Say No to Racism in Puerto Rico!

We the undersigned denounce racism against Indigenous Taino People, as well as black communities and afro-descendants in Puerto Rico. 

Recently, the University of Puerto Rico’s School of Law filed a complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights citing the violation of human rights in Puerto Rico.A news article entitled "Human Rights in Puerto Rico; Are they making racism invisible?" published on March 12th at “El Post Antillano”, responded to the complaint critiquing the absence of the subject of Racism against Black communities, afro-descendants, and Indigenous Peoples in Puerto Rico.

Providing an example of current climate of racism against Indigenous Peoples in Puerto Rico,a group of radical pro-Spain Puerto Ricans, “Autonomía para Puerto Rico”, led by its president, Iván Arrache, recently launched a campaign seeking to remove references to the Indigenous Taino Peoples from school books used on the Island. The pro-Spain group also seeks to present a more "positive" image of Spanish Conquistadors in school curriculum. This group’s core political position is that Puerto Rico should be re-annexed to Spain and Puerto Ricans should again be subjects of the Spanish Crown. They claim thousands of followers on the island including former political figures and members of the Puerto Rican Board of Education.

In response to these racists positions against Indigenous Peoples and the People of Puerto Rico, a respected community member and representative of the United Confederation of Taino People, Tai Pellicier (Tai Pelli) posted a professional, well-documented response to these statements; she was subsequently slandered by members of the racist group in question; her personal Face Book page was hacked and rendered inaccessible. The President of the radical group, Ivan Arrache, has claimed responsibility for this cyber-attack taking place during Women’s History Month, March 2015.

The United Confederation of Taino People is calling on all people of good conscience to join us in expressing solidarity for our sister Tai Pellicier (Tai Pelli) and to denounce the racist attempt to remove the Taino from school text books and the intent to present the conquistador in a more "positive manner". In addition, we condemn violations against the basic human right of self-determination and all forms of racism, especially against those who proudly affirm indigenous Taino heritage, as well as institutionalized racism against Black communities and Afro-Descendants in Puerto Rico.

Sign Petition: Say No to Racism in Puerto Rico! 

Indigenous Peoples Corn Conference Begins

Berenice Sanchez (Otomi) and Tai AnaYuisa Pellicier (Taino)

at the 2nd International Indigenous Peoples Corn Conference

Okmulgee, Oklahoma (UCTP Taino News) - The 2nd International Indigenous Peoples Corn Conference entitled "Vce Ohfvnkv en Heromkv, “Corn is a Gift from the Creator” kicked off this morning at the Mvskoke Dome located on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Claude Cox Omniplex in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The event is co-sponsored by the International Indian Treaty Conference (IITC) and the Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative (MFSI). This two-day event brings together Indigenous traditional farmers, knowledge holders, food sovereignty activists, Tribal leaders, youth and elders together to share information, seeds, traditional knowledge and strategies to defend corn and other traditional foods vital to our ways of life as Indigenous Peoples. Among the distinguished delegates attending from throughout the hemisphere and beyond, Tai AnaYuisa Pellicier is participating in the conference as a representative of the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) and the Caribbean Amerindian Development Association (CADO).

UCTPTN 09.08.2014

CADO Launches New Regional Humanitarian Effort

Barbados (UCTP Taino News) - The Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO) announced a new charitable initiative called the 'Red Sun.' Created by and for First Nations of the 'New World,' CADO representatives liken the mission of the fledgling effort to that of the 'Red Cross' and the 'Red Crescent.'

CADO President Damon Corrie (Lokono) stated that the Red Sun’s initial efforts would focus “specifically on assisting Amerindian families who are living below the poverty line and who are not receiving any assistance from outside of their community.” Corrie also noted that the “aid that the Red Sun will be able to offer presently will be in the form of clothing, non-GMO crop seeds, farming & fishing supplies etc.”

The 'Red Sun' was launched on 28th September 2013 in memory of Rebecca Aderi Audrey Corrie on the 19th anniversary of her death; she was the daughter of CADO founder members Damon Gerard and Shirling Corrie (Lokono).  The initial donation to launch the Red Sun was made possible by the generous donation of Earl Berg of California who kindly donated US$1,000.00.

“All we ever need at times is an ‘Angel’ investor or kindhearted donor” said President Corrie. He continued stating “CADO has many positive ideas to deliver real and positive change in our communities, however, the issue that individually we do not have the financial resources to sponsor every good idea we come up with.”

“We all do the best we can with our own limited incomes, but if more people like Earl Berg come forward and offer to help - we can do so much more. Maybe one day a progressive government will offer to assist us on a bigger scale and then you will see phenomenal and rapid progress in Amerindian communities in the Caribbean" said Corrie.  

Interested donors may contact the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization at the e-mail address caribbeanamerindian@gmail.com

UCTPTN 09/28/2012

Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization Established

Dominica, West Indies (UCTP Taíno News) –December 9^th, 2012 marked another historic day in the annuals of the history of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples as it marked the founding of the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organisation (CADO). The founding board of this Caribbean-based initiative includes well-known members of the Lokono Arawak,Kalinago Carib, and the Taíno Indigenous Nations. The group will focus on various projects to restore and or promote the tangible and intangible Amerindian culture and heritage throughout the islands, and be registered officially as a non-profit in Watikubuli(Dominica), Eastern Caribbean.

A collective statement by CADO noted that “"We are coming together to bring benefits to our peoples as best as we can. Being traditionalists as we all are, 'Development' is understood by us to be that which restores as much of our tangible and intangible heritage as has been lost and ensuring that as much as possible of it is taken into the future in the hearts and minds of the generations yet unborn that will follow us down the red road of our ancestors."

CADO’s founding board highlights gender and regional balance with the following members Shirling Simon-Corrie (Lokono), Damon Corrie (Lokono), Louisette Auguiste(Kalinago), Irvince Auguiste (Kalinago), Migdalia Ma. Pellicier (Taíno), and Roberto Mukaro Borrero (Taíno). From their spiritual perspective, and in their Caribbean traditionalist Amerindian Cosmovision, the 3 tribal nations are of the same maternal umbilical cord/tree of life, with a base/roots in the Lokono South, a middle/solid trunk in the Kalinago center, and top/crown; branches in the Taino North.

Members are all experienced indigenous rights advocates participating throughout the region locally, nationally, and internationally at such forums as the United Nations and the Organization of American States.  Justifiably, the CADO motto is "Dedicated to the Preservation and Promotion of Amerindian Cultural Heritage, and the Implementation of Internationally Recognized Rights of Indigenous Peoples"

The groups contends that while it is well known that Caribbean Indigenous Peoples were the first to suffer “historical colonialism's cruel fate,” they are the “least listened to” of all Indigenous Peoples in the Western hemisphere. CADO members also affirm that Amerindians still suffer the effects of present-day neo-colonialism in the Caribbean, which continues to ignore indigenous existence or marginalize contemporary communities and organizations. From the perspective of its founding members, CADO’s regional perspective emphasizes, not only the spirit of resistance to assimilation, but also of the calls for Caribbean Amerindian unity.  As such, the founders of CADO plan to move forward as “one blood, one mind, and one spirit.”

As Bob Marley prophesied, “as it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end.”

UCTPTN 12.21.2012