can obtain more resources to share. This gathering is sponsored by the Friends of Brook Park, the Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society and the UCTP Regional Coordinating Office.

Directions:
Brook Park141st St. and Brook Ave.
South Bronx, New York

By train:#6 Local Subway - Ride to Brook Avenueget off
at Brook Ave. Walk up 3 blocks to 141st - the park is
on the corner

or #2, #5 Subways to 149th Street and Third Ave. walk
down Willis Ave. to 141st St. take a left and walk to
Brook Avenue there we are on the corner.

By car:
From the North West Side
Take the Major Deegan Expressway to 138th Street exit,
take a left and go on 138th street for about 6-10
blocks, left on Willis Avenue, right on 142nd Street,
right on 141st Street and park is there on the corner.

From the East side
Take the Bruckner Expressway exit at 138th Street,
take a right on 138th Street, go a few blocks to St.
Anns Avenue, take a right on St. Anns, and go to 141st
Street. Take a left on 141st street, go one block,
pass Brook Ave. and the park is there on the corner.

For information on the ceremony contact uctp_ny@yahoo.com

For Information on Brook Park visit http://friendsofbrookpark.org/ or call Harry J. Bubbins at 646.206.5288

Indigenous Peoples Day: Volunteer Opportunity, Prayer Vigil & Unity Gathering

Indigenous Peoples Day
Volunteer Opportunity, Prayer Vigil & Unity Gathering
Monday, October 9th 2006
Brook Park in the South, South Bronx, NY
141st Street and Brook Avenue

Dig your hands in the Earth, chop wood, gather stones and celebrate Autumn! We invite you to join us in giving active and loving care to our Brook Park as well an opportunity to stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. We welcome both skilled and unskilled alike to join us for a day of service to Mother Earth and All Our Relations through focused and joyful work. Please let us know if you are intending to participate and sign up through our website via the Volunteer section at http://friendsofbrookpark.org/

Indigenous Peoples Day
Volunteer Opportunity, Prayer Vigil & Unity Gathering

10am - Volunteers needed to prepare purification lodge etc.

12noon - Lighting of Fire for the Stones

1pm - Reading of the Papal Bulls and Bulls Burning

3pm - Purification Ceremony (aka Inipi, Temascal, Kansi/Guanara), facilitated by Roberto Mucaro Borrero (Boriken Taino)

Following the Purification Ceremony will be a time for sharing from the heart around the sacred fire…

All are welcome - Bring food to share, instruments, tobacco, and a good heart as we pause to acknowledge Mother Earth and the over 500 struggle of Indigenous Peoples throughout the Americas and beyond. In solidarity, prayers and songs will be extended to Leonard Peliter who is enduring his 30th year of imprisonment, as well as those who are fasting for Leonard’s Freedom until October 12th.

Solidarity through prayer and song will also be extended to the Anti-Columbus Day rally in Denver as well as in other places around Turtle Island, the Mohawk protesters in New Caledonia, the Taino and other Caribbean Indigenous Nations, and for those preparing to lobby the United Nations for the passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

This gathering is sponsored by the Friends of Brook Park, the Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society and the UCTP Regional Coordinating Office.

Directions:
Brook Park141st St. and Brook Ave.
South Bronx, New York

By train:#6 Local Subway - Ride to Brook Avenueget off at Brook Ave. Walk up 3 blocks to 141st - the park is on the corner

or #2, #5 Subways to 149th Street and Third Ave. walk down Willis Ave. to 141st St. take a left and walk to Brook Avenue there we are on the corner.

By car:
From the North West Side
Take the Major Deegan Expressway to 138th Street exit, take a left and go on 138th street for about 6-10 blocks, left on Willis Avenue, right on 142nd Street, right on 141st Street and park is there on the corner.

From the East side
Take the Bruckner Expressway exit at 138th Street, take a right on 138th Street, go a few blocks to St. Anns Avenue, take a right on St. Anns, and go to 141st Street. Take a left on 141st street, go one block, pass Brook Ave. and the park is there on the corner.

For Information on Brook Park visit http://friendsofbrookpark.org/ or call Harry J. Bubbins at 646.206.5288

For information on the UCTP visit http://www.uctp.org/ or contact uctp_ny@yahoo.com

TAINO STARS IN FILM "END OF THE SPEAR"

New York, NY (UCTP Taino News) - Louie Leonardo, a Taíno from Quiskeya (Dominican Republic) stars in the film “End of the Spear”, which was released in theaters in January 2006. The film, based on a true story, is now available on DVD. Leonardo is a member of and performed with the Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society and has extensive stage and film experience. He has frequently appeared on television in such episodes as “All My Children,” “One Life to Live,” “Law and Order,” “ER,” and “Charlie’s Angel’s,” among others.

Leonardo has also appeared in a number of motion pictures, including "Fragments," and "Exile," director Ron Shelton's "Play It To The Bone," "Shaft," directed by John Singleton, and director Fred Schepisi's "A Few Good Years." He was the Director Jim Hanson’s first choice for the important leading role of the Waodani Warrior Mincayani.

The film takes place in the Ecuadorian Amazon as a missionary group journeys to the heart of the jungle in search of the Waodani, a tribe of fierce warriors on the brink of extinction. When five of the missionary men are speared to death by a group of tribesmen led by a fierce warrior (Louie Leonardo), their families are left husbandless and fatherless. Undeterred by their tremendous loss and spurred on by hope, the families decide to remain in Ecuador, and risk living among the Waodani. But the effects of that first encounter have yet to subside: A young boy (Chase Ellison), struggling to unlock the secret of his father's death (Chad Allen), must learn to accept a tragedy he cannot change in this powerful, true story of sacrifice, courage and redemption.

*UCTPTN 08.15.2006

Archive: Cacibajagua at the Reading Public Museum, 1998

Roberto Mucaro Borrero and Cacibajagua at the Reading Public Museum,
Penn., July 11-12, 1998

(click on poster to enlarge)

Archive: Cacibajagua at El Museo del Barrio, 1994

Cacibajagua celebrates El Museo del Barrio's 25th Anniversary,
May 14, 1994

(click on poster to enlarge)

Archive: Cacibajagua at Amazon Week 5, 1994

Roberto Mucaro Borrero and Al Bold Eagle Santos at the United Nations,
Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium, May 2 1994

(click on poster and photo to enlarge)

Archive: Cacibajagua at the American Museum of Natural History in 1993

Taino dancer at the American Museum of Natural History in 1993

(click on photo to enlarge)