Our Celebrando 2008 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 native dance, music, history, craftsmanship, and traditions of our Taino Heritage. 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. This project was funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, Texas Commission on the Arts, and Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.
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 Cacibaopil (Martin Veguilla) became the opening of a door to her own family's lost heritage. Enjoy these photos from when the project began: Journey Back to our Primera Raiz...the Beginning (2007).
On June 15-22, The Concilio Taino returned to Austin for the culmination
of this project year. Cacike Cacibaopil held a Naming Ceremony at the
beautiful McKinney Falls for 20 of our own who wanted to embrace our
Taino heritage by taking on a Taino name. Enjoy these photos from the naming
ceremony:
Ceremonia de Nombres en Austin
We are forever grateful for the open generosity of the Concilio Taino that has taught us the traditions from our "lost" Taino heritage, which the Concilio is working hard to rescue and preserve. Research has shown that 61% of the Puerto Rican population have native DNA. Because Puerto Ricans are a mestizo race, native at our very base, we cannot be a complete people until we understand our native history and traditions. This project gave us important knowledge of a cultural history that we can now pass down to a new generation.
