2024 Indigenous Communities Fellowship
Yucayekeno Connect: Mapping Boriken's Taino Legacy & Tribal Registration
What is the name of your solution?
Yucayekeno Connect: Mapping Boriken's Taino Legacy & Tribal Registration
Provide a one-line summary of your solution.
Yucayekeno Connect is a digital platform for Borikua Taino descendants to enroll, connect & celebrate heritage through our matrilineal kinship system.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Ponce, Puerto RicoWhat type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
We are addressing the challenge of cultural preservation and community connectivity among the Borikua Taino people through our mobile app, "Yucayekeno Connect." Our initiative offers a strategic fusion of technology and cultural preservation to address the ongoing problem of erasure and cultural disruption of the Borikua Taino people. This issue is compounded by the continued displacement of our citizens as a twice colonized nation, leading to disconnection from our ancestral land due to colonialism, and modern-day challenges like gentrification via the adoption of Act 22.
Our ancestral sites such as Caguana Ceremonial Plaza, Cueva Del Indio, El Yunque National Rainforest and access to public beaches are all under threat due to the lack of national protections of these areas. The local government has failed to recognize our ancestral heritage as a people, as such our cultural landmarks risk commodification, privatization, and worst of all, outright destruction. This erasure has significant cultural and social consequences, including the loss of ancestral connections, identity, and communal cohesion. The scale of this problem is substantial within the Taino community and extends globally to indigenous communities facing similar challenges. Many Indigenous communities lack official recognition, face displacement from their traditional lands, and experience cultural suppression, resulting in the loss of languages, traditions, and collective memory.
Within the Borikua Taino community, the absence of an official enrollment system exacerbates these challenges. Without a centralized platform to document descendants, individuals may struggle to establish and maintain connections to their ancestral roots and familial ties. This lack of documentation also hinders efforts to access resources, services, and support tailored to the needs of the Taino community. In Puerto Rico alone, where 61% of the population carries Taino DNA, countless families have been separated from one another, and from their connection to the land. Today, there are approximately 3.2 million people living in Puerto Rico per the 2020 Census (this number does not account for transplants), and 5.8 million Puerto Rican identifying people living America per Pew Research (so 64% of the total estimated number of Puerto Ricans, not accounting for the number of folks living in other places like Europe). This displacement has created a condition where we exist largely as a diasporic community. This number grows with each natural disaster caused by climate change and urbanization.
Many reconnected members of the Taino community describe our erasure as a “paper genocide” meaning that if we do not exist on paper, we cease to exist as a nation. If the Taino no longer exist, we can not fight to protect our data, resources or families from the vestiges of colonialism, nor can we make claims of ownership over our pillaged ceremonial artifacts (like those sold at auction in Christie’s in Paris despite huge backlash from our community) and ceremonial spaces like the now privatized Cueva Del Indio in Arecibo.
What is your solution?
Our proposed solution, "Yucayekeno Connect," is a user-friendly mobile app that helps the Borikua Taino community reconnect with their cultural heritage and ancestral lands. It works as a digital hub where people can learn about their history, share stories, and find resources tailored to their needs. Community members are empowered to preserve their traditions, protect sacred sites, and strengthen their sense of identity as a restored nation. It's like a virtual home where Borikua Taino people can come together, learn, and support each other, ensuring that their cultural legacy continues to thrive for generations to come.
At its core, Yucayekeno Connect functions as a national tribal enrollment platform, allowing Borikua Taino descendants to register their ancestry within the context of traditional Yucayekeno territories and matrilineal kinship systems. Users can input their family lineage, ancestral connections, and other relevant information, creating a comprehensive record of their Taino heritage, allowing users to trace back their genetic history and discover the original territory of their nearest or oldest island born matrilineal descendant. We’ve spent hours combing through resources to find the original names of our ancestral territories, or Yucayekeno, with the goal of re-indigenizing our tribal system. By utilizing traditional Yucayekeno territories and matrilineal kinship systems, the app offers a culturally relevant framework for documenting and navigating our ancestral connections. Through interactive maps, users can visualize Boriken’s ancestral sites to explore points of interest related to Taino heritage, such as historical sites, cultural landmarks, community resources, and access the many necessary calls to action on the island to protect these important spaces. This approach not only preserves Taino heritage but also strengthens community bonds and fosters a sense of belonging among descendants.
