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Cultural Heritage and Sacred Sites: World
Heritage from an Indigenous Perspective Wednesday, 15 May, 2002 - New York
University
Submitting Organizations: United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP)
and Ihuche Rareito
Geographical Area of Focus: Borike (the Caribbean island known
today as Puerto Rico), and adjacent islands within its current legislative
jurisdiction (e.g. Vieques, Culebra, Mona etc.)
Affected Indigenous Communities: The Peoples know today as Boricua,
Taino, Carib and other pre and post historic Indigenous Peoples
Subject: Cultural Heritage and Sacred Sites
in Borike
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a) Public Exhibition of Ancestral Remains (and
related funerary objects)
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b) Desecration of Sacred, Ceremonial and
Burial Sites
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c) Access, Management, and Caretaking
Introduction: Since the arrival of
Christopher Columbus to our homelands 510 years ago, Indigenous Peoples of
the Caribbean have endured centuries of genocide, ethnocide, religious
persecution and other basic human rights violations including the right to
freedom of religion and self-determination. On the island of Borike, this
situation has not changed since the colonization of the island first, by
Spain, and more recently the United States. While historic documentation
citing a continuous indigenous presence is available within public
records, the Commonwealth Government of Puerto Rico officially denies the
existence of the Indigenous Peoples of Borike. This official policy of
denial has resulted in the lack of political will to acknowledge and be
responsive to the concerns of the contemporary aboriginal descendants.
Despite this situation, our community has continually raised concerns
about the public display and exhibition of our ancestral remains and the
desecration of burial and sacred sites to various state and municipal
representatives. In a further effort to seek and implement an effective
remedy to this deplorable situation, in April 2001 we initiated a direct
dialogue with the Office of the Governor of Puerto Rico and other State
Agencies. Having had no significant response from these entities, we have
decided to present our case to the international community.
a) Display and Exhibition of Ancestral Remains
Our community feels that the removal of our ancestral remains along
with their associated funerary objects from their chosen places of
internment for public display and research is not only a sacrilege but
constitutes a blatant state-sponsored violation of the basic human rights
of Indigenous Peoples (e.g. of religious intolerance, genocide and
ethnocide). Despite community opposition to this practice and existing
laws that protect both the deceased and family wishes with respect to
"decent burial", under the guise of public education and for the benefit
of scientific research and tourism, indigenous remains are displayed as
relics of the past/trophies of conquest throughout the island in places
like Cultural Centers, Caguana and Tibes Ceremonial Centers, local and
national museums, the University of Puerto Rico, and other sites like La
Tumba del Indio (in the town of Jayuya).
b) Desecration of Sacred, Ceremonial and Burial Sites
Our community has noted that while state polices for the preservation
and protection of indigenous cultural heritage under the heading of
"national patrimony" do exist on the island, these same policies violate
our "constitutional rights" to freedom of religion as well as our right to
access and use of sacred and ceremonial sites. Further, prior and new
legislation continues to be enacted without consultation of our local
indigenous community. Due to lack of enforcement mechanisms desecration of
"national patrimony" continues. For example the "Caguana Ceremonial
Center" allows women in high heel shoes to enter the park which "pierces
the ground" of this sacred ceremonial area. Indigenous protocol calls for
entrance in the area with bare feet. Community representatives have meet
with "park administrators and staff to seek a remedy to this and other
violations of indigenous protocol but implementation of these standards
have yet to be issued as official policy.
On the island of Vieques over 200 of areas of historic and spiritual
significance continue to be destroyed by the U.S. Navy within Navy
occupied lands designated for target practice. Indigenous community
representatives as well as archaeologist have not been permitted access to
these areas. The U.S. Navy has also removed pre and post historic
indigenous artifacts from this area without accountability as to
cataloging or their final destination.
A popular tourist attraction, La Piedra Escrita in Jayuya, another site of
historic and spiritual significance has suffered vandalism and remains
unprotected by the state and municipal governments and Institute of Puerto
Rican Culture (Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña).
c) Access, Management and Caretaking
Our community continues to be harassed by staff to pay an admissions
fee in order to enter Caguana Ceremonial Center. This has created a
hostile atmosphere and potentially volatile situation for community
members wishing to pray on these grounds. On April 23rd, 2002 a Taino
delegation visiting the area, was "permitted" by staff and representatives
of the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture to conduct a spiritual ceremony
under "supervision" while law enforcement officials were also stationed on
the premises. Community members have also noted that Park guides pass in
between the sacred stone monuments without any regard or knowledge of
indigenous protocols. In the Caribbean National Forest, selected areas of
the sacred mountain known as Yunke are designated as off limits to all
"civilians" while the U.S. military is free to occupy and conduct
experiments with toxic substances such as Agent Orange on this sacred and
historic site.
We therefore, submit the following recommendations:
United Nations:
a) That the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, formally condemn
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for its state-sponsored policies that
promote the desecration of our Sacred, Ceremonial, and Burial Sites and
urge both state and municipal governments to work in full cooperation with
the UCTP and Ihuche Rareito to resolve these issues in a timely and
transparent fashion. Note: UCTP and Ihuche Rareito represents 11 Taino and
Carib organizations as well as various other support groups.
b) That the Permanent Forum establish an official Working Group or
Subcommittee on Indigenous Cultural Heritage and Sacred Sites, which would
include representatives of the UCTP and Ihuche Rareito as well as other
Indigenous Groups, with a mandate to continue to study this issue, present
reports and recommendations to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues as
well as other United Nations Agencies, Commissions etc. (e.g. ECOSOC,
Commission on Human Rights, CSD etc.).
c) That the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues identify
mechanisms and resources to train and certify representatives of the UCTP
and Ihuche Rareito as well as other Indigenous Peoples working on these
issues to act as official observers, and/or negotiators (e.g. Human Rights
Observers), and/or rapportuers. Funding proposals for these programs could
be presented to potential partner agencies such as UNESCO, UNDP, UNEP and
WIPO.
d) That the UNESCO World Heritage Site initiative include
indigenous sites in Borike and throughout Caribbean.
e) That the members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues,
immediately call for the ratification of the draft Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous People, without change to it text as adopted by the
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities (1994/45) and submitted to the Commission on Human Rights for
consideration.
Indigenous Peoples:
a) Can support this initiative by
signing our Internet petition located at
www.petitiononline.com/taino/
b) Can write letters supporting our efforts to the Governor of
Puerto Rico, Sila Maria Calderon. Please forward copies of these letters
to the UCTP and Ihuche Rareito.
c) Can share their experiences and pertinent resources (legal,
economic, human, political or other) with the UCTP and Ihuche Rareito.
d) Can offer spiritual support (Prayers, Ceremonies and other good
wishes)
Conclusion: We would like to close by
sharing with all our relations, that the public display of one of our
Ancestors in Cedetra Museum in Jayuya, Barrio of Coaybey (Taino word for
"the resting place of the ancestors") is no longer being exhibited. We
would like to express our gratitude to those who have supported our
efforts as the success of this initiative positively reflects the theme of
the United Nations International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples,
"Partnership in Action".
Special Note: Although, the focus of this panel highlighted the
specific issue of Sacred Sites, "Cultural Heritage" embraces all aspects
of our way of life and our inherent right to self-determination.
For more information contact:
Ihuche Rareito, HC-O1 Box 5761, Ciales, PR 00638 · Email:
caney@prtc.net
UCTP U.S. Regional Coordinating Office, PO Box 4515, NY, NY 10163 ·
Email: uctp1493@yahoo.com
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