Mabrika! (Welcome) ​ The Arawak Taino Still Live! (1492 - Present) ​ "The Tribe of First Contact"

Ceremonial Taino Duho Chair: A carved wooden seat with intricate designs, used by a Arawak Taino Chief for important rituals and gatherings. A Cacike(Chief) or Tekina (Leader) is not made in a single moment nor is a chief or leader ever self-appointed. Leadership is shaped by service, tested by responsibility, and recognized by the people in his or her community when the time is right. Among Arawak Taíno communities, the making of a chief carries deep meaning. There are several Yucayekeno...

Hibaro - Puerto Rico 1940 The jíbaro belongs to the mountains and valleys of Borikén. To the land that sheltered generations of our families through conquest, displacement, and colonial rule. Spanish colonial society eventually used jíbaro to describe the rural people of Puerto Rico, sometimes with contempt, associating them with poverty, isolation, ignorance, or lack of refinement. But from a Taíno-centered perspective, closeness to the land was never something deserving shame. Within Puerto...

Island Arawak was the vibrant indigenous language spoken by many tribes across the Caribbean and the mainland, stretching from Bimini (Florida) to Sabanna (Georgia), with trade villages sprinkled throughout Amikekia (America). Language is the heartbeat of a culture and shapes the worldview of its people. It brings to life ancient oral traditions and unveils the mysteries of the spiritual realm. This language beautifully illustrates the deep connection between the people and their ancestral...