March 11, 2012

Dear Mouriesse;

  First I must say, Happy New Year and God's Richest Blessings to you and your family.  Second, I must apologize for just responding to you after 3 years?  Can you believe that?  I am truly sorry.  I have not been on this sight in so long that I must read and bring myself back up to speed about what has been going on.  In the past 3 years I was living in Asia.  I traveled a lot but got into problems when a local Balinese - Bali, Indonesia company really messed me up financially and emotionally as well as in Ulsan, South Korea.  I was teaching mostly ESL English in Ulsan, South Korea, Taiyuan, China, and Bali, Indonesia.  I plan to visit, do business, and maybe live in Asian started again next year God spare life!  Now to answer your question, I am not aware of any tribes here only in Puerto Rico and St. Croix.  However, on St. Thomas and St. John I have family that are descendants but this is still not clear.  I am trying to get historical records  straight.  You can trying contacting the Virgin Islands "Seven Arches Museum" on St. Thomas -  ( http://www.sevenarchesmuseum.com/ ) or contact the Virgin Islands Department of Planning & Natural Resources - DPNR - ( http://dpnr-dlam.dpnr.gov.vi/pages/territorial-archives-353 ) or ( www.vifamilies.org ) for further documentation/information.  I hope that you were able to complete your book as you can add this as a supplemental piece.  If you need further information feel free to contact me.  Have a wonderful day, take care, and God Bless Always!

Wow, great to see someone with your interests and the work you are doing. Your English is very good, trust me. I will spend a lot of time reading your blogs, and I am very sorry that we never met before.

I would be very interested in a copy in French, Mouriesse. Thank you so much for offering! Email is lynneguitar@yahoo.com

I get to share the work "Los taino y las aves" with the greater Santiago de los Caballeros community on November 17th, at the Centro Cultural Leon Jimenes.

I'll be more than happy to correspond with you and help wherever I can. Thanks for the request and stay in touch!!!

Yes I will send my email again.

I was wondering if you received my message yet.

Hey, No there are no indigenous settlements here. most peopel are ven unaware of other native groups other than the Caribs and Arawaks. We are very small islands, and I feel the original 'settlers' were transient Taino, who surely visited here in their travels (we are located between Jamaica and Cuba).. they are know to be in this region of the Caribbean. Also, you may find of interest books about the travels of Cabeza de Vaca in the NW Caribbean&Southern USA . My Islands' closest (most visible) link to native indians is probably through our linkages with the Bay Islands of Honduras - a traditionally strong connection.
The use of island foods (or lack thereof_ amongst the Caribbean islands also refects some interesting linkages.)
I look forward to seeing your book!

Oh I forgot to add you can see my website cariblanguage.org . Click on "the languages".

Thanks for posting your blog. I have been wanting to get in contact but I didn't know French. I would really like to connect with the Carib communities in both Martinique and Dominica, especially how you can use the language in paddling.