About Us
30+ years preserving the living culture and traditions of the Taíno people of Borikén.
Who We Are
"The Concilio Taíno Guatú Ma Cú-A Borikén, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1992 by Cacique Martín Cacibaopil Veguilla, elected by the women of our people under the ancient ancestral traditions, and incorporated in the year 2000. Our work reaches hundreds of thousands of people locally and internationally, with members and sister communities in Puerto Rico, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, and Europe."
Vision
To enrich our ways of life through mutual agreements, in order to develop a broader consciousness, both material and spiritual. Grounded in our ancestral Taíno doctrine, so that we may live in communion with the whole.
Mission
To educate, both within and beyond the Taíno people, by example, reaching other cultures and contributing to humanity in a healthy, positive way that creates a shift toward a higher consciousness. In this way we help society and community, demonstrating that it is possible to live in harmony.
Our History
The Concilio Taíno was founded in 1992 as a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving, teaching, and restoring the culture, traditions, and spirituality of the Taíno people.
In 2007, the Concilio Taíno achieved federal recognition as a 501(c)(3) organization, enabling expansion of its educational and cultural preservation programs.
Leadership
Current Leadership
Cacique Kegaraniciba
Ángel Benítez · Second Named Cacique · Successor and Principal Leader
Cacique Kegaraniciba (Ángel Benítez) is the successor of Cacique Martín Cacibaopil Veguilla and the second named cacique, who today carries forward the legacy of the Concilio Taíno Guatú Ma Cú-A Borikén. With more than 25 years of experience promoting Taíno culture and spirituality alongside Cacique Cacibaopil, he was named Nitaíno in 2013, and in 2023 he was elected cacique by the women of the people and by the people as a whole, under the ancient ancestral traditions.
As an official consultant on Taíno traditions, he faithfully continues the stewardship of our history, customs, ceremonies, and ancestral techniques, bringing them to schools, universities, and government institutions, reaffirming to Puerto Rico and the world that the Taíno people are still alive.
In Memory of Our Founder
Cacique Caciba Opil
Martín D. Veguilla, 1953–2023 · Founder of the Concilio Taíno · First Cacique of Borikén in 500 Years
Cacique Caciba Opil (Martín D. Veguilla, 1953–2023), elected cacique by the women of our people under the ancient ancestral traditions in 1992, was the first cacique named in Borikén in 500 years. He was the founder of the Concilio Taíno Guatú Ma Cú-A Borikén, Inc. and an official consultant on Taíno traditions recognized by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (ICP).
Through more than 30 years of tireless dedication, he worked closely with educational, governmental, and community institutions to restore ancestral knowledge. He rescued traditional pottery, being the only person able to reproduce Igneri pottery to perfection, and recovered the Taíno language, spirituality, music, and the ceremonial traditions that live on today.
Taíno Identity & DNA Research
The pioneering genetic studies of Dr. Juan Carlos Martínez Cruzado (University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez) scientifically demonstrated the presence of Indigenous mitochondrial DNA in the Puerto Rican population.
This revolutionary study used mitochondrial DNA analysis to trace the maternal ancestry of Puerto Ricans, revealing that between 61% and 76% of the population carries direct Taíno/Indigenous maternal lineage. The findings confirm a living, unbroken biological and cultural continuity of the Taíno people on the island of Borikén.
Our Community
Every face in our community represents a story of resilience, heritage, and Taíno pride. Our members come from all ages and walks of life.
