Full Moon of the Spectral Serpent

We are now within Moon 11 on the Spiral of the 13-Moon Year: The Moon of the Spectral Serpent.

Bibi Maroya at this time invites you to crawl out of your skin and use snake wisdom to release and let go of old and useless thoughts, habits and ways. Leave behind the old and release yourself as well from an allegiance to formats that diminish your ability to grow spiritually.
In the wisdom of our ancestors passed on from generation to generation the Serpent the Boa symbolizes death and rebirth.

Bibi Maroya in this her number 11^th cycle  with her spectral serpent dress  once again helps us with her lite to seek the Light within ourselves .

Seneko kakona Many Blessing to all of you
Bibi Inaru 

Source for image

http://www.elfwood.com/~cellyn/Snake-Woman.2614268.html

Our Nani Taino contestant at Miss Indian World, Gathering of Nations Pow Wow

I watched the entire Gathering of Nations Pow Wow live on the web. When it started, I looked for Nani our Taino Miss Indian World contestant during the Grand Entry. I got excited when I saw her. I called out to my neighbor, my dog, and even my Mom who at 97 sometimes tunes in.” There she is I said as if I was talking to a crowd…J  there is our Nani :) Gee, it felt so good to see her.There she was a young Taino woman representing her small community, and her cultural heritage with pride. Joanne Nani Morales dressed from head to toe in total Taino regalia and a spectacler smile gracing her face.

So with a bag of popcorn in my hand, I silenced the ringer on my phone and I joined the Pow Wow…via my desktop and am I ever so glad I did for there were so many moments that were enjoyable in spite of the distance...it was after all a live webcast …and there is a huge difference between that and being actually present in the pit.

During the Honoring of native veterans, the sound of native drums embraced the Pow wow floor

There were many Honoring songs of respect,echoing the sentiment of pride we all feel for our native Military

In history natives have valiantly served or have served in the defense of our Homelands and nations.

As the mother of a young soldier who has served in Iraq and the Aunty of a nephew who recently returned 

from Afghanistan, I know how meaningful these tributes can be for native families. 

Gathering of nations Pow Wow never forgets our military. It was good to see and to feel the spirit of this

event even via the web. This was indeed an awesome moment.

Then there were the little ones, watching these tiny tots dance filled my heart with smiles. Moreover, it is ever so sweet to see the future of native nations dancing before your eyes,to boot they are just adorable to see. All of them are just darn cuteJ.Lots of grandma’s and grandpa's were soaking up the joy of watching the little ones dance.

I also enjoyed tremendously the elders dancing competition.These beautiful elders are the backbone of native communities. They reminded me of the courage love and respect it takes to live our native cultures in today’s world. When we give thought to the fact that native communities  are still subject  to the violation of our rights as a people…these elders some well into their 70’s  make us all  feel  nothing but absolute respect for them and the strength of their native  spirits. I can only hope that some of us as elders today guided by spirit can  pass on to the younger generations the teachings, morals and principles of our native ways with the same love our ancestors had for each other..

The entertainment, the dancing feet of native people along with the wacky jokes by the MCS made for several days of Pow wow fun via the web minus the food :) but one can always munch on Popcorn.

On Saturday I looked forward to the Miss Indian World pageant...

Unlike the frivolous nature of the more commercial cutthroat type of pageants, Miss Indian world is an honoring of the diversity and beauty of our native cultures. Each one of the contestants represents the heart and the spirit of her people and Indian country as a whole…it does not get better than that.

I love this pageant as it gives our young women the opportunity to express their pride in being native women. 

In the short time these young women spend as contestants together new and lasting friendships are created. Alien from the non-native colonial mindset of commercial competition these young women bond together with love and respect for each other.You can see the genuine smiles between these young women towards each other. As a grandmother in a circle of native women, it warms the heart to see this.

I love it when native women come together in events that embrace a sisterhood among our various nations. Many thanks to the committee and the creators of the Miss Indian World contest …Love that it is native run and very native in thought and content.May it never ever fall into the templates of any of the non-native commercial run pageants we so often see in society today.

With these thoughts in my head, I reached for my second bag of popcorn on this the last night of the Pow wow.

When the MC announced that the Miss Indian World program was about to take place I felt the Goosebumps starting up. I knew Nani was number 28 and as such the closer, they got to her number the closer I found myself moving towards my computer screen...I knew for so many of our people Nani  was already a winner.:)

Led by last year’s Miss Indian World Majorie Tahbone  all the contestants  waved as they entered the Pitt.They looked so beautiful .each one a winner already and all would make an excellent representative of Indian country.

With each contestant's name and nation announced, I could not help but remember these words of native wisdom. “A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground.” …

I was happy for all the girls and I cheered for each one of them…but I have to admit when they called out number 28 Joanne Nani Morales Taino from Puerto Rico first runner up I screamed and jumped out of my seat.

