Honoring the Ancestors Together: BTF Joins Concejo De Los Pueblos Originarios for their Día de los Muertos Ceremony

A gathering of kin, memory, and movement across Indigenous nations

The Borikua Taino Foundation was honored to participate in the ceremonial opening of Concejo De Los Pueblos Originarios' Día de los Muertos celebration at Saint Peter's Church. Ceremonialist Bilqis Benu opened the space with a land acknowledgment and led the community in the Borikua Seven Directions Prayer, grounding participants in shared reverence and Indigenous presence.

Foundation President Brooke Rodriguez was in attendance, along with her family, and joined Bilqis in making offerings at the ancestral altar—a sacred space where prayers, photos, food, and flowers connected generations across time. Together, they took part in a day of cultural exchange and remembrance, witnessing powerful performances from Ballet Folkorico Quetzalcoatl, Calpulli Tletl Papalotzin, and Ti Toro Miko, whose music and movement, and words honored the spirits and stories of the ancestors. Their video below highlights some moments from the event:

While Día de los Muertos is rooted in Indigenous Mexican traditions, its focus on honoring ancestors closely aligns with our own Taíno cultural practices. Both traditions create space to remember our loved ones through offerings, prayer, and ceremony. For the Taíno, ancestral reverence is a key part of spiritual and community life, just as it is in Mesoamerican cultures. These shared practices reflect an Indigenous common understanding of how the past shapes the present and future. Events like this help build stronger connections between Indigenous communities through shared values of respect, memory, and cultural continuity. In a Facebook post, Concejo De Los Pueblos Originarios expressed:

 "We want to thank all the work done by the members of the Council of Original Peoples, Ti Toro Miko and Saint Peter’s church. With the work of their community, we were able to make a traditional and beautiful offering for the Day of the Dead. We know that together we can do so much. We hope to continue our fight together."

A special thank you to Taino Nation of Boriken member Noel Morales for inviting us into this circle of kinship, where our shared ancestral ties, languages, and dreams for all Indigenous nations thrived.

About Concejo De Los Pueblos Originarios

At Concejo De Los Pueblos Originarios, we are dedicated to celebrating indigenous cultures and building a strong community. Our mission is to preserve and promote indigenous languages, ensuring equal access to translation services for all. Through teaching and cultural events, we strive to create a welcoming environment where people from all backgrounds can come together to learn, share, and celebrate the richness of indigenous heritage. Join us in honoring and uplifting indigenous cultures as we work towards a more inclusive and interconnected world.