Yucayekeno Connect also incorporates our oral histories project. This will include educational components, including teaching sessions and mini-lessons on history, language revitalization, and traditional farming practices, to provide the necessary tools for community members to revitalize their culture both on and off the island. We will also incorporate op-ed style publications, community storytelling, and ability to submit oral histories from elders in the movement to amplify our nation's authentic voices and bridge generational gaps in cultural understanding. In the spirit of collective leadership, we embrace the expertise and cultural insights of the wider Indigenous community by partnering with people like MIT Indigenous Communities' fellow Brittney Gene of the Navajo Nation, and Joseph Yracheta from Native BioData Consortium. We are also committed to utilizing CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance which will allow us to establish our existence as a self determined nation. Furthermore, Yucayekeno Connect prioritizes data sovereignty and privacy by hosting the app on a tribally-owned server owned by the Taino Nation of Boriken. This emphasis on sovereignty ensures that user data remains secure and protected within the cultural context of the Taino community. By providing a digital gateway for enrollment, connection, and resource-sharing, our project will have a significant impact within the Taino community and serve as a model for other indigenous groups facing similar challenges globally.
Which Indigenous community(s) does your solution benefit? In what ways will your solution benefit this community?
Yucayekeno Connect is specifically tailored to directly benefit the Borikua Taino community, focusing on those seeking enrollment in the Taino Nation of Boriken. Our target population includes individuals who are of Borikua Taino ancestry (both mainland and diaspora) and are looking to connect with their ancestral heritage, reclaim their cultural identity, and participate in their tribal community meaningfully.
To understand the needs of the Borikua Taino community, the development of Yucayekeno Connect is led entirely by Taino Borikua individuals. With a board that is 100% Taino Borikua-led and project team leaders Priscilla Bell Lamberty and Bilqis Benu also being Borikua Taino, the solution ensures that we are committed to the community we aim to serve, our own kin. This Indigenous-led approach is essential for ensuring that the app is culturally relevant, respectful, and aligned with the values and traditions of the Borikua Taino people. The development process has involved ongoing engagement with the wider Borikua Taino community to gather insights, feedback, and input via our weekly Taino Nation of Boriken meetings and monthly town hall meetings with other Native led organizations, heritage groups and leaders in the community. Yucayekeno Connect aims to create a solution that resonates with the lived experiences and aspirations of Borikua Taino individuals and those of us who have found a safe space centered on community voices and perspectives.
Our digital platform for enrollment, connection, and celebration of Taino culture. The app addresses the community's need for cultural preservation and connectivity by providing a platform to document ancestry and explore ancestral lands. It helps combat erasure and displacement by reestablishing connections to traditional territories and matrilineal kinship systems. Preserving cultural heritage is crucial in our quest to undo our paper genocide, maintain Native identity and cohesion within the Borikua Taino community, and to support the very necessary calls to action in Boriken to protect our cultural heritage sites. If we can successfully re-indigenize our Yucayekeno, we strongly believe we can create a sense of ownership over our traditional territories and understand the value they hold as proof of our living heritage.
How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?
Our team is uniquely positioned to deliver Yucayekeno Connect to the Borikua Taino community because we are deeply embedded within the community ourselves with over 40 years of collective experience in the Taino Resurgence movement. As Taino Borikua individuals, both our Team Lead, Priscilla Bell Lamberty, and our entire team reflect the lived experiences, cultural values, and aspirations of the community at home and in the diaspora.
As the Team Lead Priscilla Bell Lamberty brings extensive experience and expertise in community organizing, cultural revitalization, and community development within Indigenous contexts. With a sound understanding of Taino heritage and a commitment to decolonizing approaches, Priscilla has played a pivotal role in ensuring that Yucayekeno Connect is guided by the input, ideas, and agendas of the Borikua Taino community.
Our other team members come from diverse backgrounds within the Borikua Taino community, including elders, artists, educators, cultural practitioners, and activists. This diversity ensures that our perspectives are representative of the broader community, allowing us to incorporate a range of voices and experiences into the design and implementation of the solution. By centering community voices and perspectives, we ensure that Yucayekeno Connect reflects the needs, preferences, and priorities of the people it serves.
We have also established strong partnerships with local Taino organizations, tribal leaders, and cultural institutions through our monthly townhall meetings, deepening our ability to meaningfully engage with the community and integrate their perspectives into the solution. These partnerships provide us with access to valuable resources, expertise, and networks that support the successful design and implementation of Yucayekeno Connect.
Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
Advance community-driven digital sovereignty initiatives in Indigenous communities, including the ethical use of AI, machine learning, and data technologies.Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?
What is your solution’s stage of development?
ConceptWhy are you applying to Solve?
We are applying to Solve because we believe in the power of collaboration and innovation to address complex challenges. Specifically, we believe the Solve Indigenous Communities Fellowship can provide us with access to partners who can help us overcome gaps in technical knowledge, technical legal, and cultural barriers (creating digital spaces that are culturally sound) to create an innovative approach to Nation building. We are especially excited to be part of an Indigenous led cohort and create new inter-tribal partnerships rooted in these same cultural values. The nine months of support within Solve's network of innovators will advance our solution, "Yucayekeno Connect'', which seeks to address the cultural preservation and community connectivity needs of the Borikua Taino people. Moreover, Solve's emphasis on human-centered design aligns with our approach, ensuring our solution remains inclusive, equitable, and impactful.
To develop the Yukayekeno Connect app, we're focusing on several key steps. We're currently identifying the needs and preferences of our primary users, Borikua Taino descendants, through research and interviews. Data collection will involve gathering personal and ancestral information, including family lineage, cultural practices, and geographic details, stored securely in the app's database. We'll create multimedia content such as photographs, videos, and narratives based on collected data to enhance user experience and storytelling. Design and development will translate user requirements and data into the app's UI/UX, including wireframing, prototyping, and coding functionalities. Thorough testing will ensure functionality, usability, and security, with user feedback guiding iterative improvements. Lastly, we need support with compliance and security measures to meet legal and ethical standards for data protection, privacy, and security (guided by CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance).
By following this process and collecting the necessary information, we can move into the prototyping phase of the Yukayekeno Connect app, providing Borikua Taino descendants with a valuable tool for exploring and preserving their cultural heritage. By leveraging Solve's resources and expertise, we aspire to move into the prototype phase, scale our impact, foster meaningful partnerships, and drive positive change within our community and beyond.
In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
Priscilla Bell Lamberty
Please indicate the tribal affiliation of your Team Lead.
Borikua Taino | Yucayeke Yaguecax | Taino Nation of Boriken
How is your Team Lead connected to the community or communities in which your project is based?
I am a Borikua Taino and Black Artist, Muralist and Educator from Yucayeke Yaguecax, with a lifelong commitment to community engagement, Nation building and combating Borikua Erasure. As a mother and grandmother, I hold a cherished position as a matriarch within my community, where I uphold matrilineal traditions and play a vital role in guiding and nurturing the next generations. In addition to this, I am a leader in the women's house, where I facilitate gatherings, discussions, and ceremonies that celebrate and honor the feminine essence within our culture.
For the past twenty years, I have been actively involved in the Taino community, dedicating myself to its growth and development. Throughout this time, I have served as both an educator and advocate for Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean. Residing in Lenapehoking, the ancestral territory of the Lenni-Lenape people, I have endeavored to advance awareness and understanding of Taino culture, heritage, and rights. My journey has encompassed various initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting Taino traditions, fostering cultural exchange, and advocating for the recognition and empowerment of Indigenous peoples.
Specifically:
Teaching Taino culture in Lenapehoking (Coquannock/Philadelphia) for the past 5 years.
Co-founding the Borikua Taino Foundation in 2023.
Engaging in public work related to Taino and Indigenous art and murals for 7 years.
Advocating for intertribal issues for the past 10 years.
These experiences have deeply connected me to the Taino and broader Indigenous communities, providing me with invaluable insight and relationships that inform my leadership within our project's community context.
What makes your solution innovative?
Yucayekeno Connect represents a novel approach to addressing the challenges of cultural preservation and community connectivity among the Borikua Taino people. Unlike existing solutions, our mobile app provides a comprehensive digital platform specifically tailored to the needs of Borikua Taino descendants, focusing on reconnection with cultural heritage and ancestral lands through a matrilineal kinship system.
One key innovation of Yucayekeno Connect is its emphasis on cultural relevance and inclusivity. By incorporating indigenous languages, symbols, and oral histories into our user interface and educational components, our app ensures that Borikua Taino community members feel valued and empowered to reclaim their cultural identity. This approach fosters a sense of belonging which is essential for preserving Taino heritage and combating cultural erasure in a world that would deem us as extinct. We prioritize data sovereignty and privacy by hosting the app on a tribally-owned server owned by the Taino Nation of Boriken. This ensures that user data remains secure and protected from exploitation and misuse by external entities.
