Pilgrimage to sacred site in Virgin Islands

[Miguel Sague Jr]

It was my honor to participate in a sacred ceremony this past week, on the island of St. John, US Virgin Islands. I was invited by Kasike Roberto Mukaro Borrero, of the United Confederation of Taino People, to officiate the transfer of responsibility from the previous behike (medicine man) of the Virgin Islands Taino tribe, Tesroy Phillips, to the current behike, his daughter, Mayte'ah.

We traveled to a very holy place in the rain forest of the island of St. John. High in a mountainous jungle valley we stopped at a beautiful hidden pond, crowned by a stone hillside. The stone was adorned with a row of ancient petroglyph drawings carved into the rock by our Taino ancestors over 500 years ago.

In this powerful place, Mr Phillips ceremonially passed the baton of authority to his daughter. It was my honor to celebrate a brief tobacco ritual dedicated to Yokahu and Atabey, the Creator spirit. The ceremony  was witnessed by members of the Virgin Islands Guainía Taino tribe, led by their chief, Kasike Anacaona Phillips. It was also witnessed by the Kasike (chief) of the Boriken (Puerto Rico) Guainía Taino tribe and president of the United Confederation of Taino People, Roberto Mukaro Borrero, as well as the former chief of the Kalinago (Island Carib) from the Caribbean island of Dominica, and also the current chief of that tribe, Annette.

Kasike Mukaro delivered an inspiring invocation, which was followed by an equally moving address by the Kalinago Chief, Annette 

Kasike Phillips (shown below with the new behike) was recently featured in a PBS documentary about the survival of Taino heritage in the Caribbean.

[Jeffry Mucaro Blake Johnson]

Han han katu!! Seneko kakona to all who were present and part of this moving and significant ceremony! Hahom Behike for posting about this wonderful happening!