About Me:

I have been involved with Indian people for years. I am a former president of the Native American and Alaskan Native Coalition representing Native Americans in the FAA. I was also appointed as Deputy Chief by Principle Chief Frederick for the Caribe Indian Nation in Dominica in 1994. I was also the Portavoz for Templo Indigina Taino while in Oklahoma.

I am working on a project with the goal of getting Taino descendants federal or state recognition. I know some individuals and groups disagree. However, there are those like myself, that believe we are entitled to our indigenous rights. Our Taino ancestors lost the war against Spain but they fought hard and brave. Therefore, we should not let their lives go in vain. Would you want your children not to have their inheritance when you die? Our Taino ancestors would want us to have our indigenous rights; not just for ourselves but for future generations.

My project consists of two groups:

1) Full Taino Membership: Must have DNA evidence proving Native American Ancestry and a paper trail (i.g. birth, marriage, death certificates or sacramental records) tracing back to an indigenous ancestor from Old San German, Puerto Rico. At least one of the documents must indicate an ancestor was a "Mestizo" or "Indio". You can ride on another's lineage if you can prove it comes from the same family line such as a cousin.

Why Old San German? Historic records indicate that San German is where our Taino ancestors settled as a community after being released from slavery. Their community was called the Indiera. Moreover, the San German de Auxerre Church recorded Taino Indians among their parishioners as late as 1787. Also, the San German militia was made up of four companies of Indians. These soldiers were identified as "Indio". This is an early 1800's document with all their names. I have the list should anyone care trying to trace their paternal indigenous ancestry back to one of these Indian soldiers.

There were other Indians living in Puerto Rico that were brought to the island, such as Brazilian Indians but they were located on the San Juan side of the island. Our Old San German Indians are our Taino ancestors. Historic excerpts point to that. I also have names of Indigenous women, my great grandmothers, as far back as the early 1800's, from San German, that I can share for anyone interested in trying to prove their indigenous maternal ancestry through them. By now I'm sure there are many descendants that have derived from these women. I have historic documents also that I can share.

2.) Auxiliary Membership: Must have DNA evidence proving Native American ancestry and a minimum of at least a birth certificate indicating the member was born in Puerto Rico. Upon providing a paper trail back to an indigenous ancestor from Old San German, the member's status will change to Full Taino.

If we can document our Taino ancestry back to Old San German we will have a greater chance of acquiring federal or state recognition. If this happens it is my goal to have public lands returned back to us, especially in the Indiera, which was originally part of San German. I also hope to acquire other indigenous benefits for our Taino people such as free commercial fishing licenses, free hunting licenses, tax exemptions, educational grants for our children, grand children and for future generations. This will be a unique group that can prove their American Indian Heritage through proper documentation. This is what will make us legit in the eyes of legislatures and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The group will be non-partisan, non-secular and non-subversive if we are to achieve our goal of acquiring federal or state recognition.

We will need a Board of Directors, volunteers, such as an attorney, genealogist, historian and secretary.

I can be contacted at yukibo_tainoindiansusa@yahoo.com.

Taino ti,
Yukibo

Occupation:

Retired: FAA, Army Colonel, Professor at UPR

Education:

Electronics Engineering, MHR, MBA and Ph.D. In Administration

Contact Information:

yukibo_tainoindiansusa@yahoo.com

Research Interests:

Genealogy, American History, especially that of Native America, the study of ancient pottery, especially that of Native America.

Publications:

Copy Rights on Electronic Coloring Book for kids and Employee Involvement in the FAA. Several articles written in the Veteran of Foreign Wars Magazine.

Affiliation:

Eastern Delaware Nations, Métis Nation of the United States, Native American Veterans Association