Furthermore, Yucayekeno Connect serves as a national tribal enrollment platform, allowing users to register their ancestry within the context of traditional Yucayekeno territories and matrilineal kinship systems. This innovative feature not only helps individuals trace back their genetic history but also contributes to the re-indigenization of the tribal system by documenting ancestral connections and territories. By utilizing interactive maps and educational resources, the app facilitates exploration of Boriken's ancestral sites, promoting awareness and stewardship of Taino heritage among community members. Our call to action empowers the diaspora to get involved with issues on the island that need support.
The broader positive impacts of Yucayekeno Connect extend beyond the Borikua Taino community. By serving as a model for other indigenous groups facing similar challenges globally, the app has the potential to catalyze broader movements for cultural preservation and community empowerment for nations that have been dispersed or suppressed by colonial tactics. Through partnerships with organizations and experts in Indigenous data governance and technology, Yucayekeno Connect can influence the development of inclusive, culturally relevant digital platforms for indigenous communities worldwide.
Yucayekeno Connect has the potential to change the market landscape by shifting the focus of technology development towards cultural preservation and community empowerment. As awareness of the importance of indigenous knowledge and traditions grows, there is a growing demand for digital solutions that prioritize cultural relevance and inclusivity. By demonstrating the effectiveness and value of such solutions, Yucayekeno Connect can encourage investment and innovation in this space, leading to a more diverse and inclusive technology market that serves the needs of marginalized communities.
Describe in simple terms how and why you expect your solution to have an impact on the problem.
Our comprehensive digital platform for Borikua Taino descendants aims to reconnect islanders and diaspora with their cultural heritage and ancestral lands through our matrilineal kinship system. Yucayekeno Connect catalyzes transformative change within the Borikua Taino community and beyond by celebrating Taino heritage and allowing users to explore, document, and connect with their ancestral roots.
Our theory of change is based on the following assumptions:
Increased Cultural Awareness: By engaging with Yucayekeno Connect, Borikua Taino descendants will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of their native cultural heritage, leading to increased cultural pride and identity with their Indigenous roots.
Strengthened Community Bonds: Through the sharing of stories, traditions, and resources on the platform, community members will forge stronger connections with one another, fostering a sense of belonging and solidarity within the Borikua Taino community.
Preservation of Ancestral Knowledge: By documenting ancestral connections and territories on Yucayekeno Connect, users will contribute to the preservation and revitalization of Taino heritage, ensuring that traditional knowledge is passed down to future generations.
Empowerment Through Education: Through our educational components such as language revitalization, history lessons, and traditional farming practices, community members will gain the necessary tools to revitalize their culture both on and off the island, empowering them to reclaim their cultural identity and sovereignty.
Advocacy and Action: By raising awareness of the threats facing Taino heritage sites and promoting community stewardship of these sacred spaces, Yucayekeno Connect will mobilize community members to take action to protect and preserve their ancestral lands.
Influence on Policy and Practice: By serving as a model for inclusive, culturally relevant digital platforms for indigenous communities, Yucayekeno Connect will influence policy and practice in the technology sector, leading to greater recognition and support for indigenous-led initiatives.
Overall, Yucayekeno Connect seeks to create a positive feedback loop whereby increased cultural awareness and community empowerment lead to greater advocacy and action, resulting in the preservation and revitalization of Taino heritage and sites for generations to come. Through strategic partnerships, innovative technology, and community-led initiatives, Yucayekeno Connect has the potential to catalyze broader social, cultural, and environmental change, not only within the Borikua Taino community but also across Indigenous communities worldwide.
What are your impact goals for your solution and how are you measuring your progress towards them?
Our impact goals are focused on creating tangible and transformative changes within the Borikua Taino community, including increased cultural awareness and pride, strengthened community bonds, preservation and revitalization of Taino heritage, empowerment through education, and advocacy and action for cultural preservation. We measure progress towards these goals using a combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators, user feedback, and community testimonials to ensure that our solution is effectively addressing the needs and priorities of our community members:
Strengthened Community Bonds:
Goal: Cultivate a sense of belonging and solidarity within the broader Borikua Taino community rooted in Native identity.