The Popcorn I had  flew out of the bag into the air like confetti…My dog was barking for joyJsensing whatever it is it is a happy moment. My Mom tuned in from her personal space station and clapped for what she figured was surly a party. :) I danced I cried I cheered and I said Bomatum to the ancestors who I knew where in there cheering as well.

So it is I say .Bomatum Joanne Nani Morales hija de Atabei for giving your people this shining moment of hope. Bomatum Joanne Nani Morales for standing up with pride and respect for our people and our culture.

I knew from day one of this competition you would make us make us all feel proud.

I am happy for you and all the young native women who took part in Miss Indian world. I am happy for the community of Yukayeke Guainía .I am happy for the UCTP as it once again writes another positive chapter in the UCTP history of our people.

One thing is sure  It will forever be written for our future generations to know that Joanne Nani Morales of Yukayeke Guainía a  small Boriken tribal  community and member affiliate of UCTP was first runner up in Miss Indian World Gathering of Nations Pow Wow 2012.

It was not long ago when we saw another young woman  in the Circle win Miss Indian World 2007  of Cree and Taino  decent her name is Violet John….Today we add the name of Joanne Nani Morales Taino  to that list of honorable young women among our people . 

The Circle of Grandmothers and women of  Bohio Atabei, are very proud of you..Like many of our young women You are a gift of joy and we were happy to give you our unwavering blessings and support for this event.

In you Joanne Nani Morales, we see the purity of spirit only a sincere and loving heart has. In you we see the ray of hope many of our young people bring to the future of our people.

With respect we also wish to  acknowledge your parents  as the apple does not fall far from the tree.Congradulations to your parents for gifting to the world such a beautiful human soul.

To your parents and family congradulations  from the Council of Grandmothers Bohio Atabei.

We are as well  happy for the young woman who won Jessa Rae Growing Thunder

Fort Peck Assiniboine/Sioux Poplar, Montana Congradulations to her and her community.

Indian country we know will have an excellent ambassador in her.Congrdulations to 2nd runner up
Nikki Santos and her community... love her beautiful smile..

As well much love to each one of the contestants, all of them are winners in our hearts.ALL OF THEM

Lastly, I am happy for all of the people who believed in Nani and sent her their blessings,Bomatum 

I know that nothing but good things await Nani and all the young woman who took part in the Miss Indian world competition.All of you along with so many of our young people will do great things.

All of you bring honor to your people .

On behalf of the Council of Grandmothers Bohio Atabei .the Peace and Dignity Route of the Red Tail Hawk organizers and runners Much Love.Seneko Kakona ,Thank you for being present in our lives.

In conclusion Thank you to all the people  past, present and future  responsible for  the Gathering of Nations and for the live Web cast…Way to go gathering way to goJ


All photos 
©Gatheringofnations LTD.
www.gatheringofnations.com

Dance Mujeres

Mujeres dance, dance for earth mother, for life for the family for our people, for each other 
Dance Mujeres dance.:) 

Dance my sisters, dance for peace dance for healing, dance for the tears and dance with joy.

Dance for the grandmothers who live on the moon, dance for the rivers the oceans, and all of the waterfalls inside your soul.

Dance Mujeres dance In the Bohios of your mind looking thru windows of ancestral time. 

Walking in hallways filled with the memories, of a zillion stars.

Dance daughters of earth mother daughters of wisdom.

Daughters of lite.

   

Dance in the circles of your twirling skirts and let them form rainbows inside your heart.

Dance hermanas dance for you are the rhythm of the universe, the cosmic mother of all life 

Dance Mujeres dance for you are Creation, 

Yokahu was born of you.

Born of you , Born of you. Born of you is Yokahu.

© VIPWHW.

Full Moon April 6,2012

This Friday April 6th,during Bibi Maroyas fullness let the distance between us be a geographical one…and not a spiritual one. Walk into the lite mi gente and think about each other in a good way.Be at peace and wrap your hearts in love,compassion and respect for all life...Inaru:)


Mujeres este viernes abril 6,2012 en la plenitud de Bibi Maroyas (Abuelita Luna) que la distancia entre nosotras sea solo geográfica y no de espíritu. Entremos a la luz con pensamientos buenos unas hacia las otras.Esten en paz y envuelvan sus corazones en el amor, la compasión y el respeto hacia todo lo que vive. . ..Inaru:)

Strong Woman Song by Raven Hart-Bellecourt and Lisa Muswagon

Anahuac Women Speak: Reclaiming The Liberation Struggle

Full Moon Gathering Jan 8,2012 Ritual Dance Set Your Spirit Free

Mujeres and sisters of kindred spirit

Bohio Atabe Indigenous Women’s Circle

 Invites you to our  Sunday Jan 8,2012

Full Moon Gathering .

