Tales of the Taíno Gods/Cuentos de los dioses taínos


Book Description

Cuentos de los dioses taínos: como se creó el Mar Caribe es una divertida fantasía profusamente ilustrada basada en el misterioso mundo mitológico de los indios taínos de Puerto Rico y las Antillas Mayores. La trama está inspirada en la obra de Fray Ramón Pané Relación Acerca de las Antigüedades de los indios (1494-98), que formó parte del diario de Cristobal Colón. Las ilustraciones del cuento, por el fenecido joven pintor puertorriqueño Juan Negrón, fueron elaboradas mediante un guión visual del autor. Incluye además el autor un educativo glosario ilustrado. Tales of the Taíno Gods: How The Caribbean Sea Was Born, is an entertaining fantasy, based on the mysterious mythological world of the Taíno Indians of Puerto Rico and the Greater Antilles. The plot is inspired by the writings of Friar Ramón Pané’s An Account of the Antiquities of the Indians (1494-98), which was part of Christopher Columbus’ diary. The illustrations of the tale were painted using a visual script by the author, who directed the skillful brush of the late young puertorrican painter Juan Negrón. The author also includes an illustrated educational glossary.







Taíno Indian Myth and Practice


Book Description

Applying the legend of the "stranger king" to Caonabo, the mythologized Taino chief of the Hispaniola settlement Columbus invaded in 1492, Keegan examines how myths come to resonate as history--created by the chaotic interactions of the individuals who lived the events of the past as well as those who write and read about them. The "stranger king" story told in many cultures is that of a foreigner who comes from across the water, marries the king's daughter, and deposes the king. In this story, Caonabo, the most important Taíno chief at the time of European conquest, claimed to be imbued with Taino divinity, while Columbus, determined to establish a settlement called La Navidad, described himself as the "Christbearer." Keegan's ambitious historical analysis--knitting evidence from Spanish colonial documents together with data gathered from the archaeological record--provides a new perspective on the encounters between the two men as they vied for control of the settlement, a survey of the early interactions of the Tainos and Spanish people, and a complex view of the interpretive role played by historians and archaeologists. Presenting a new theoretical framework based on chaos and complexity theories, this book argues for a more comprehensive philosophy of archaeology in which oral myths, primary source texts, and archaeological studies can work together to reconstruct a particularly rich view of the past.  A volume in the Florida Museum of Natural History: Ripley P. Bullen Series




How the Sea Began


Book Description

The gourd containing the bow and arrow of the great departed hunter Yayael produces a torrent of water that becomes the world's ocean.




Taíno Revival


Book Description

This collection examines the Taino revival movement, a grassroots conglomeration of Puerto Ricans and other Latinos who promote or have adopted the culture and pedigree of the pre-Columbian Taino Indian population of Puerto Rico and the western Caribbean.




Taino


Book Description

"JosÉ [Barreiro] writes the true story in TaÍno—the Native view of what Columbus brought. Across the Americas, invasion, and resistance, the TaÍno story repeated many times over." – Chief Oren Lyons (Joagquisho), Turtle Clan, Onondaga Nation The story of what really happened when Columbus arrived in the "New World," as told by the TaÍno people who were impacted In 1532, an elderly TaÍno man named GuaikÁn sits down to write his story—an in-depth account of what happened when Columbus landed on Caribbean shores in 1492. As a boy, GuaikÁn was adopted by Columbus, uniquely positioning him to tell the story of Columbus's "discovery," directing our gaze where it rightfully belongs—on the Indigenous people for whom this land had long been home. Revised and updated by author JosÉ Barreiro (himself a descendant of the TaÍno people) with new information and a new introduction, this richly imagined novel updates GuaikÁn's carefully crafted narrative, chronicling what happened to the TaÍno people when Columbus arrived and how their lives and culture were ruptured. Through GuaikÁn's story, Barreiro penetrates the veil that still clouds the "discovery" of the Americas and in turn gives




Caciques and Cemi Idols


Book Description

Takes a close look at the relationship between humans and other (non-human) beings that are imbued with cemí power, specifically within the Taíno inter-island cultural sphere encompassing Puerto Rico and Hispaniola Cemís are both portable artifacts and embodiments of persons or spirit, which the Taínos and other natives of the Greater Antilles (ca. AD 1000-1550) regarded as numinous beings with supernatural or magic powers. This volume takes a close look at the relationship between humans and other (non-human) beings that are imbued with cemí power, specifically within the Taíno inter-island cultural sphere encompassing Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. The relationships address the important questions of identity and personhood of the cemí icons and their human “owners” and the implications of cemí gift-giving and gift-taking that sustains a complex web of relationships between caciques (chiefs) of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. Oliver provides a careful analysis of the four major forms of cemís—three-pointed stones, large stone heads, stone collars, and elbow stones—as well as face masks, which provide an interesting contrast to the stone heads. He finds evidence for his interpretation of human and cemí interactions from a critical review of 16th-century Spanish ethnohistoric documents, especially the Relación Acerca de las Antigüedades de los Indios written by Friar Ramón Pané in 1497–1498 under orders from Christopher Columbus. Buttressed by examples of native resistance and syncretism, the volume discusses the iconoclastic conflicts and the relationship between the icons and the human beings. Focusing on this and on the various contexts in which the relationships were enacted, Oliver reveals how the cemís were central to the exercise of native political power. Such cemís were considered a direct threat to the hegemony of the Spanish conquerors, as these potent objects were seen as allies in the native resistance to the onslaught of Christendom with its icons of saints and virgins.




