The Taino people of Cuba

	Panchito's two daughters, Idalis and Nasari Ramirez and Idalis's son, Yasmani near the Toa River, Guantanamo, Cuba

In 2002 Onaway continued its support for the Caridad de los Indios community in Cuba by providing a grant for $6000 to support improvements in medical and traditional medicine and provide housing for the indigenous Taino peoples.

During 2002 a delegation of candidates from the Smithsonian Institute* visited Havana, Cuba to return the remains of seven Taino people who were excavated and removed from their graves by anthropologist Mark Harrington in the 1920s. Writing to Onaway, Jose Barreiro, editor for the respected publication Native Americas magazine, was pleased to report that “the pride of indigenousness is returning fast and growing.”

“It is difficult to overestimate the impact such actions are generating, both for the grass-roots folks and within the national circles of authority. We actually prevailed on the U.S. government to return these remains, ostencibly U.S. property, to Cuba. Then we prevailed on the Cuban government to recognise that the remains
properly belonged to the "community of origin," that is, the indigenous people who are not "extinct" after all. This is a great victory, a great step in the objective of stimulating the indigenous identity of the people”.

*All federally funded museums in the U.S. are nowadays required to make attempts to repatriate all human remains to their indigenous communities.

“The assistance from Onaway in these efforts has been a tremendous blessing. We could not have done it without you. There is nothing in our hearts but love and appreciation for your existence and your consciousness. The depth of understanding for Indigenous peoples practiced by Onaway is unique and superlative. It stimulates all of us to better work and to more committed lives”. José Barreiro

The Trustees of Onaway wish to thank Millie Knapp of the Indigenous Legacies Tour group for the array of splendid photographs taken whilst visiting Cuba in 2002.

The story of the Taino Indians of Cuba - the Great Dying

The Onaway Trust is a registered charity - number 268448.