Thank you very much for your cordial invite. Please know that I understand that there are differences of opinions, but I do feel at times that there are certain notions that once ingrained seem very hard to dispel. I will do my best to answer and share as much as I know on the subject. To start I will answer some of your questions:
- What challenges have you encountered in the process of reviving the Taino heritage?
The biggest challenge for me has been showing, demonstrating and explaining what I feel are obvious Taino cultural, linguistic and genetic continuities in the DR and other Islands of the Caribbean. For example, most historians have claimed that our Taino ancestors died within 30 years after contact with the Spanish, but seem to be at a loss at explaining the plethora of Taino words in Dominican Spanish. 800 is the number of place names, common words, names of rivers, flora and fauna that have persisted on the island. At first glance one would assume that the Spanish simply copied the names of things that they did not know. And this of course has always been implied, but a closer look reveals differently. Note the following excerpt from Bartolome de las Casas:
All? ver?ades (en las minas o lavadores de oro) hacer sus mochilas cada uno de vizcocho de la harinilla que les habia sobrado o train de Castilla I llevarlas a cuesta con sus azadores I gamellos o dornajos, que ac? llamaban I hoi llaman bateas. De Las Casas, p.35 TomoIII
In this case you see that the Spanish had not one word but two for an average tray that the Taino called Batea. Anyone familiar with our island would note that we still use the word Batea to describe an object that the Spanish were similarly familiar with. Why? Did the Spanish collectively decide to drop not one name but two in favor of the Taino Batea? This is just one example. In Jamaica where the Tainos were depopulated to a greater extent, one finds that there are very few Taino words left. What we call Guanabana, the call ?soursop? which is English. Is it possible then that the English were more astute in creating names than the Spanish?
- How/when did you realized of your Taino roots? DNA testing? Family stories? Etc.
My Identity was fostered by both my mother and grandmother whom passed away at the age of 104. Since I was young they always referred to their abuelos as Indios. I also noticed that being from the campo we spoke many words that were not common with other Latin American people (I grew up in NY). Out of curiosity I took a DNA test, one that tests for nuclear markers and was surprised to find that my percentages for Native Ancestry were higher than I expected.
But Identity does not start in a test tube, There is a deeper connection to our Native past.
- How widespread do you think the Taino genes are within the Dominican population? In 2003 I and others including Dr. Lynne Guitar and Dr. Martinez Cruzado who did the DNA testing in Puerto Rico, did some field research in the DR. Although we could only gather a few samples (around 150) 33% of these showed Native mitochondria. Dr. Cruzado is set to conduct a wider study in the more isolated areas of the island this summer.
For me it boils down to this, as a people with tripartite origins we will always have four identities: there will always be people claiming to be white, honoring the Spanish and seeing the world through Hispanic eyes. There will always be Dominicans with an affinity to things African and that part of their heritage. Then there will always be, and hopefully with the new revisionist histories and scientific data that supports Taino survival, people who honor the roots of being from the island of Kiskeya. And then of course there will be those who see themselves as a mixture of all three and embody simply being Dominican.
Sorry if I made this too long!
Jorge
