Neo-Taino

Neo-Taino. Neo-Taino refers to a modern cultural, spiritual, and political identity movement among individuals, primarily in the Caribbean and its diaspora, who claim and revitalize heritage from the pre-Columbian Taíno people. It encompasses efforts in archaeology, linguistics, and ethnohistory to recover and reconstruct indigenous practices, often in response to historical narratives of extinction. The movement is not a continuous, unbroken tribal entity but a contemporary revitalization that intersects with issues of decolonization, ethnic identity, and indigenous rights.

Definition and scope

The term Neo-Taino is applied to individuals and groups who actively assert a Taíno identity despite academic and popular histories that long declared the people extinct following European colonization. Its scope includes cultural revivalists, genetic ancestry claimants, and political activists seeking recognition from entities like the United Nations and national governments. The movement spans the Greater Antilles, including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Jamaica, as well as diaspora communities in New York City, Florida, and New England. It often involves a selective adoption and adaptation of historical Taíno elements, creating a new, living tradition distinct from the pre-Columbian civilization documented by early chroniclers like Bartolomé de las Casas.

Historical context and origins

The origins of the Neo-Taino movement are rooted in 19th and 20th-century intellectual currents, including indigenismo and anticolonialism, which re-evaluated the legacy of colonization. Key historical touchstones include the Jíbaro culture of Puerto Rico, the Cibao region of the Dominican Republic, and surviving indigenous communities like the Ciguayo and Macorix. The Spanish-American War and subsequent shifts in sovereignty prompted new reflections on national identity. Archaeological work at sites like Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center and the Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts Site provided material evidence of a complex pre-Columbian past, challenging extinction narratives. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States and global indigenous activism, such as that of the American Indian Movement, further inspired cultural reclamation.

Cultural and linguistic revival

Cultural revival efforts are multifaceted, focusing on arts, spirituality, and language. Ceremonial practices, often syncretized with Afro-Caribbean and folk Catholic traditions, involve the use of the cohoba ritual and reverence for cemí icons. Artistic expressions include the creation of duho stools, petroglyph-inspired art, and traditional bohío architecture. Linguistic revival is a significant challenge, as the Taíno language is largely extinct, known primarily through loanwords in Spanish and place names like Havana and Borikén. Scholars and activists use historical sources like the Diccionario de la Lengua Española and the work of Cuban anthropologist Fernando Ortiz to reconstruct vocabulary, promoting terms for kinship, nature, and daily life.

Contemporary movements and organizations

Several organizations formally advocate for Neo-Taino recognition and community building. In Puerto Rico, groups like the Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos and the Jatibonicu Taíno Tribal Nation engage in cultural education and political lobbying. In the Dominican Republic, the Guabancex Viento y Agua collective focuses on environmental and cultural activism. Diaspora organizations, such as the Cacibajagua Taíno Cultural Society in New York, host events like the National Museum of the American Indian gatherings. These groups often participate in international forums, including the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and collaborate with other indigenous nations like the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Carib Territory in Dominica.

Criticism and controversies

The Neo-Taino movement faces criticism from several quarters. Some academic anthropologists and historians, citing documents from the Archivo General de Indias, argue it constitutes a form of invented tradition with tenuous connections to the historic Taíno, who were devastated by events like the Battle of Vega Real. Genetic studies, such as those published in *Nature*, showing Native American mitochondrial DNA in Caribbean populations, are contested in their interpretation. Internal controversies exist over leadership, the commercialization of culture, and criteria for membership. Furthermore, the movement sometimes encounters tension with established, state-recognized Native American tribes over the legitimacy of its claims and access to resources and legal protections under laws like the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990.

Category:Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean Category:Ethnic groups in the Caribbean Category:Indigenous rights Category:Cultural revival