I was thinking about Taíno identity and politics and my mind started to wander to my childhood…
I grew up traveling the boricua pow wow trail and I remember…
Posted in All My Relations, American Indian, Childhood, Family, Going Home, Life, Mitakuye Oyasin, Native American, Personal Growth, Taino, The Creative Life, The Good Red Road, Walking in Beauty | Tagged All My Relations, community, Indigenous, Mitakuye Oyasin, native views, Personal Growth, spiritual growth, Taino, taino resurgance movement, The Good Red Road, Walk in Beauty | Leave a Comment »
Although at the present moment we have no Authority on the Taino language, let’s pretend we do. Imagine we have a group of people who are recognized as the Authority on the Taino language by a great majority of the Taino people and organizations. And that this Authority has created the ultimate Taino Dictionary…
Posted in All My Relations, American Indian, Growing up, Indigenous, Life, Mitakuye Oyasin, Native American, Personal Growth, Taino, Taino Language, Tau, The Creative Life, The Good Red Road, Walking in Beauty | Tagged stupid people, ignorance, irresposability, Mitakuye Oyasin, native views, accountability, taino resurgance movement, Taino, Personal Growth, Walk in Beauty, The Good Red Road, community, Tau, Taino Language, Indigenous | Leave a Comment »
Wisegeek.com states “A dead language is a language which is no longer learned as a native language.“ Wikipedia says that a dead language has no competent speakers and that an extinct language is one that has no speakers at all, be that by language replacement or language evolution. Examples of these are Modern English having evolved from the Old English spoken in Medieval times and the death of the Taino language of the Caribbean when replaced by Spanish and French.
Posted in All My Relations, American Indian, Growing up, Life, Mitakuye Oyasin, Native American, Personal Growth, Taino, Taino Language, Tau, The Creative Life, The Good Red Road, Walking in Beauty | Tagged accountability, All My Relations, community, ignorance, irresposability, Mitakuye Oyasin, native views, Personal Growth, spiritual growth, stupid people, Taino, Taino Language, taino resurgance movement, The Good Red Road, Walk in Beauty | 2 Comments »
The discussion I was participating in on the UCTP forum regarding the Taino language, inspired me to further research other indigenous peoples who may be like us; folks struggling with their own individual decolonization while trying to help heal that of their people, reviving the culture and those things that are important to it, making it all work together- past, present and future-in balance. A people that may be similar to my own, in the ways I feel are important. My priorities lie in relationships; how we relate to ourselves, how we relate with each other, with the community and with the world at large. This to me, is the basis of society, and everything else depends on it.
Posted in All My Relations, American Indian, Growing up, Indigenous, Life, Mitakuye Oyasin, Native American, Personal Growth, Taino, Taino Language, Tau, The Good Red Road, Walking in Beauty | Tagged accountability, All My Relations, Chamorro, Cultural comparison with Taino, Indigenous, irresposability, native views, Personal Growth, spiritual growth, Taino, Taino Language, taino resurgance movement, Tau, The Good Red Road, Walk in Beauty | Leave a Comment »
These questions have been running around my head for a couple of weeks now… I had to put them out there. Just thoughts to ponder…
Is the good that a person does reason enough to accept abuse and disrespect from them?
Does the fact that a person chooses to sacrifice and give so much of his/her time and effort to a people, compensate for that person becoming dictatorial or tyrannical?
Do great strides allow a government the freedom to trample upon rights they claim to defend?
Should we over look the violations committed by leadership because of the “good” that leadership does for the people as a whole?
Continue Reading »
Posted in All My Relations, Growing up, Life, Mitakuye Oyasin, Native American, Personal Growth, Spirituality, Taino, The Good Red Road, Walking in Beauty | Tagged accountability, ignorance, irresposability, Mitakuye Oyasin, native views, Personal Growth, spiritual growth, stupid people, taino resurgance movement, The Good Red Road, Walk in Beauty | 1 Comment »
The thought of “Tau” being a religious corruption was a very interesting element added to the “Tau” discussion…
Some folks believe that “tau” is of christian origin because of the tau cross used by the Franciscan monks, as a mark of those who accept Christ as their savior, and maybe even the mark painted in lamb’s blood on the doorpost of the Israelite’s homes; protecting the first born of the household against the angel of death during the tenth, and final, plague the western God imposed on Egypt when ordering the pharaoh to “let his people go”.
Posted in All My Relations, American Indian, Growing up, Life, Mitakuye Oyasin, Native American, Personal Growth, Spirituality, Taino, Taino Language, Tau, The Good Red Road, Walking in Beauty | Tagged stupid people, ignorance, All My Relations, native views, accountability, taino resurgance movement, Taino, Personal Growth, spiritual growth, Walk in Beauty, The Good Red Road, community, Tau, Taino Language | Leave a Comment »
In a recent discussion on the UCTP forum regarding the matter of the Taino language, it’s development and evolution came up. The particular word being discussed was “Tau” which has been used for several years now as a greeting among Taino online. No one seems to know where the word came from, nor how it developed into it’s present meaning, but, regardless of this lack, it has been, and continues to be used as a greeting in emails, IMs, forums and even in face to face conversations. This particular exchange mentioned the possibilities of finding another indigenous nation who may serve as an example to us and whom we may mold ourselves after with regards to the regrowth and revitalization of our culture, language and society. This is a marvelous idea in concept, but has left much to be desired in practice.
