Month: August 2010

Rio Grande de Loiza

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I am reaching out to you and through you, to the Boricua Community, so that they are aware of the new posting of the Rio Grande de Loiza that I have recently placed on Youtube. Please access the video below to hear soprano Virginia Herrera-Crilly and pianist Wilson Southerland in Diogenes Rodriguez’s composition of Rio Grande de Loiza, a poem by Julia de Burgos, the quintessential Puerto Rican poet. The original duration of the piece is 10.53 minutes, but it had to be cut to fit YOUTUBE’s 10 minutes limitation. Thanks…

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Taino TV Launched

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Taino TV Launched UCTP Taino News – In collaboration with Presencia Taina TV, and Indigenous Peoples Literature, the United Confederation of Taino people has announced the launching of the TAINO TV Network. This historic project, which uses new media outreach mechanisms such as You Tube will assist the UCTP in its focus on using communications technology to increase the visibility of the Taino and other Caribbean Indigenous Peoples internationally. “From the new Taino TV site as well as other media launch points already developed such as Presencia Taina TV, we…

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BERNARDO RUIZ’S ROBERTO CLEMENTE WINS OUTSTANDING MADE-FOR-TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY AWARD

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Quiet Pictures, a New York-based production company, announced today that “Roberto Clemente” won the 2008 NCLR ALMA Award® for Outstanding Made-for-Television Documentary. Written, Directed and Produced by Bernardo Ruiz, the American Experience (PBS) documentary chronicles the life of an exceptional baseball player and committed humanitarian, who challenged racial discrimination to become baseball’s first Latino superstar. “This is an exciting award and we are grateful for the recognition,” said Bernardo Ruiz. “This only pushes us to work harder, and to make more dynamic, compelling and intelligent films that really connect with…

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CANEY INDIAN SPIRITUAL CIRCLE

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the official website of the Mother Earth Church of the Grand Caney, Taino Religion, Taino Spirituality, founded in 1982 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under the name CANEY INDIAN SPIRITUAL CIRCLE la web oficial de la Iglesia Madre Tierra Del Gran Caney, religion taina, espiritualidad taina, fundada en 1982 en Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Estados Unidos de Norte America bajo el nombre de CIRCULO ESPIRITUAL INDIGENA CANEY the Caney Indian Spiritual Circle

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Tribal Government of the Jatibonicu Taino People of Puerto Rico

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We of the tribe of Jatibonicu’ and its Tribal Council of Elders and tribal members, extend to you a very warm Taino greeting. We who are the original people of the Island of Borikén (Puerto Rico), do hereby officially welcome you to our Boriken island homeland and our Taino tribal nation home page. This tribal web site is a humble tribute to our honored Taino ancestor Cacike Orocobix (Principal Chief, Remembrance of the First Mountain) of the tribe of Jatibonicu’ and its Taino people. We of the Jatibonicu’ tribe are…

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United Confederation of Taíno People

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WE THE TAINO PEOPLE, determined to secure the blessings bestowed upon us by the Creator, with respect for our mother earth, each other, our elders and ancestors, affirming and safeguarding our Indigenous cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, and in dedication to our children and future generations, do hereby acknowledge and accept on this third day of January, Nineteen hundred and ninety-eight (1998), this declaration with its articles being established by the people unified and hereby constituting the United Confederation of Taino People (La Confederacion Unida del Pueblo Taino): Learn more about the…

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A Brief Summary of the Origin, and Survival of the Taino Language

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by David Wahayona Campos The Greater Antilles, lying in the center of the Caribbean region, contain the four largest islands of the area. The islands of Cubanakan (Cuba), Boriken (Puerto Rico), Bohio (Haiti/Republica Dominica), Xamaika (Jamaica), as well as the Lucayo (Bahamas) all share a universal language with some dialectal differences. In the late 1500s Bishop Las Casas stated “En todas estas islas eran una lengua y misma costumbres.” The Taino language of the Greater Antilles is related to the Arawakan stock stemming from South America, “the people of the…

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LISTEN TO MY CRIES

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LISTEN TO MY CRIES From congress To the prez, My people are in dire need Regardless of what the Lying politician sayz. My people are As good as any other, Wake up and hear my cry My political brother. Dropping from the welfare roles 57% Whites 30% African Americans 7% Latinos 7% this is very sad, When I look at this number I feel bad. Latino’s make 53% To every white mans dollar, Come my people speak up, Yell, it is time to holler. Everyone else seems to be ahead,…

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Home is Where Mami is

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In 1998, my mother was summoned back home by Latin roots that were severed long ago. Home was her birthplace Ponce, Puerto Rico, the birthplace of plena, my grandmother and bis abuelas. In 1958, my mother came to Chicago where she planted new seeds, my two sisters and I. But after toiling for four decades in American factories and offices, and having established a better life for the next generation, she left, and in the process, left us her daughters behind. She left before her oldest daughter (me), would graduate…

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Pelo Malo, Confessions of a Kinky Haired Sister

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by Xenia Ruíz My birth certificate contains a mistake. Where it asks for my parents’ race, “White” is neatly typed. Although my father was the color of vanilla, my mother was dark caramel. Back in the early 1960’s, there was no category for “Hispanic” so Puerto Ricans were recruited into the White category—until someone noticed that dark-skinned folks were getting off the flights from Puerto Rico. Ironically, in Puerto Rico (where my mother claims there is no racism), on the birth certificates of children born in the ’60s, parents were…

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