Measurement: Monitor user participation in community forums, collaboration on cultural preservation projects, and engagement in community events and calls to action as facilitated through the platform. Also, track metrics related to user connections and interactions, such as shared stories, messages exchanged, and collaborative projects initiated.
Advocacy and Action for Cultural Preservation:
Goal: Mobilize community members to advocate for the protection and preservation of Taino heritage sites and resources.
Measurement: Evaluate user engagement with advocacy campaigns, participation in conservation projects, and successful outcomes such as policy changes or increased protections for sacred sites. Also, track metrics related to community mobilization and collective action, such as the number of users involved in advocacy efforts and their impact on cultural preservation outcomes.
Preservation and Revitalization of Taino Heritage:
Goal: Contribute to the preservation and revitalization of Taino heritage through documentation, stewardship of sacred sites, and cultural exchange.
Measurement: Quantify the number of ancestral connections documented, user engagement with heritage preservation resources, and community-led initiatives to protect and restore sacred sites. Additionally, collect qualitative data such as community testimonials and stories of successful heritage preservation efforts facilitated through the platform.
Empowerment Through Education:
Goal: Empower Borikua Taino descendants with the knowledge and resources to revitalize their culture and reclaim their sovereignty.
Measurement: Assess user participation in language revitalization programs, completion rates of educational modules, and user-reported increases in knowledge and skills related to cultural preservation. Additionally, monitor outcomes like the integration of traditional practices into daily life and increased engagement in cultural events.
Additional Metrics-
User Engagement Metrics:
Track user activity to understand how often and how long users interact with the app.
Collect feedback from users to assess satisfaction and engagement.
Knowledge and Awareness Metrics:
Evaluate changes in user knowledge, awareness, and attitudes through pre- and post-usage surveys.
Monitor learning outcomes and information dissemination to measure the impact of educational content.
Behavior Change and Action Metrics:
Measure user actions such as petition signings, donations, and community participation to assess behavior change.
Gather feedback on the app's influence on user behaviors, attitudes, and actions through surveys and interviews.
Describe the core technology that powers your solution.
Our application is UI/UX designed with a user-friendly interface and will soon integrate GIS mapping, data banking for photos, videos, and documents, as well as family tree building as part of our genealogical project. It offers a multifaceted solution to centralize the diverse services our community seeks. Currently, many Taino heritage groups rely on platforms like Facebook and Tiktok, where information may not always be up-to-date. Additionally, individuals often turn to DNA companies like 23&Me and Ancestry, risking the exposure of sensitive genetic information to for-profit entities, in their quest to understand our unique genetic heritage as a twice colonized nation. Furthermore, the names and original territories of our nation have been largely replaced, leading to conflicting maps of our ancestral lands and understanding of important cultural sites. Lastly, we are exploring the potential of AI to support our efforts, but we prioritize Indigenous Data Sovereignty in all aspects of our development process.
Which of the following categories best describes your solution?
A new application of an existing technology
Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:
If your solution has a website or an app, provide the links here:
Instagram: @BorikuaTainoFoundation , Website: www.naciontainodeboriken.org/
In which parts of the US and/or Canada do you currently operate?
Puerto Rico & Diaspora
Which, if any, additional parts of the US or Canada will you be operating in within the next year?
New York & Philadelphia
How many people work on your solution team?
All are Volunteer
8 Board Members
Additionally we are working with 3 Indigenous Tech and Data Consultants
How long have you been working on your solution?
We have been working as a collective for 2 years but collectively bring 40 years of experience. The app has been in the concept and design stage for 5 months.
Tell us about how you ensure that your team is diverse, minimizes barriers to opportunity for staff, and provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members.
Our board is composed of Borikua Taino tribal members from different backgrounds who are united in dismantling Indigenous erasure caused by settler colonialism in Boriken (Puerto Rico). We aim to disrupt the paradigm and heritage of double colonization on the island through Borikua Nation building and the Re-Indigenization of our systems of self and community governance. Before uniting as a collective, each team member demonstrated commitment to our cultural revitalization with over 40 years of experience between our youngest and oldest team members.
Additionally, we represent various racial and ethnic backgrounds, including Indigenous/Native American, Asian, Multiracial, and Latina/o. In terms of gender diversity, we have a balanced representation, with 4 women, 2 men, and 2 individuals identifying as Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, GenderQueer, or Two-Spirit. Additionally, our team reflects other aspects of diversity, including representation from low-income and working-class backgrounds, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and individuals serving as Matriarchs and Clan Grandmothers within their communities. This diverse composition enriches our perspectives, strengthens our collective understanding, and empowers us to better serve our community.
