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United Confederation of Taíno People

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United Confederation of Taíno People
Formation1998
Type501(c)(3) organization
EIN: 11-3509399
HeadquartersNew York City, Puerto Rico
Location
  • United States
Official language
English, Spanish
Websitewww.uctp.org

The United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP) is a non-profit heritage organization, based in New York and Puerto Rico, dedicated to the self-determination of people of Taíno and Caribbean Indigenous descent, as well as the preservation and revival of Taíno culture, language and religion.[1][2][3] The organization characterizes itself as an "Inter-Tribal authority", but it is not recognized as an Indian tribe by the United States federal government or by any other government.[2][4] It is an associate member of the International Indian Treaty Council.[5][6]

About

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Founded in 1998, the organization is registered in New York state as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.[3] The organization characterizes itself as an "Inter-Tribal authority", but has no recognition as a tribe by the United States federal government, the Puerto Rico territorial government, or any other government. According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, the UCTP is one of "several groups claiming Taino descent" that has "gained visibility in the late 20th century". NRCS notes that while no Taíno group has recognition as a tribe, the organization "consider themselves Taino" and "claim the right to self-determination".[2]

In 2020, a representative of the United Confederation of Taíno People, Tai Pelli, joined the International Indian Treaty Council board of directors as board secretary and treasurer, becoming the first Indigenous Caribbean representative on the IITC board and executive committee.[5] The UCTP and IITC has pushed the United States to have greater dialogue with unrecognized tribes, including the Taíno, based on Article 1 (self-determination) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.[6][7]

Advocacy

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The organization has expressed opposition to Columbus Day, due to Columbus's persecution of Taíno people. According to UCTP president R. Múkaro Agüeibaná Borrero, "the bottom line is Columbus Day is just a celebration of genocide.” He also stated that replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day is "definitely not something that’s against Italian-Americans...We’re all for Italian-Americans celebrating their heritage."[8]

In 2022, Borrero addressed the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) to raise issues important to Indigenous Caribbeans, including the lack of official recognition for Taíno peoples generally. The UCTP delegates said that Indigenous Caribbean languages should be included in the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. UCTP representative Tai Pelli also raised environmental issues of interest to local Taíno groups, both from pollution and from property development on sites of cultural significance in Puerto Rico. In support of these statements, Yaqui Nation member Andrea Carmen, executive director of the International Indian Treaty Council, explained that while most Indigenous groups lack recognition worldwide, Puerto Rico's status as a colony adds additional complications preventing the recognition of local Taíno groups.[1][9]

In 2023, the UCTP was among the signatories of the Indigenous Peoples' Declaration for the United Nations Water Conference. The declaration makes "recommendations for the actions required by the international community to protect, defend and safeguard water", with particular consideration for how water insecurity affects Indigenous peoples.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Robinson, Leanna (2022-08-08). "Indigenous Taíno of Puerto Rico Take Their Fight to the UN". Language Magazine. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  2. ^ a b c "NRCS Caribbean Celebrates Native American Heritage Month". Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  3. ^ a b "UNITED CONFEDERATION OF TAINO PEOPLE INC". IRS.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  4. ^ "Taino | History & Culture | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  5. ^ a b "IITC Announces new Board President". International Indian Treaty Council. 2020-06-18. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  6. ^ a b "The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Reviews the United States and Questions Its Record of Racial Discrimination Against Indigenous Peoples". International Indian Treaty Council. 2022-08-23. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  7. ^ "Indigenous Peoples Coordinated Submission: List of Issues and Questions for the periodic review by the United Nations Human Rights Committee of the United States of America as a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights" (PDF). Centre for Civil and Political Rights. 2019-01-19. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  8. ^ "Why Some Italian-Americans Still Fiercely Defend Columbus Day". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  9. ^ Lee, Joseph (2022-05-02). "Indigenous Taíno of Puerto Rico take their fight for visibility and rights to the UN". Grist. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  10. ^ "Indigenous Peoples' Declaration for the 2023 United Nations Water Conference". International Indian Treaty Council. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
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