Our PRFDance & Cultural Center Celebrando 2008 project brought The Concilio Taino Guatu Ma Cu A Boriken to Austin so that our community could come to know for the very first time, the traditions of our Taino Heritage. For PRFDance Director, blood Taino descendant Ana Mari-á Tekina-eirú Maynard, the project began in 2007 as all Celebrando projects begin, one year earlier with an intensive research investigation to build a solid foundation for the project to come. What began as research in petroglyphs and history under the tutoring of the Concilio's Cacike Ca Ciba Opil (Martin Veguilla) became the opening of a door to her own family's lost heritage.
On June 16, 2008 Cacike Ca Ciba Opil held a Naming Ceremony at the beautiful McKinney Falls for 20 of our own -- men, women, and children -- who felt called to embrace our Taino heritage by taking on a Taino name. For many, this project was a life changing experience that brought to life that which has always resounded in our soul. We will never be the same.
We are especially proud of the children in whom you can see, what we have begun today will live on.
