Cacike Cacibaopil Martin D. Veguilla
Elected Chief, Concilio Taino Guatu Ma-cu A Boriken
Cacike Cacibaopil Martin D. Veguilla, elected Chief of the Taino pueblo
El Concilio Taíno Guatu-Ma-Cu A Borikén
At the University, Cacibaopil had access for the first time, to the Spanish Chronicles,
such as the books by Bartolomée Las Casas, and others that documented the incredible
brutality of the Conquistadors against the Taino. Weeping from shock at historical
details he had never heard before, his personal mission to rescue, preserve, and
restore his Taino heritage was born. Cacibaopil began a grass roots movement to bring
cultural awareness and increase public knowledge of his Taino heritage through
education and public presentations. His untiring work, as lecturer, teacher, and voice
of this indigenous population throughout the private and public sector, attracted small
groups of Taino descendants from around the Island of Puerto Rico, who were inspired to
become part of this restoration movement. The pueblo of Guatúcu was founded in 1992 as
a registered nonprofit corporation in the Department of State of Puerto Rico, and
incorporated as The Concilio Guatu Ma-cu A Boriken, Inc. in 2000. El Concilio Taino
received Federal nonprofit recognition (501C3) in 2007, with a mission to bring Taino
cultural awareness and increase public knowledge throughout the island of Puerto Rico
and abroad, through education, including the revelation of the true Taino history, and
the sharing of customs, language, areytos (ceremonial dance), music and song, and
craftwork. Today, The Concilio's pueblo includes members across Puerto Rico, the
Dominican Republic, United States, and Europe.
Leader of El Concilio Taino since before its founding, Cacibaopil was elected Cacike
(Chief), in Taino tradition, by the women of the Pueblo in 2004. Cacibaopil's Taino
blood was scientifically confirmed by the breakthrough research of Dr. Juan Carlos
Martinez Cruzado (University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Year 2000) that documented for
the first time, the Amerindian mtDNA of the Taino of Boriken. The Cacike's Taino
Mitochondrial DNA is Haplogroup-C, whose origins are the Arawak (Ingneri) ancestors of
the Taino who originated from the border of the Orinoco River in the Amazons of
Venezuela. Cacike Cacibaopil Martin D. Veguilla is an official Taino consultant for
the Puerto Rican government's Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (I.C.P.). Before
becoming Chief, the Cacike devoted much time to the creation of replicas of ancient
Taino pottery and earthenware using traditional open-flame fire methods, a talent that
brought him near-annual awards and recognitions, from entities such as the Governor's
Office (Puerto Rico), the National Endowment, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and
others. Today, Cacibaopil's prize is knowing that, thanks to the efforts and dedication
of his Taino pueblo, there is a new generation growing who will never know life without
their rich Taino traditions, or the depth of their spirituality.
El Concilio Guatu-ma-cu A Borikén, Inc. es una corporación
sin fines de lucro (501C3),
registrada en el Departamento de Estado de Puerto Rico,
adscritos en el Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICRP)
y respaldada por Fomento Económico y Turismo de Puerto Rico.
Su generosa donación/ayuda/contribución será deducible de impuestos
y nos permite continuar nuestra misión.
Para más información comuníquese con:
El Concilio Taíno Guatu-Ma-Cu A Borikén, Inc.
Barrio Teresita, Bayamón, PR 00961
Email: conciliotainopr@hotmail.com
Email: martinveguilla@yahoo.com
Website: conciliotainopr.org
Facebook: Martin Caciba Opil Veguilla
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