The Female Energy in  Sacred Music, Ritual Dance, and Spoken word.

SET YOUR SPIRIT FREE  bring your drums, maracas, shells

Flutes, Songs, stories, poetry.

Join in the spirit of the circle

Celebrate your female energy.

 Sunday Jan 8, 2012.

5-8pm

2805 University Avenue Suite B corner 197 street.

For more info 347-242-0516

Healing with Water  Ceremony…

So please RSVP and  be on time,,,,Bomatum.

You are asked to please bring a meatless dish if you can.

There is No Charge for gathering  but
Donatiosn are  accepted….with all proceeds to benefit

Peace and Dignity  Route of the Red Tail Hawk  2012

More important then that is your presenceJ

Hope to see you soon...Bibi InaruJ  

Abuela Margarita.wmv

Indigenous Volunteer Day at Brook Park

June 4th Saturday Indigenous Committee Volunteer Day

El Español se encuentra mas abajo

The Indigenous Culture Committee of Friends of Brook Park and our allied organizations United Confederation of Taino People, Kalpulli Huehuetlahtolli and including Teotl Kalli Quetzalcoatl and Maisiti Yukayeke Taino and Calpulli Atlachinolli invites you participate in a day of energetic fun when we share together to attend to all the things we need to do to be able to host the activities and events we know and love!

Brook Park
On June 4th Saturday

Work and skills sharing from 11-3PM
3-5PM food and music that we all bring together. So bring something!

We will be doing a number of things, and you can participate in all or some. We see many folks for our Indigenous Culture Events and activities, but only a portion of those attendees have had the great opportunity in the preparation or clean-up of these vital events. Let’s get together in the park and share these essential aspects of our success, and bring some potluck food to share! And some instruments!

For those who cannot share with us on that day in person, you can always do something before that day. Or you can donate resources online here: http://friendsofbrookpark.org

Also, you can encourage your friends and family and organizations to participate too!

Some of the things we will do THAT day and that can be done anytime BEFORE, include:

Chop ALL the wood.

Gather Stones from elsewhere than the park, within 20 miles, or more. If you have a vehicle, or can rent one, we can let you know where to get some! (Round, head size, not from river beds or banks.)

Shave the tipi poles of the bark.

Apply linseed oil to the tipi poles already debarked.

Wash and dry and fold all the blankets.

Clean the tool shed.

Acquire more tools: Axes, Mauls, Sledgehammers.

Sharpen the tools we do have already.

Get materials for a rack for the tipi poles.

Build a rack for the tipi poles. (THANKS to Mark W. Rob J. and Steve D for just about finishing this project already!)

Arrange the used stones more neatly.

Bring good dry split or gathered wood.

Sew the Tipi, it has some holes and areas needing strengthening.

Beautify the garden in general!

Let us know that you will be attending.

We need Team Leaders too to bottom-line some of the tasks, let us know if you have an area of interest of skill that you can help us manage!

646-648-4362
informationATfriendsofbrookpark.org

SPANISH

El Comite de la Cultura Indigena del parque, Amigos de Brook Park, y nuestros aliados organizaciones, United Confederation of Taino People, Kalpulli Huehuetlahtolli, Teotl Kalli Quetzalcoatl, y Maisiti Yukayeke Taino y Calpulli Atlachinolli le invita a participar en un dia de diversion energetica. Nos vamos a juntar para atender a todas las cosas que tenemos que hacer para ser capaz de albergar las actividades y eventos que conocemos y amamos!

Donde: Brook Park

Dia: El Sabado 04 de junio

trabajo a partir de 11:00am – 3:00pm

3:00 – 5:00 comida y la musica que nos une a todos

Vamos a hacer una serie de cosas, y puede participar en todos o algunos. Vemos muchas personas para los eventos y actividades de nuestra cultura Indigena, pero solo una parte de los asistentes han tenido la gran oportunidad en la preparacion o la limpieza de estos eventos. Vamos a reunirnos en el parque y compartir estos aspectos esenciales de nuestro exito, y llevar algo de comida (potluck) para compartir! Y algunos de los instrumentos!

Para aquellos que no pueden compartir con nosotros ese dia en persona, siempre se puede hacer algo antes de ese dia. O usted puede donar recursos on-line: http://friendsofbrookpark.org

Tambien, usted puede animar a sus amigos y familiares y organizaciones a participar tambien!

Algunas de las cosas que haremos ese dia y que se puede hacer en cualquier momento antes, se incluyen:

Cortar toda la Madera

Recoger piedras del lugar que no sea el parque, a 20 millas o mas. Si usted tiene un vehiculo, o se puede alquilar uno, podemos saber donde conseguir algunos! (Ronda, tamano de la cabeza, no del cauce de rios o de los bancos.)

