To: ALL                          Refer#: 37
   From: PETER TORRES                    Read: NO
   Subj: NATIVE CONTRIBUTORS           Status: PUBLIC MESSAGE
   Conf: NATIVEAMERICA (7)          Read Type: GENERAL

   Tauguey Hello:

            T H E  D E V E L O P M E N T  O F  A  N A T I O N
           ----------------------------------------------------

            " An Indian presence in Puerto Rico was officially recog-
   nized in censuses up until the beginning of the 19th century when
   Governor Toribio Montes, confronted with the difficulty of
   fixing the ethnic origins of the population, grouped all non-
   whites under a common classification. In the 1777 census a
   population of 1,756 full blooded Indians was registered, and it
   went up to 2,302 by 1778. As a result of that decision by Governor
   Montes, from the 1800s til the present, "Indians" are no longer
   mentioned in Puerto Rico, except to point out that Indians are one
   of the ethnic components of the general Puerto Rican population
   being "Spanish" the major component, or to point out that Indians
   became "extinct!"
              It has been only in recent years that some Puerto Ricans
   of Taino descent living away from their homeland have developed an
   awareness and pride in their indianness, re-affirming their right
   to reclaim their aboriginal identity. Whether we are full blooded
   or racially mixed, we take pride in our Taino indigenous identity!
   This awareness has spread to the Taino homeland as a result of the
   recent restoration of the Taino Nation.
              As a basic need for our survival, but also in answer
   to the quincentennial "celebration," we, descendants of Taino
   indigenous identity, have responded by declaring the restoration of
   the Taino Nation as of the 19th of November, 1992 the day on which
   the Spaniards supposedly "discovered" our homeland.
               None of us had in mind the formation of a club, an
   association, a Taino "group" or an organization! The research,
   study, work and all our efforts were made in order to proclaim
   the existence of a people unwilling to die, unwilling to remain
   "extinct" and that had decided to walk in the path of self
   definition and self-determination.
               As a result of those efforts, work, and dedication, and
   being in the vanguard of the Taino reawakening, some amongst us
   were recognized as leaders, Caciques and Nitaynos of the restored
   Nation. The prophetic step of restoring the Taino Nation has been
   taken, even if in an embryonic stage and practically from the dispora.
               The Taino Nation is not, therefore, an organization
   but the people organizing! It is not a Taino movement, but the Taino
   people in motion! It is the people saying "enough!" to inaction!
   We could not remain "extinct" for another 500 years! Not for another
   year, nor for one more day! The sacred bones of our ancestors would
   have arisen from the dead to point out our cowardice!
               Without the guidance, the direction and the inspiration
   of the spirit of our ancestors, we would never have known the joy
   of following in the footsteps of the great Cacique's or Chiefs Urayoan
   Anacahona and Aqueybana the great. Their lives were full of pain,
   suffering, sorrow and persecution. We expect no less! We find glory
   in knowing that as Tainos we have done our duty!
               The Nation has been restored once and for all and
   continued work is now required to strengthen it. We have now to
   search out and discover all over our Taino homeland all those
   Caciques and Nitaynos that have been working in anonymity, keeping
   our culture and heritage alive in their own way, under the present
   circumstances and conditions imposed by a culture brought from
   Europe, jealously quarding and passing on our Taino heritage,
   camouflaged though it may be, whether it be called jibaro in one
   place, guajiro in another and Mestizo in yet another. We must search
   out and recognize the old ones who have passed on to their children
   and grandchildren the customs, traditions and knowledge, however
   camouflaged to be able to pass it on from one generation to the next.
   Yes, those are true Caciques and Nitaynos -the titles are not
   important- true guardians of our race and culture. Had it not been
   for many like them, how would we ourselves have known of our own
   identity?
               We have read in some books that our Taino ancestors
   were "absorbed" by those who arrived 500 years ago. Maybe it's
   time to ask ourselves if it wasn't the other way around. Our Taino
   ancestors absorbed the later arrivals, going "underground" so to
   speak, as a means of survival until the day of the restoration!
   That day has come!"  "La Nacion Taina"

                         Tua, Maoshiti

                                      Peter "Guanikeyo" Torres

                                U.S. General Council Representative
   Please Publish:
         PS. We will be holding the great Taino Nation Arreito
         in Utuado, Puerto Rico at Barrio Caguana. at the Taino
         Indian Sacred Ceremonial grounds at Caguana, the week
         of November 18, 19, of 1995 all are welcome!

   FOR MORE INFORMATION Call:

               The Taino Tribal Council of the United States
                   Voice: 609-825-7776  FAX 609-344-4164

       T H E  H U M M I N G B I R D   B B S  I N T E R N A T I O N A L
                        BBS NUMBER 1-609-563-1682
               H O M E  O F  T H E  T A I N O  I N D I A N S