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T.A.I.N.O. Advocacy Statement & Public Petition Initiative

The time has come for our voices to be united with purpose. We call upon every Taíno organization, yukayeke, community, community leader, elected official, educational institution, and cultural organization to stand with us by signing and supporting the Maryland Joint Resolution and Proclamation Petition. Your support is more than a signature—it is a declaration that the history, survival, and enduring contributions of the Arawak Taíno people deserve lasting recognition, education, and preservation for future generations. Together, we can establish a powerful model that inspires similar recognition efforts across the United States and ensures that the world knows one undeniable truth: We Are STILL Here!

T.A.I.N.O. Advocacy Statement

​The Taino American Indigenous National Organization (T.A.I.N.O.) proudly aligns with efforts that promote historical truth, cultural recognition, and the continued visibility of the Arawak Taíno people.

As part of this broader mission, our founder, Denyzio Laboy, has initiated a personal civic advocacy effort calling for a formal Resolution and Proclamation recognizing the existence, heritage, and contributions of Arawak Taíno descendants, including the establishment of an official Arawak Taíno Heritage Day.

While this petition reflects Mr. Laboy's personal voice and advocacy as a private citizen, it is deeply aligned with T.A.I.N.O.'s core mission and values—to educate, preserve, and uplift Indigenous Caribbean identity through awareness and community engagement.

Important Clarification

This petition is not an official lobbying action of T.A.I.N.O. and does not represent legislative activity conducted by the organization.

T.A.I.N.O. remains a nonpartisan, educational, and cultural nonprofit organization, and does not sponsor, fund, or formally direct this petition effort. Instead, the organization provides a platform for awareness and visibility, consistent with its mission of advancing public understanding of Taíno history and identity.

All petition participation is voluntary and represents the individual voice and support of each participant, as well as Mr. Laboy's personal advocacy efforts.

A Call to Awareness, Truth, and Recognition

This initiative invites individuals, families, educators, and community leaders to stand in support of:

  • The recognition of the Arawak Taíno people as a living Indigenous community

  • The preservation and teaching of Taíno history and cultural contributions

  • The establishment of an official Arawak Taíno Heritage Day

  • The advancement of education, awareness, and historical accuracy for future generations

This is not simply a petition—it is a movement of truth, identity, and acknowledgment.

Why This Matters

For generations, the narrative surrounding the Taíno people has been incomplete or misrepresented. Today, through education, science, and lived lineage, it is clear that Taíno descendants continue to exist and contribute meaningfully to communities across the United States.

Efforts like this help ensure that history reflects truth—not omission—and that Indigenous Caribbean voices are recognized as part of the American story.

Your Voice Matters

By participating in this petition, you are not signing on behalf of any organization—you are lending your personal voice to a growing call for recognition, respect, and cultural preservation.

Whether you are a Maryland resident or a supporter from anywhere in the world, your support contributes to a larger effort to ensure that the history and identity of the Arawak Taíno people are seen, acknowledged, and honored.

Participation Statement

By submitting your support, you affirm that:

  • Your participation is voluntary and personal

  • Your support reflects your belief in education, historical truth, and cultural recognition

  • You are joining a broader movement to acknowledge the continued existence of the Arawak Taíno people

This effort represents more than recognition—it represents restoration, dignity, and the undeniable truth that:

We are STILL here.

Maryland State Joint Arawak Taino Resolution and Proclamation Petition
Multi-Line Address
I support this petition for the Proclamation of Resolution of the Arawak Taíno Indigenous People
I support the petition to officially recognize the fourth Saturday of April as "Arawak Taino Heritage Day".
Linguistic experts have stated that words like hammock, hurricane, tobacco, and canoe derive directly from the Taíno Arawak language; given this fact, wouldn't it be reasonable to also recognize the people who created these words still exist today?
According to archaeologists , medical experts, and scientists, DNA can remain in a corpse for up to a million years. Therefore, if there are living descendants of the Taíno Arawak, wouldn't it be logical to think that they still exist today?
I support the completion and submission of these documents as a means to promote knowledge and educational truths that should be learned and preserved.
By submitting this form, I affirm that my participation is entirely voluntary and represents my personal support for the petition requesting the State of Maryland to recognize the existence of the Arawak Taíno people and Arawak Taíno Heritage Day.
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Be A Part of History

Taino Sun Symbol
Taino Coqui Image

This map provides countries in the Caribbean Islands, which Awarak Tainos were known to have inhabited.

Map_of_Taino_Inhabited_countries
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