The Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Center in Puerto Rico. Photo from Jbermudez / Wikipedia

Educators and lawmakers in Puerto Rico are placing more emphasis on the indigenous roots of their island.

Less than 1 percent of the population considers themselves to be Taino, the primary tribe on the island. But genetic studies have shown that 61 percent of the maternal DNA of Puerto Ricans comes from Indian ancestors.

“If you don’t know your roots, you don’t know yourself,” anthropologist Carlalynne Yarey Melendez, the director of Naguake, an indigenous organization, told the Associated Press.

Naguake provides materials to schools that teach about Taino culture, language, music and food. Lawmakers on the island are considering a bill to extend governmental recognition to the group so it can secure federal funding and expand its efforts.

Puerto Rico sends a non-voting representative to the U.S. Congress. The territory falls under the jurisdiction of the House Subcommittee Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs in the House.

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In Puerto Rico, a push to revive indigenous culture (AP 4/20)

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