Dr. Maynard is the Visionary and Founding Executive and Artistic Director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (Austin), founded in 1997 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3). It is the only cultural center in Texas and the Southwest affiliated with the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture for the offering of authentic, high-quality cultural programming. As the visionary since the cultural center's inception, her Executive duties span every responsibility required by a nonprofit Senior Executive. She is the Artistic Director of the center's cultural arts programs and its performing company of dancers and musicians, Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance. Since 2001, achievement and quality has been validated by repeat support by the National Endowment for the Arts, including an NEA Chairman's Award (2007), the Texas Commission on the Arts, the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division, and Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (since 2011).
Thanks to her great mentor, Rupert Reyes, Director of Teatro Vivo, Tekina-eirú has learned to move the stories in her heart to the theatrical stage. A subtle activist, since 2004, Tekina-eirú has written 23 original plays based in oral and documented history, in English, Spanish and Taino. Featuring live music and dance, they reveal relatively unknown history, preserve the memories of elders, and honor unsung heroes and community resilience. Her works have included: Pirates of Puerto Rico (2004), Puerto Rico Ever After (2004), Puerto Rico Mi Patria (2005), Piragua Man (2006), Angelito Borincano (2007), The Journey Back (2008), Pa Mi Gente (2009), 500 Years (2010), Boricua Beisbol (2011), Mami Boricua (2012), Boricua Spirit (2013), Expreso Pony de Boriken (2014), Mi Tierra Boricua (2015), Borinki Soy (2016), La Promesa Rebelde (2017), Borinquen Sana (2018), Las Lavanderas (2019), The Pirates of Puerto Rico Return (2020), Valiente Soy (2021), Cangrejos y Cafe (2022), The Prince & The Pana (2023), Mas Que Pantalones (2024), and PiraguaMan Returns (2025).
In 2024, Dr. Maynard was recognized as a Change Maker of the Year in Education by Austin Woman Magazine, and Guardiana Folclorica of Puerto Rico's traditions by Raices Profundas Americas. She was named the Austin YWCA Woman of the Year for Arts (2005), and recognized for her contributions to the Taino community with Areito Award for Dance and Theatre (2009).
In addition to her ongoing training by Puerto Rican masters of tradition, she continues advancing on her guitar with flamenco guitarist Isai Chacon (Director of A'lante Flamenco). Tekina-eirú has also studied a variety of classical forms. She began taking piano lessons at age 5, and in graduate-school studied classical piano with Russian concert pianist Natasha Snitkovsky. In New York and Austin she studied classical dance forms including ballet and jazz; but her favorite memories were character dance performance roles with Austin Dance Ensemble (Arletta Howard-Logan). Her move to Texas in 1992 opened a new world of Mexican folkloric dance, where she trained with Roy Lozano, Chuy Chacon, and Raymundo Guzman if Roy Lozano's Ballet Folklorico de Texas professional company (1993-1997), and Jaime Guerrero (Monterrey, MX). Her past credits include mainstage performances on the Paramount and Zilker Hillside theatres during her years with Roy Lozano's Ballet Folklórico; with them she also co-choreographed and performed in the Cenzontle music video "La Bruja," dedicated to the folklore of Veracruz, Mexico (1998).
Since 2008, Tekina-eiru has led the mission in Central Texas to preserve and share Taíno living traditions with the broader community. Taino by blood, she defends Taino Heritage - everyday - through the sharing of Taino history and traditions, music, dance, language, and more through the Cultural Center's educational arm -- Yara Taino & Guaytiao (The Place of Taino and Friends). She passes on authentic teachings -- Tekina-eiru was trained for nearly 20 years in ancestral Taino traditions through oral teachings and everday life experiences with her great mentor and Taino leader, Cacike Cacibaopil Veguilla (RIP) of the Concilio Taino Guatu Ma-cu A Boriken.
In 2008, research by Juan Carlos Martinez Cruzado Professor of Genetics at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, confirmed that her Amerindian Mitochondrial DNA not only identified her as Taino from Boriken (Haplogroup A-1) but further identified that her family's Boriken origins were of the ancient peoples that predated the Tainos -- the Arcaicos (The Ancient Ones). The DNA results were of no great surprise to her Mom, who wondered what was the question.
Today, Kacike Tekina-eiru is the traditional Taino and Spiritual Leader of Yukayeke Yara Cu, a community of Taíno blood descendants and Guaytiao (friends). She was chosen in ceremony by her community to serve as Kacike in 2023. She is a consecrated Naguety (Elder) and a Tekina -- a teacher of Taino living traditions and writer of ceremonial music and dance. Read more about her Taino Journey
Tekina-eiru is a Texas Master Naturalist and enjoys sharing Nature's timeless wisdom through her published book and interactive workshops based in Taino spirituality -- When Nature Sings: A Taino Journey. Her keynote talks and workshops combine nature-centric inspirational anecdotes, original photography, live Taino flute music, and original songs on guitar that remind us that Nature enjoys communicating with humanity through experiences that bring meaning to life. Participants engage in music-making and role playing that reveal insights, encourage meaningful discussion, and provide "tools" to take home that can be used in everyday life. Her workshops serve all ages and interests, and teach "Healers" -- from caregivers to licensed professionals -- a powerful way to renew themselves through a connection to Nature. These works were developed with support of the National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Mid-America Arts Alliance, City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, and Humanities Texas with umbrella support from La Pena.
Puerto Rican music and dance has always been a very special part of Tekina-eirú's life. She is very proud to share the joy of rich traditions with her community, and hand down cultural heritage to the next generation!
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