10/11/2026
Taino Remberance Day will be celebrated tomorrow Monday, October 12th, at the Washington Park House in Waterbury from 2 pm to 5 pm. Everyone is invited.
The Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center (ACCC) and the Higuayagua Taíno of the Caribbean – Connecticut Chapter announce that the Fourth Annual Connecticut Taíno Remembrance Day, Monday, October 12, 2026 from 2 pm - 5 pm will now take place indoors at Washington Park House, located at 283 Sylvan Avenue, Waterbury, Connecticut, due to forecasted rain starting Sunday, October 11th and ending Monday, October 12th in the morning.
The ceremony was originally planned for an outdoor gathering along the Naugatuck River. Organizers are moving the event indoors to prioritize the safety and comfort of all participants.
The annual commemoration brings together Indigenous community members, descendants, families, friends, and allies to honor the Taíno people, the First Peoples of the Caribbean, and Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas whose communities, ancestral homelands, and traditional ways of life were devastated by European colonization.
“Our ancestors endured colonization, displacement, violence, and generations of attempts to erase our identity. Yet, we were never extinct. We are still here,” said Kasike Rafael “Wakyua” Feliciano-Roman, Chief of the Higuayagua Taíno of the Caribbean Tribal Nation – Connecticut Region. “Taíno Remembrance Day is an opportunity to honor those who came before us, recognize the resilience of our living communities, and affirm our responsibility to preserve and pass on our ancestral traditions, culture, and spiritual practices to future generations.”
Honoring the First Peoples of Mattatuck
As the community gathers in Mattatuck, the Indigenous homeland now known as Waterbury, the ceremony will acknowledge the original stewards of this land and the enduring presence of Connecticut’s Indigenous peoples.
The gathering also recognizes the importance of building relationships among Indigenous communities and strengthening solidarity in the ongoing work of cultural preservation, education, and self-determination.
The organizations extend their gratitude to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Haymarket People's Fund, and CT LEAD for supporting the 2026 Taíno Learning Community Year and helping advance Indigenous cultural education and community engagement.
A Gathering of Remembrance, Resilience, and Cultural Continuity
The Fourth Annual Connecticut Taíno Remembrance Day will feature a series of ceremonial and educational activities, including:
Calling of the Seven Directions: A ceremonial invocation honoring connections to the land, waters, sky, ancestors, and spiritual world. Participants are respectfully asked not to record this sacred ceremony.
Ancestral Remembrance: Honoring Taíno and Indigenous ancestors whose lives, families, communities, and traditions were harmed by colonization.
Stories of Taíno Resistance and Resilience: Sharing the legacies of three influential Taíno leaders from the Caribbean whose courage and resistance continue to inspire Indigenous communities.
Indigenous Solidarity: Recognizing the First Peoples of Connecticut and creating opportunities to strengthen relationships among Indigenous nations, descendants, and community partners.
Although the location has changed, the purpose of the gathering remains the same: to remember the ancestors, honor living Indigenous communities, and celebrate the survival and continuity of Taíno culture.
“Remembrance is more than looking back at history. It is about recognizing the people who are still here, the traditions we continue to carry, and the responsibility we have to future generations,” Feliciano-Roman added. “We invite the community to join us in reflection, learning, solidarity, and cultural pride.”
The event is co-sponsored by the Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center and the Higuayagua Taíno of the Caribbean – Connecticut Chapter. Organizers extend special thanks to John McColl, Supervisor of the City of Waterbury Department of Recreation, for helping make Washington Park House available for this community gathering.
Event Location:
Washington Park House
283 Sylvan Avenue
Waterbury, CT 06706
All are welcome to join this gathering of remembrance, healing, cultural education, and Indigenous pride.
