NATIVE AMERICAN SUPPLIES: A TAINO WEDDING

A TAINO WEDDING

"Nothing greater defines the true nature of being Taino than the joining of two Taino souls one who is born Taino and one who is adopted into the Taino family. The true nature of being Taino is people who express love in every aspect of life."

- Cacike Jose Tureycu Lopez

On April 11 2015, in Greensboro N.C. cultures collided but in a good way in a beautiful wedding ceremony where a tying of two souls and several traditions blessed and supported a beautiful union. The Taino Wedding of Taino Yukayeke Yaya Guaili Ara's own

Lisa Baumann

Guaitiao Tribal Name: Macapito Guatunaniche

(Forever Tree Fire Heart) I

and

John Baumann

Guaitiao Tribal Name: TureyCu Ayonbanan (Sacred Sky) I

Dressed in Taino Jibaro mountain regalia, the ceremony was officiated by:

Cacike: Jose Tureycu Ayonbanan Lopez

(Chief: Sacred Sky)

and his Liani (wife)

Nytaino: Angie Acuwei Guatunaniche Lopez

(Sub Chief: Sunny Eyes Fire Heart)

The wedding featured:

NATIVE TAINO MUSIC BY:

GUAMO TAINO VOICES

SINGING TO AND BLESSING THE BRIDE AND GROOM

"TAINO TI: ("MAY THE GOOD GREAT SPIRIT BE WITH YOU")

SINGING "HEKITI NANICHE" (ONE HEART) TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM

TRADITIONAL THROAT SINGING BY: GROOM
JOHN BAUMANN

Guaitiao Tribal Name: TureyCu Ayonbanan (Sacred Sky) I

SMUDGING CEREMONY WAS CONDUCTED BY:

NYTAINO: ANGIE ACUWEI GUATUNANICHE LOPEZ

The smudging ceremony is a purification ceremony. Any one of the four sacred medicines can be used. Sometimes all of the sacred medicines are used. The most common one is mshkwadewashk, otherwise known as sage in English.

A TAINO GUAITIAO NAME EXCHANGING CEREMONY WAS CONDUCTED BY:

CACIKE: CHIEF JOSE TUREYCU AYONBANAN LOPEZ

THE GUAITIAO CEREMONY is an ancestral ceremony of the Lokono Arawak Peoples also known as TAINO in which an honored friend is Adopted-in, Named and becomes family. This was a cause of celebration and could be part of a larger Areito Ceremony. Guatiao reflected part of the governing principles of relatedness and generosity. Guaitiao ceremony conclude a ceremonial year in which acts of kindness between Arawak and non Arawak created the bond of their new sibling relationship. Guaitiao has two meanings according to our translation:

Our friend, We become the same blood (family).

In Guaitiao, two individuals mutually and reciprocally adopted each other and their families as twins at heart, peace making across many generations. As equals, the two gave and received each others ancestral Clan and family names. The ceremony acknowledged wholeness in the cosmos where each living being is a centre reflected in each other and in our Family Cicles. Those who were adopted-in had a special place as partners in each tribal family, helping to protect each other and ensure no one would be abandoned. The closest analogy today is becoming God parents. The siblings, each others adopter and adoptee were feasted and gave gifts to each other and to those attending, to acknowledge their relationship and to reflect the teaching :

THOMAKOA GUA FUDOKOYONOCHI -- "WE ARE ALL RELATED"

(AT THIS POINT THE CHIEF WILL EXCHANGE NAMES WITH HUSBAND AND SON (becoming brothers) AND WIFE WILL EXCHANGE NAMES WITH BRIDE AND DAUGHTER (becoming sisters) (We becoming "God parents of each other")

Mate-John Baumann, will be given the Guaitiao Name: TureyCu Ayonbanan (SACRED SKY) which is the name of the cacike (chief)..The chief will adopt the name of John Baumann

son-Dhruba nyabinghi, will be given the Guaitiao name: TureyCu Ayobanan II (SACRED SKY) which is the name of the cacike (chief)..The chief will adopt the name of Dhurba Nyabinghi

daughter-Amari nyabinghi will be given the Guaitiao name: Guatunaniche (FIRE HEART) which is the name of the chief's LIANI (WIFE) and the LIANI will take on the name Amari nyabinghi

(AT THIS POINT THE CIRCLE OF THE FAMILY IS COMPLETE AND BRIDE AND GROOM CAN BE GIVEN AWAY TO EACH OTHER WITH THE PERMISSION AND BLESSINGS OF THE TRIBE and EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE)

FIRE LIGHTING CEREMONY

Fire ceremonies are the center of all spiritual practices and common among all ancient and native cultures. A fire ceremony is the most powerfully trans-formative of all rituals. Each fire ceremony offers us the opportunity to use the source of all light to amplify our intentions and oblations. The divine lives in the fire. The ritual feeds and nurtures her. As one teacher puts it "fire is living spirit, not a symbol of God but God herself."

The Fire Ceremony was conducted by:

BEST MAN: MIKE BRUNO,

GROOMSMAN: DHURUBA NYABINGHI

Guaitiao Tribal Name: (TureyCu Ayonbanan (Sacred Sky)) II

TRIBAL FACE PAINTING BY:

Cacike: Jose Tureycu Ayonbanan Lopez

(Chief: Sacred Sky)

and his Liani (wife)

Nytaino: Angie Acuwei Guatunaniche Lopez

(Sub Chief: Sunny Eyes Fire Heart)

THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE BEING FACE PAINTED AND IN PREPARATION

Lisa Macapito Guatunaniche (Forever Tree Fire Heart)

DAUGHTER OF LISA MACAPITO GUATUNANICHE

Flower Girl: Amari Nyabinghi (GUATUNANICHE II)

SIX DIRECTIONS PRAYER CEREMONY INVOKING THE ELEMENTS AND SPIRIT OF OUR TAINO ANCESTORS

CONDUCTED BY:

CACIKE: CHIEF JOSE TUREYCU AYONBANAN LOPEZ

PRAYER EXCERPT OF THE SIX DIRECTIONS CEREMONY

(IN ARAWAK, SPANISH, ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS)

In Taino tradition it is six directions rather than four because we include Heaven and Earth

[HEART/CENTRE – hands on your hearts]

Guamorete-wa oloko Aiomuñ, Amrita-Kwanchi-wa, Anaki-Watinati-wa Hadali, Kachi kena Wiwabe, Keteno-wa, Kotino-wa, Lukuno-ba w’iri. Oloko bunaha-tomacoa, oloko timanale-thomacoa, Karaia maucada-wa, guasika-wa. kwana-wa, andábo-wa Iri-wa-thomakoa fudokoyonochi.

Halikebehi, Halikebehi, Halikebehi, Halikebehi.

Nuestro Creador en el Cielo, Nuestra Madre y el Niño, Nuestro Sol Corazón-Centro, lunas y estrellas,

Nuestros abuelas y abuelos, somos sus nietos.

En todos los caminos, en todos los cruces, manifestando la felicidad, nos limpiamos de nuestros escombros, nos unimos, damos. . . recibimos . . . Nosotros todos somos familia

Alegría, alegría, alegría, alegría.

Our Creator in the Sky, Our Mother and Child, Our Heart-Center the Sun, Moons and Stars, Our Grandmothers and Grandfathers, we are your grandchildren. In all paths, in all crossings, manifesting happiness. We clear away debris within ourselves, we join together, we give . . . we receive . . . We all are family. Joy, joy joy joy.