What is your business model?
Our business model centers around providing value to Borikua Taino descendants and the wider Diaspora by offering culturally relevant products and services that address their needs for cultural preservation, community connectivity, and identity restoration.
Key Products and Services:
Yucayekeno Connect Mobile App: Our primary offering is a mobile application that serves as a digital hub for Borikua Taino descendants to enroll, connect, and celebrate their heritage through our matrilineal kinship system. The app provides features such as ancestral lineage documentation, educational content on traditional practices and history, interactive maps of ancestral sites, community forums, and storytelling platforms. We provide tools and resources for users to build their family trees within the context of traditional Yucayekeno territories and matrilineal kinship systems. This project aims to help individuals trace their indigenous history and discover the original territory of their nearest or oldest island-born matrilineal descendant.
Educational Programs: We offer educational programs on language revitalization, traditional farming practices, and cultural history to empower community members with the knowledge and skills to revitalize their culture and reclaim their cultural identity.
How We Provide These Products and Services:
Our mobile application, Yucayekeno Connect, serves as the primary platform for delivering our products and services. Users can download the app from app stores and access a wide range of features and resources designed to meet their cultural and community needs. We collaborate with cultural experts, historians, and community leaders to curate educational content and ensure its accuracy and relevance to the Borikua Taino community.
Why Customers Want or Need Them:
Borikua Taino descendants and the wider Diaspora seek our products and services to address the ongoing challenges of cultural erasure, disconnection from ancestral lands, identity loss and access to tribal services. Our mobile app provides a convenient and accessible way for individuals to reconnect with their cultural heritage, document their ancestral lineage, and engage with their community in meaningful ways. Our educational programs offer opportunities for learning, skill-building, and cultural exchange, empowering community members to reclaim and celebrate their indigenous identity. Overall, our offerings meet the deep-seated need for cultural preservation, community connectivity, and identity restoration within the Borikua Taino and indigenous communities.
Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?
Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable, and what evidence can you provide that this plan has been successful so far?
To fund our work, we employ a multifaceted approach that encompasses various revenue streams, including sustained donations and grants, selling products and services, and raising investment capital. Our goal is to ensure that our revenue streams cover our expected expenses in the long term, enabling us to sustain and scale our initiatives effectively.
Donations and Grants: We actively seek donations and grants from philanthropic organizations, government agencies, and individuals who share our vision for cultural preservation and community empowerment. These funds support our operational costs, research and development efforts, and community programs. To date, we have successfully secured grants from organizations such as the Indigenous Peoples' Funding Initiative and the Cultural Survival Fund, which have provided crucial financial support for our initiatives.
Selling Products and Services: We generate revenue by offering products and services through our Yucayekeno Connect platform. These include premium features within the mobile app, merchandise such as branded apparel and accessories, and educational materials such as books and workshops. Revenue generated from these sales helps sustain our operations and fund future development projects.
Investment Capital: In addition to donations and sales, we explore opportunities to raise investment capital from impact investors and venture capitalists who are aligned with our mission and values. This capital infusion enables us to accelerate our growth, expand our reach, and enhance the scalability of our solutions. While we have not yet pursued investment funding, we are open to exploring this avenue in the future as our platform gains traction and demonstrates its potential for impact and profitability.
Successful Funding To Date:
$250 via the New School for Brooke Rodriguez to speak at a panel discussion on Indigenous Activists in Water, Forest, Land, and Women’s Liberation
$1.5K via American Indian Resource Center as a donation made to Borikua Taino Foundation for building with us on Grants Management
$5K via Resist for general support and rapid response support to assist our island based residents during hurricane season
$20K in kind donations via MIT Terrascope for members of Nacion Taino de Boriken to guide freshman students and Dine students through Taino cultural sites and practices on the Island and combat extinction myths.
$35K via Native Voices Rising for supporting our capacity building as an organization
Solution Team
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Priscilla Bell Taino Nation of Boriken | Borikua Taino Foundation
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BILQIS BENU Wayari Committee Member , Borikua Taino Foundation
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Our Organization
Borikua Taino Foundation (Non-profit arm of Taino Nation of Boriken)