TAINOS OF PUERTO RICO

The Taínos landed in the island of Borinken what is now Puerto Rico around 900 AD. Their origins are in the Orinoco River delta in Venezuela and Guayanas area, there is not much evidence of their exsistance, just a few archealogical artifacts and Conquistadores writings.Yet one can stiill see the Taino heritage in the every day of the Puerto Rican living and in my life.If I was to research my Taino heritage I will have to start with my Grandfather Simon Melendez

and my Grandmother on my Mother side Maria Rolon. Grandpa a native "Cimarron" had all the physical atributes of the Tainos, bronce skin, black hair one can see the "Indio" in him from a mile away, He also spoke in that soft Taino voice and always had a smile and a laugh in every thing he said. Maria Rolon was not much defferent story the only two things Spanish about her was here name and the language she spoke."Abuela" was the vivid example of a Taino woman the way she cooked and ate with her hands on a "dita" a dryout shell of the Dita fruit her bronce skin, long black hair and those tainos eyes that could pierce strait in to ones soul and just know everything about ones Self. I can also see how that heritage was handle down to me by my parents whom have more Spanish and African coming from my other grand parents.An that is why I can say with certainty that, Iam a Boricua Taino from Borinken

To truly anwser the question where does my Taino heritage palys a roll in my life at this point and time, One most understand frist the Island of Borinken or what we call "La Isla del Encanto" one most go to an imaginary trip in time over 24 centuries ago.When the Tainos landed in the island that was called Boriken. It was a place ruled by the Gods of nature, almost completely a rain forest from shore to shore. Filled withyagrumos, alelís, ceibas, orchids, wild mushrooms , hundres species of palm trees, bamboo,elephant ear leaves of the yautía, giant philodendron, mamey and guava trees. A placewhere wildlife such as cangrejos, manatees, giant sea turtles, iguanas, cotorras, and carpinteros lived. Fish jumped out of rivers and oceans. It was a magical and enchanted island. Rich in gold , silver,bronce and metalic wood. Each evening Boriken was cooled by the breezes of the Mar Caribe and serenaded by millions of coquíes. This was our Isla del Encanto during the reign of the brave Taíno people. There in Puerto Rico was the stage set up were the "Boricuas" will play a unique role in the Taino Kingdom, the very same Pride that gaves us drive in those days is the very same pride that give us drive and makes us proud to be Boricua.

"Historically, two versions about how Salcedo was lured to his death have collided. Many

books assert that the soldier had been told he'd be taken to a lake filled with Taíno women that

he could have sex with, and, once there, he found not women, but men who then proceeded to

drown him. The other version has Salcedo being offered a ride across a river by Taínos who

carried him on their arms, and then drowned him and kept him for days, afraid he'd still be alive

and until they were certain he was dead. A third, and most accepted version of Salcedo's death

says that the Tainos fearing that the Spaniards might be gods refrained from harming them.

After suffering under the Spaniards for so long the Tainos, by order of Agüeybaná, ambush

Salcedo as he is drinking water at the edge of a river. Fearing that Salcedo may resurrect after

three days -based on their understanding of the Christian teachings wielded by Catholic priests-

that sat around for three days waiting for Salcedo to comeback from the dead, but all they saw

was Salcedo's body rotting due to the heat just as they would. At that moment the Tainos

realized that these were no gods. It was with Salcedo's death, that the Taíno Indians were

encouraged to declare war on the Spaniards in Puerto Rico. However, the Indians were quickly

defeated due to the Spaniards' better weaponry and war expertise."

Within two decades the Taínos were alomost completley wiped out by the Spanish

Conquistadores. Yet they left us their heritage and legacy.

Legacy

There is not much physical evidence or recording other then a few archaelogical

artifacts and Spanish Conquistadores writings. Characteristics of the Tainos are found in

descendants "cimarrones" clustered in areas of Puerto Rico. The names of many towns

Aibonito ,Mayagüez, Coamo, Cayey, Caguas, Maunabo, Arecibo, foods and fruits

cassabamamey, yautia, name , batata, guayaba, jobo. Instruments like the maracas and guiro

are original Taíno names. Inventions like the Hamaca "hanging bed" El Canuco "planting

method and El Pilon "mortal" are still use to this very day. Taino language has influence the

modern world with words such as barbacoa "BBQ". Juracan "god of storms" still vists us as

Huracains. We have little detailed knowledge of Taíno culture, religion and daily life what we

know comes from Spanish documents and from recent excavations and every day Puerto

Rican "Indiosincracia" living.

Social Structure

Agueybana was Boriken head Cacique when Christoper Columbus arrieved.

The island was divided into 20 cacicazgos Caciques will rule the island that was divided into

provinces,districts, and villages, each with a Cacique.The Cacique was an inherited position of

great privilege, which transcended individual yucayeques "townships". The cacique was

polygamous. Some of his wives were from political marriages that would unite yucayeques and

form alliances .Nitaínos were the noblemen and were the warriors, craftsmen & artesans.

Caciques were inherited positions and came from the Nitaíno class.The social structure was

matrilineal, the lineage was carried by the mother.It is not clear if Nitaínos were born into or

earned their social class. Bohikes "Witch doctors" were from a lineage of bohikes. Naborias

were the servants and workers who fished, hunted and worked the conucos "plantations" and

generally did the hard labor. The Nitaínos ruled over the naborias