Our Celebrando 2008 project brought The Concilio Taino Guatu Ma Cu A Boriken to Austin so that our community could come to know for the very first time, the traditions of our Taino Heritage. For PRFDance Director, blood Taino descendant Ana Mari-á Tekina-eirú Maynard, the project began in 2007 as all Celebrando projects begin, one year earlier with an intensive research investigation to build a solid foundation for the project to come. What began as research in petroglyphs and history under the tutoring of the Concilio's Cacike Cacibaopil (Martin Veguilla) became the opening of a door to her own family's lost heritage.

On June 16, 2008 Cacike Cacibaopil held a Naming Ceremony at the beautiful McKinney Falls for 20 of our own -- men, women, and children -- who felt called to embrace our Taino heritage by taking on a Taino name. For many, this project was a life changing experience that brought to life that which has always resounded in our soul. We will never be the same.

We are especially proud of the children in whom you can see, what we have begun today will live on.

"Proud of our Taino Blood! From the roots of this noble tree, the next generation grows!" -- Tekina-eiru'

See more of our
Journey Back to our Primera Raiz

For more information:
Dr. Ana Maria Maynard, Director
Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center

Center Location: 701 Tillery Street, Austin TX 78702-3740
Mailing Address: 15228 Quiet Pond Court, Austin TX 78728-4555
Phone: +1.512.251.8122
Email: dance@prfdance.org          Web: www.prfdance.org
Please do not take (or link to) our photos, graphics or text, without our permission.
Using our photos/materials without telling people who we are is not very nice and breaks the Copyright law!
Please read how you can use our website resources correctly.

Copyright ©1997-2008 Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance, Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of use.