Puerto Rico was the home for many
tribes of Taíno Indians
when the Spanish first settlers arrived in the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries. Indian tribes as such disappeared within a few
generation due to diseases, mass exterminations and racial
intermingling.
During that period many black people were brought from Africa to be used as slaves
in the first attempts at agriculture and road building.
The racial blends of Spaniards, Africans and Taino Indians provided
the genetic base for the modern Puerto Ricans.
The African influence is most evident around the town of Loiza,
a mostly-black community with ancestry going direct to Africa.
Taino Indian influence is evident in the names of many rivers,
towns, cities and many natural landmarks on the Island. To a much lesser degree, there are also influences from the French,
Dutch, Arabian, Portuguese and many other nationalities.
According to Rev. Sylvia Inaruki Collazo, a group named Jatibonicu Taino Tribal
Nation of Puerto Rico had in the past reaffirmed itself and reorganized
itself under its own Sovereign Tribal Constitution and Tribal Laws back on
November 18th, 1970. Their present tribal territorial jurisdiction covers the
areas of the towns of Orocovis, Barranquitas, Morovis and Aibonito, Puerto
Rico. The aforementioned territory is the original tribal homeland
of the Yucayeque or tribe of Cacique Orocobix. However, the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, approved in 1952, does not provide recognition to any tribal groups.
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