WE THE TAINO PEOPLE, determined to secure the blessings bestowed upon us
by the Creator, with respect for our mother earth, each other, our elders
and ancestors, affirming and safeguarding our Indigenous cultural heritage
and spiritual traditions, and in dedication to our children and future
generations, do hereby acknowledge and accept on this third day of January,
Nineteen hundred and ninety-eight (1998), this declaration with its articles
being established by the people unified and hereby constituting the United
Confederation of Taino People (La Confederacion Unida del Pueblo Taino):
Article 1
The United Confederation of Taino People, here and after referred to as
the Confederation, endeavors to unite and enlist representatives of Taino
organizations, groups, and societies devoted to protect, defend, and
preserve the Taino cultural heritage and spiritual tradition.
Taino cultural heritage and spiritual tradition includes but is not
limited to the protection and maintenance of our ancestral remains, sacred
sites, artifacts, and religious practices which involve the use of
ceremonial objects such as sacred plants and various feathers indigenous to
the Circum-Caribbean region which shall include: The greater and lesser
Antilles, the Bahamas, Bimini (Florida), the northern coastal area of South
America and the Yucatan Peninsula.
Article 2
The Confederation diligently endeavors to encourage friendships, foster
alliances, and maintain communications and good relationships among Taino
Yucayeque organizations, groups, and societies, in particular those divided
by international borders.
Article 3
The Confederation will endeavor to promote spiritual, cultural,
educational, economic, and social activities for the development of
contemporary Taino communities and our future generations.
Article 4
The Confederation will encourage and support a central, ethnic Taino
registration mechanism, recognized by each regional territory, that will
strengthen the understanding and cooperation between all regional
territories or jurisdictions and their leadership.
Article 5
Issues of concern to the Taino People requiring a regional concerted
action will be resolved in consultation with the Confederation.
Article 6
The Confederation recognizes and respects the autonomy of each member
organization, group or society promoting and practicing the principles and
values left by our ancestors from time immemorial and that have been
established and accepted by the Confederation.
The Confederation through majority consensus of its membership will
expect accountability of any Taino Yucayeque organization, group, society or
leaders attempting to create disharmony amongst Taino people, abuse their
leadership positions, engage in false statements and/or creating the
confusion that they represent the sole leadership of the Taino People (or
this Confederation).
Article 7
This declaration shall be transmitted by the Confederation to the
Secretariat of the United Nations for registration and publication in
accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
The Confederation shall inform the Secretariat of the United Nations of
all signatory and denounceations received with respect to this Declaration.
Article 8
The Confederation will promote respect for and full application of the
provisions of this Declaration on the local, national , and international
levels.
This Declaration was adopted by the leadership collective representing
their constituencies who by consensus have agreed in council to respect and
uphold this Declaration to be subject to the provisions of its articles,
proceed with the understanding that violation of the Declaration is an act
against the natural laws of peace among the unified Taino people who
constitute the United Confederation of Taino People.
THE UNITED CONFEDERATION OF TAINO PEOPLE
Signatures of representatives (position and organization), and witnesses:
Respectfully yours,
Cacike Peter Guanikeyu Torres,
United Taino Confederation Council Represenative of NJ
The Taino Jatibonuco Tribal Longhouse
NJ Jatibonuco Tribal Council Elders Caney
The Taino Tribal Council of Jatibonuco, NJ
Great People of The Sacred High Waters
The Taino Timucua Tribal Council, Fla.
The Taino Tribal Council of Jatibonicu, PR
The Great People of the Sacred High Waters
Taino Inter-Tribal Council Inc. An
Education Nonprofit NA Organization Una Organizacion Educativa Sin Fines de
Lucros
A Member of: The United Confederation Of Taino People Un Miembro de: La
Confederacion Unida Del Pueblo Taino