Exploring the Complexities of Taino Recognition and Governance
In our recent town hall meeting, we had the honor of hosting Denise Bright Dove Ashton-Dunkley, a Master Artisan and dedicated educator from the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation. Denise shared her deep insights on environmental activism, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) awareness, and her journey as a student in Indigenous Peoples’ Law at the University of Oklahoma.
Brooke and Priscilla led a conversation on the importance of building an enrollment system to support our efforts to re-indigenize and gain recognition for our people on the island. Central to this effort is the need to trace our community’s history over time and to reinstate governance systems that reflect the matrilineal traditions of our ancestors. They also highlighted the complexities of gaining official recognition, cautioning against the potential pitfalls of government oversight and the exploitation of resources. The discussion touched on the United States’ intentional creation of a "gray space" for Puerto Rico, which has led to a loss of connectivity with the land and challenges tied to urbanization and paper genocide.
Denise explained how some corporations masquerade as indigenous nations to take advantage of recognition protocols, exploiting the process for their own gain. She also discussed the limitations of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) recognition, urging caution in approaching federal recognition, as it may come with excessive oversight and could force Indigenous communities into a subordinate relationship with the settler state. The conversation also turned to Puerto Rico’s strategic importance to the U.S., both militarily and economically, with the island viewed as a valuable source of raw materials. Denise further noted that, while the U.S. system of recognizing native peoples is far from perfect, it is one that can be leveraged and improved, especially since many other global powers ignore or deny native rights altogether.
Lastly, we explored the importance of accessing historical records and treaties as a means of reclaiming land through rematriation. We proposed raising funds to send a delegation to Spain to recover colonial records, inspired by a recent Lenape effort in Norway. This initiative would allow us to better understand our past and advocate for our rights in the present.
Denise is a Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape master artisan and environmental activist. She educates others on Nanticoke culture and is pursuing her Masters in Indigenous Peoples’ Law at the University of Oklahoma.
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