Taíno ABCs


Book Description

The Ta�no ABCs, written by Lynne A. Guitar (Ph.D.) and illustrated by Joel Villalona, provides a glimpse into the rich lexicon and culture of the Ta�no Indians of the Hispanic Caribbean, whose language was used as a common trade language among the varied groups of Natives who had populated the Caribbean islands for thousands of years before Europeans and Africans arrived. Pronunciation guides of the Ta�no words used are provided for English and French speakers, as well as a reference guide for those who wish to learn more about the Ta�no.LYNNE A. GUITAR (Ph.D.) has studied the Ta�nos for more than 25 years. She earned two B.A.s from Michigan State University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. Lynne lived in the Dominican Republic for 19 years and one year in Puerto Rico.JOEL A. VILLALONA CASTILLO, a multi-talented Dominican artist, was born in San Juan de la Maguana, a region long renowned for its strong Ta�no heritage. He was trained in Santiago de los Caballeros, where he now resides, at the School of Fine Arts, Casa de Arte, and Eduardo Le�n Jimenes Cultural Center. ---El Abecedario de los Ta�no, escrito por Lynne A. Guitar (Ph.D.) e ilustrado por Joel Villalona, ofrece un vistazo al rico l�xico y a la cultura de los indios ta�nos del Caribe Hispano, cuyo lenguaje se us� como un lenguaje comercial com�n entre los variados grupos de nativos que hab�an poblado las islas del Caribe durante miles de a�os antes de que llegaran los europeos y los africanos. Se proporcionan gu�as de pronunciaci�n de las palabras en ta�no para los hablantes de ingl�s y franc�s, as� como una gu�a de referencia para aquellos que deseen aprender m�s sobre los ta�nos.LYNNE A. GUITAR (Ph.D.) ha estudiado los ta�nos por m�s de 25 a�os. Ella obtuvo dos B.A.s de la Universidad de Michigan State y una maestr�a y doctorado de la Universidad de Vanderbilt. Lynne vivi� en la Rep�blica Dominicana durante 19 a�os y un a�o en Puerto Rico.JOEL A. VILLALONA CASTILLO, artista dominicano de m�ltiples talentos, naci� en San Juan de la Maguana, una regi�n reconocida por su fuerte herencia ta�na. Se form� en Santiago de los Caballeros, donde ahora reside, en la Escuela de Bellas Artes, la Casa de Arte y el Centro Cultural Eduardo Le�n Jimenes.---L'Alphabet Ta�no, �crit par Lynne A. Guitar (Ph.D.) et illustr� par Joel Villalona, donne un aper�u du riche lexique et de la culture des Indiens Ta�no des Cara�bes Hispaniques, dont la langue �tait utilis�e comme langue commerciale commune parmi les divers groupes d'indig�nes qui avaient peupl� les �les des Cara�bes pendant des milliers d'ann�es avant que les Europ�ens et les Africains n'arrivent. Les guides de prononciation des mots Ta�no utilis�s sont fournis pour les anglophones et les francophones, ainsi qu'un guide de r�f�rence pour ceux qui souhaitent en savoir plus sur le Ta�no.LYNNE A. GUITAR (Ph.D.) a �tudi� les ta�nos pendant plus de 25 ans. Elle a obtenu deux baccalaur�ats de l'Universit� du Michigan State et une ma�trise et un doctorat de l'Universit� Vanderbilt. Lynne a v�cu en R�publique Dominicaine pendant 19 ans et un an � Porto Rico.JOEL A. VILLALONA CASTILLO, artiste dominicain aux multiples talents, est n� � San Juan de la Maguana, une r�gion longtemps connue pour son fort h�ritage ta�no. Il a �t� form� � Santiago de los Caballeros, o� il r�side actuellement, � l'�cole des Beaux-Arts, � la Casa de Arte et au Centre Culturel Eduardo Le�n Jimenes.




Keeping the Taino Language Alive


Book Description

This is the most advanced book written on the subject of the Taino language. It is authored by Professor Richard Porrata Doria, Ph.D., and is the adopted contemporary language of the Descendants of Puerto Rico's First Nation. It teaches the reader the fundamentals of the Taino language, its syntax, and sets the proper standard on how to formulate the language in logical and systematical order. Professor Porrata gives instructions throughout the book through teaching sessions and domains that he developed, which instructs the student how to correctly use Taino prefixes, suffixes, connotations, etc.. His easy to learn teaching methods show the student how to properly construct Taino sentences such as questions and answers and other expressions in Taino; a language that was once thought to be extinct but that Professor Porrata has proven it to have been only sleeping. The book is cram backed with illustrations and Taino sentences. He also teaches the reader of independent study the process of verbing and word blending to bring Taino words back into existence. A retired associate professor from the University of Puerto Rico's Multilingual and Cultural Institute, a US Army language instructor, including 120 credit hours of Native American linguistics from the University of Oregon, and his numerous books written on the Taino language reflects that Dr. Porrata is in the tradition of keeping the Taino language alive. This book is a must for anyone interested in learning how to speak, read, and write in the Taino language.




Earth and Spirit


Book Description

An inspiring work of oral history, Earth and Spirit explores and celebrates Puerto Rico's tradition of botanical medicine as it was practiced up to the 1980s. This lively and deeply personal glimpse of Caribbean healing presents the voices of dozens of people who knew, loved and worked with medicinal plants and island earth lore. Ten interviews feature traditional curanderos, a granny midwife, spiritual healers, natural beauticians and others. Remedies are presented in an extensive recipe section organized by health condition, ranging from Alcohol Addiction to Warts. The author's foreword and epilog place the work in cultural and ecological contexts, and all plants are cross referenced with their English, Puerto Rican and scientific names. Rich in practical wisdom, anecdotes and humor, Earth and Spirit inspires love and respect for the living world of plants and for the resourceful people of Puerto Rico who have helped keep this tradition alive. A timeless and beautiful experience, a thought-provoking, fun and useful reference. For your kitchen. For your bedroom! Salud!