Posted in All My Relations, American Indian, Growing up, Life, Mitakuye Oyasin, Native American, Taino, Taino Language, Tau, The Good Red Road, Walking in Beauty | Tagged ignorance, All My Relations, Mitakuye Oyasin, native views, accountability, taino resurgance movement, Taino, Walk in Beauty, The Good Red Road, Tau, Taino Language | 3 Comments »
There has been an uproar in the Taino community recently with regards to the word “tau” being used as a greeting. Apparently this word has not been found in any of the resources we have for Taino language, nor has it been found in any of our cousin languages… those that have been looked through, anyway. Added to this, is the growing trend in alarmist conspiracy theories that are weaseling their way into the heart of our people. I find this trend somewhat sad since herd mentality will encourage people who are scared to follow most anyone who’s calm under pressure and speaks authoritatively. Spook a herd of buffalo and they will stampede following the herd who in turn, is led by a buffalo that’s just as lost, but looks like he’s got a plan- even if it’s one that takes them all over a cliff. As if that weren’t enough, it seems that the personal choice to use the word “Tau” as a greeting has been made into yet another reason for hostility and disunity- a political controversy. Now it’s use has been made into a political statement that identifies a person as being with one faction of the Taino Movement or another. As if these flimsy organizational labels were of great importance!
Folks seem to have forgotten a very important point- an organization doesn’t validate a person’s being. A Taino Social Group does not validate a person as, or “make” them into, a Taino. All the contrary! It is the Taino people who join and provide the organization with their presence, time and support, that validate and give life to the organization!
Posted in All My Relations, American Indian, Going Home, Growing up, Life, Mitakuye Oyasin, Native American, Personal Growth, Taino, Taino Language, The Good Red Road, Walking in Beauty | Tagged accountability, All My Relations, community, ignorance, irresposability, Mitakuye Oyasin, native views, Personal Growth, spiritual growth, stupid people, Taino, Taino Language, taino resurgance movement, Tau, The Good Red Road, Walk in Beauty | 4 Comments »
I read They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America by Ivan Van Sertima. I wasn’t halfway through this book and I was thoroughly offended, but I finished it just to hear their point of view.
I don’t buy it.
Posted in All My Relations, Book review, Growing up, Life, Mitakuye Oyasin, Native American, Personal Growth | Tagged accountability, afrocentric view, All My Relations, Discovery of America, ignorance, Mitakuye Oyasin, native views, New World, Personal Growth | Leave a Comment »
These are some questions I thought very interesting, and I had never considered before. They were posted on an Indigenous Forum I participate in by someone whom I consider quite intelligent. The questions are regarding the Taino Movement and it’s people from 20+ years ago to the present. There are some people who have been part of this movement forever, in one way or another, and others, “newcomers”, who are just now discovering the possibilities of their indigenous ancestry.
Sometimes past and present don’t meet eye to eye and these questions seem to want to uncover the “why”, “because”, “porque’” of them.
I would add, that the questions themselves are also very telling. The answers are my own.
Posted in All My Relations, American Indian, Growing up, Life, Mitakuye Oyasin, Native American, Personal Growth, Taino, The Good Red Road, Walking in Beauty | Tagged accountability, All My Relations, community, Mitakuye Oyasin, native views, Personal Growth, spiritual growth, Taino, taino resurgance movement, The Good Red Road, Walk in Beauty | 4 Comments »
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- Nanu on Seeking a leader; the need for a “Voice of Authority” for our dead language
- tainoray on Seeking a leader; the need for a “Voice of Authority” for our dead language
- Seeking a leader; the need for a “Voice of Authority” for our dead language « Taino Woman Comes Dancing on Who’s example can we follow? Further thoughts on the word “Tau”…
- Why not the Chamorro? A possible peer in cultural revival…. « Taino Woman Comes Dancing on Who’s example can we follow? Further thoughts on the word “Tau”…
- tainoray on When is abusive behavior acceptable?
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- New post!! Nostalgia Taina, memories of my childhood in Boriken~ Come see!! http://www.tainowoman.com 1 week ago
- New Post!! A "Voice of Authority"...Part Deux. Thoughts on the word "tau" http://bit.ly/ZUZt 1 week ago
- Women! Arise and take your place! We are the keepers of community, we are the ones who give birth to nations.. Do not forget! 1 week ago
- Colonialism is still alive and well... Has history taught us nothing?? http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/home/content/48607197.html 1 week ago
- New post on the Taino language revival~ "Seeking a leader; the need for a “Voice of Authority” for our dead language" http://www.tainowoman.com 1 month ago
