Kakata is Taino

Caribbean tarantula or kakata found in Borikén (Puerto Rico). Photo by Alfredo Colon

Did You Know: Caribbean tarantulas are found throughout the Caribbean islands and are a part of the 'New World" tarantula group. The indigenous Taino word for tarantula is kakata (cacata). The bite of a kakata is not fatal to humans even though it does posses venom. Kakata have defensive, urticating hairs, which cause itching and discomfort when harassed. The male kakata can usually be seen in the open, as they often are in search of mates. Females are also visible, but tend to stay near their homes. Some kakata are burrowing while others construct nest made of webs in trees. In the Taíno language, word kakata means to "mix" as with the hands, which brings to mind the movement of this large and hairy arachnid. - UCTP Taino News © 2014

Hibá is Taino

Did You Know:  The Hibá (Jibá), Erythroxylon havanense, is a flowering shrub found in Kuba and other islands of the Caribbean. This plant retains its indigenous Taino name, Hibá, and according to local healing traditions, the stems and leaves are good for the kidney and liver disorders. A concoction made from hibá roots is said to be a powerful diuretic. – UCTP Taino News © 2014

Hikí is Taino

Did You Know: The Hikí (jiquí, jigi, jequí), Pera bumeliaefolia; P. bumeliifolia, is a tree endemic to some Caribbean islands and known for its hard wood and moisture resistance. The tree retains it Taino name, Hikí, which sounds like “hee-kEE.” Archeologists in Kuba have found ancient Taino artifacts such as sculptures and axe handles made of this wood. According to local healing traditions, the astringent quality of this tree’s bark can be used to treat certain skin conditions. – UCTP Taino News © 2014

Cashews and Taino People

Did You Know: The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) is said to have originated in northeast Brazil, however, it is widely distributed through tropical South and Central America and the Caribbean. In Borikén (Puerto Rico) and Kiskeia (Dominican Republic), what are understood to be Taino words for cashew are still used today, incorporated in the local Spanish language including kahuil (prounounced kah-hoo-eel), pahuil (pajuil), and pauhil. An additional, more rarely used term for cashew in Borikén is pahui (pajuy/pah-hoo-ee). All these terms seem to be related linguistically to the term for cashew used in indigenous Tupian languages - acajú - said to mean “nut that produces itself.” The cashew tree is large and evergreen, growing to 10-12m (32 ft) tall. It produces a type of fruit (known in English as ‘cashew apple’ or ‘marañón’ in Spanish), which is edible, and has a strong "sweet" smell and a sweet taste. The cashew nut is really a seed and a good source of antioxidants, but it needs to be roasted or steamed as it contains urushiol, a resin that can cause skin rashes, and can be toxic when ingested. Urushiol is also present in the tree's leaves. Traditional medicinal uses of the cashew tree include grinding the seeds into a poultice for treating snakebites, and the use of the fruit, bark, and leaves for many other purposes including anti-fungal activity, for sores and rashes, or as an antipyretic, and for antidiarrheal applications. – UCTP Taino News © 2014 

Semí is Taíno

Did You Know: In Taíno culture, a semí (cemi, zemi) is a deity, an ancestral spirit, or a spiritual manifestation representing a specific aspect of or an element of nature. Pronounced seh-mee, the word can also refer to a sacred physical icon that represents a spirit or deity, which traditionally can be presented in wood, bone, shell, clay, cotton, beadwork, or stone. Some academics have promoted the word as 'zemi,' however; this is a corrupted version of the Taíno word based on the imposition of the Spanish language. In the related Lokono Arawak language the word “semee” is associated to the concept of sweetness while “semechichi” refers to a community healer. Similar versions of the word/concept semí also appear in other neighboring and related languages. In the eyeri/igneri/ieri language, for instance, the equivalent word is 'chemín' while in the insular carib or Kalinago language we find 'chemíjn,' sometimes written as 'semígn.' – UCTP Taino News © 2014

Kokuio (Cocuyo) is Taino

DID YOU KNOW: The word kokuio (cocuyo) is a Taino word for firefly, an insect in the Lampyridae family of the beetle order Coleoptera.  These beetles are special in that most of them have the ability to produce light called bioluminescence. In English, they are sometimes called 'lightning bugs' or 'forest stars'. There are about 2000 different species, most of which are nocturnal. Adults use flashes of light to attract mates. Also, firefly larvae flash their lights to warn predators that they are not a tasty meal. Many predators do not like the taste of firefly larvae. It is said that, traditionally, when Taino people would capture fireflies they would use a torch and call out “kokuio, kokuio!” After the koukio were captured, they were released inside the home of a Taino. The kokuio is a natural predator of mosquitos, which is very helpful in the Caribbean. Kokuio were also sometimes used inside homes as lanterns to assist when individuals were weaving and engaging in other activities in the home at night. Sometimes, mischievous Taino children were known to smear ground kokuio paste on their faces to scare their peers. On the island of Borikén, along with the word kokuio, the Taino word kukubano is also used to describe fireflies. – UCTP Taino News © 2014