Afeitadar los postes del tipi que ya estan descortezados.

Aplicar aceite de linaza a los postes del tipi ya descortezada.

Lavar, secar y doblar todas las mantas/cobijas.

Limpiar el cobertizo de herramientas.

Adquirir mas herramientas: hachas, mazos, etc.

Afilar las herramientas que ya tenemos.

Obtener materiales para un estante para los postes del tipi.

Construir un estante para los postes del tipi.

Organizar las piedras utilizadas mas cuidadosamente.

Lleven madera seca que ya esta cortada.

Coser el Tipi, tiene algunos agujeros y las areas que necesitan refuerzo.

Embellecer el jardin en general!

Haganos saber que usted va a asistir.

Necesitamos lideres de equipo tambien que pueden encargarse de un grupo de personas para hacer las tareas (1-14 arriba), haganos saber si usted tiene un area de interes de la habilidad que usted puede ayudar a manejar!

Cherishing Our Elders

As posted on UCTP Forum ….http://uctp.org


Takahi Guaitiao:

It is my hope that this message finds you all in good health and Spirit.

It was recently announced that our beloved elder Cyril Taylor passed into Coaibai (the Spirit world)... His crossing was indeed a blow to our community within and without of the islands... While we have had him and his family in our prayers, we have also received news of several other community elders who have also made this same journey recently...

With that in our minds and hearts, we wish to acknowledge the passing of Juanita Padilla Guerra Leon. Abuela Juanita along with her sister Nadine were among the first Boricua to settle in Minnesota. She is the Grandmother of Liza O'Reilly, a UCTP Liaison Officer in the State.

We also wish to acknowledge the passing of Victoria Hernandez Arroyo Mother of Maurico Guatuel Hernandez. Guatuel is husband to Naniki Ocasio Reyes...

Most recently, we were informed by Yucayeque Maisiti Kasike Roman Guaraguarix Perez that his family Matriarch, Kasike Malin has also made the journey to Coaibei... She was 106 years old… Services will be held for her in Kiskeya (Dominican Republic).

We are humbly requesting that community members keep these families in their prayers and hearts.

Oma'bahari, Nabori'daka
Kasike Mukaro Agueibana

The Passing of Our beloved Elder Grandfather Cyril Taylor Carib.

Our beloved Grandfather Cyril O. Taylor entered the spirit world on July 9, 2008. Words cannot do justice to the wonderful human being he was. Many were touched by his kindness, words, deeds and actions to help the many native communities he was involved with.

His parents were Carib from the Island of Dominica and immigrated to the United States before Cyril was born. He grew up in the Baltimore area and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. After retiring from the U.S. Army, he joined the Baltimore Police Department. When he retired from the police force in 1993, he spent the last 15 years of his life helping the native community in a variety of ways. Throughout his life he had strong ties with the Carib community of Dominica as well as other native groups on the East Coast.

He was a member of the American Indian Society in Virginia, a respected adopted member of his wife Marie’s tribe, the Meherrin of North Carolina, and a strong Sundance supporter at the Tayac Sundance in Maryland. He was involved with the weekly Capitol Hill Native Prayer Breakfast as an organizer and speaker. He was the Honorary Consul of the Lokono-Arawak Nation of South America, a founding member and elder of Biaraku: First People of a Sacred Place, as well as an elder and Liason Officer for the United Confederation of Taino People. He helped organize many events as well as host native travelers in his home. He gave moral, spiritual and economic support to native people throughout the Americas.Grandfather Cyril was a strong supporter of UCTP.He adovocated for indigenous women's rights and contributed to the work of the Bohio Atabei.
Most recently he joined Bohio Atabei and Biaraku to visit the Taino and Carib artifacts at the National Museum of the American Indian’s Suitland facility this past April.

Grandfather Cyril truly lived the golden rule and treated all with respect and dignity. His curiosity and love for life was evident in the trips that he took around the country and the Caribbean. The Taino community of Boriken was blessed to have him visit on several occasions. Grandfather Cyril was always learning and growing spiritually from those around him. He would joke that he was still learning to be an elder. A Cherokee elder remarked upon meeting him, “There goes a holy man”.

He is survived by his wife, Marie, and son, Cyril Taylor, Jr. His first grandchild is due to be born in September. We wish his family well and keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

Our elders are a sacred library of knowledge that we cherish and honor. Thank you Grandfather Cyril for blessing us with your presence. You will not be forgotten. Your humble, kind and gracious warrior spirit lives on.

Gina Robles-Villalba

We will do all we can to honor your spirit grandfather....
Vanessa Inaru Pastrana