As Yamaye Guani (Jamaican Hummingbird) Taino People we have established our community locally and internationally within the realm of the international Taino resurgence since 2019 with the enstoolment of our Kasike (Chief) Kalaan Nibonrix Kaiman (Robert Pairman).

Our first celebration was held on May 26th 2021 via Zoom. We had supporters both local (Maroon Communities, Hope Zoo, Archaeology Association of Jamaica. U.W.I. Language Unit, Source Farm) and internationally (Garifuna Nation, Wakapoa Lokono, Wawa Aba Akan shrine house, Puerto Rican Taino Comunity, Maisiti Taino Community, Council of Indigenous Healers of the Americas, Peace and Dignity Journeys Texas ) sharing their greetings. This year's celebration will be our first in-person Areito (Taino Celebration) for our People.

May 26th was the date of our Kasike’s Investiture and also the time our ancestors would honor as the starting period for the Rainy season (Boinya Aganeuku) which is our New Year. This Celebration will bring much needed attention to Woodside Community which has Three (3) National Heritage sites, two (2) of which are sacred Taino sites; the Taino Steps and the Atabey Petroglyph formerly known as One Bubby Susan. Our eagerly awaited in-person gathering (while observing all Covid Protocols) allows for local and international participants to observe this historical moment for Jamaica.

The Yukayeke (Community) Yamaye Guani (Jamaica Hummingbird) Taino Peoples seeks Five thousand eight hundred and ninety USD dollars ($5890) in support towards our New Year Celebration on Thursday May 26th at Woodside Community Highgate, St. Mary.

The funds requested will be used for transportation, accommodations, food, the venue and personnel/staff.  We want to ensure a safe and secure space for our supporters and for everyone to honor our community members and relatives that have taken on the yeoman task of continuing the preservation, promoting and teaching our ancestral Indigenous ways.

Our community seeks to preserve and teach the Indigenous ways of Jamaica’s First Peoples which was anchored on peace building through fostering positive relationships with nature and community, as well as to provide opportunities for Jamaican Taino peoples to earn from ancestral craft, practices , knowledge and to preserve our ancestral ways.

Our Taino New Year celebration will: 

•  Showcase Taino sacred spaces and allow those present to participate in Taino new year ceremony ushering in the Rainy season.
• Allow visitors to experience the beauty of the Woodside community with an emphasis on Taino culture and retention in Jamaica. It will also allow for Cultural Exchanges with Taino and other Indigenous relatives throughout the Americas.
• Additionally to our funding will assist with live streaming our event for our relatives in the Diaspora who long to return home but for whatever reason is unable to do so now, we will be offering casabe / bammy to the Cemi of Atabei for a good season and will offer on behalf of all of our donors as well so please put your name when donating or the name of someone you would like lifted in this ceremonial way.
  
  Heketiwa (we are One) together we can make this activity a success which will be the launching ground for future self sustainable indigenous activities. 
  
  Yayabo Huma (great spirit be with you all )