May 29, 2003
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Second Session 2003, United Nations
Agenda Item 4 (e) — Culture
On behalf of the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP), I would like to begin by congratulating the members of the Permanent Forum as well as Ms. Elsa Stamatopoulou and all the staff of the Permanent Forum’s Secretariat for their hard work to ensure the success of this session. As the UCTP represents Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean including Taíno, Karib & Arawak Peoples, we are very grateful for this opportunity to join our indigenous sisters and brothers from around the world during this historic initiative.
Mr. Chairmen & distinguished delegates, the Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean were the First Sovereign Nations of the Western Hemisphere to be subjected to a genocidal campaign, which emerged from aggressive Western European "Powers" a little over 500 years ago and this campaign, this hostile assault on who we are - on our culture - continues even today. With this in mind, we would like to bring to the attention of the Permanent Forum members and our all our relations that although the focus of today’s session is "culture" specifically, for our communities CULTURE embraces all aspects of our way of life including economic and social development, the environment, education, health, human rights and our inherent right to self-determination.
While we are ready to discuss any one of these issues from our unique perspectives, we would like to recall those who came before us and highlight the issue of our sacred sites and ancestral remains during at this time. We would like to remind the Permanent Forum members that we, along with other indigenous representatives from around the world brought attention to this issue during last year’s session and a copy of our reports were submitted to the Secretariat with the support of the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Our specific submission focused on the island of Boriken (Puerto Rico) and highlighted the Public Exhibition of Indigenous Ancestral Remains (and related funerary objects), the Desecration of Sacred Ceremonial and Burial Sites and the issue of Access, Management, and Caretaking. We also provided some specific recommendations including the expansion of the UNESCO World Heritage Site program, the establishment of a working group or special rapportuer to investigate this issue as well as the need for substantive partnerships with United Nations agencies such as UNESCO, UNDP, UNEP, WIPO etc. As of this date we have not had any response from this or any other body.
Mr. Chairman, we would like to affirm that our People are not deterred from this lack of response and we continue to work diligently in this area. As an example of the Taíno community’s resolve for this issue, we would like this gathering to be aware that earlier this year Taíno skeletal remains were repatriated to the indigenous Taíno community of Caridad de Los Indios in Cuba. We would also like to officially commend the National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian Institution), the Government of Cuba and all those who made this a reality for our People — the Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean.
In closing, whether under the heading of Repatriation, Reparation or Restitution, we submit that this most positive and recent development should be recognized as a current "Best Practice" as it is a model for the future in the Caribbean and elsewhere. In our language Mr. Chairman we say Bo’matum (thank you) for this opportunity, and we look forward to a response and guidance of this auspicious body with regard to this issue.
Roberto Múcaro Borrero,
President, UCTP
U.S. Regional Coordinating Office
Attachment: 2002 Submission by UCTP & Ihuche Rareito (http://www.uctp.org/UNCulturalHeritage.html )
CC: UCTP Regional Representatives & Affiliates (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Hawaii, United States, Barbados, St. Lucia & Trinidad), GOIP, COIP, CARICOM, Movimeinto Indigena de Guyana, National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian Institution).
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