Caribbean Indigenous Resistance / Resistencia indígena del Caribe ¡Taíno Vive!
Baker Gallery
This exhibition, organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, presents the history and contemporary life of the Taínos, the Indigenous peoples of the northern Caribbean islands. In 1492, the Taíno discovered Christopher Columbus. The encounter set in motion an invasion by Spanish soldiers, priests, and colonists that devastated the Taíno civilization and decimated its population. By the 1550s, colonial officials deemed the Taíno extinct. In reality, the Taíno and their culture resisted, survived, and continue to make an impact around the world today. This exhibition—presented in both English and Spanish, with some texts translated to Hiwatahia, the reconstructed Taíno language—explores the history and contemporary life of the Taíno and reaffirms their culture and identity today. It features stories, contemporary crafts, musical instruments, and utilitarian objects to explore the rich and enduring cultural legacies of the region and the impact of Caribbean Indigenous knowledge throughout the world. It investigates complicated questions around heritage, ancestry, and race that emerge from Taíno identities today.
More about this exhibition
Caribbean Indigenous Resistance / Resistencia indígena del Caribe ¡Taíno Vive! is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of the American Latino.
This exhibition received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the National Museum of the American Latino.
The exhibition is co-presented by the Mattatuck Museum and the Afro Caribbean Cultural Center. The Mattatuck thanks the Yale Peabody Museum and cultural consultants Stephanie Bailey (Indigenous Caribbean descent from Boriken) and Sanakori (Taíno from Boriken) for lending additional expertise and objects to our presentation.
Upcoming Programs: Taíno Vive!
Continue your exploration of Caribbean Indigenous Resistance / Resistencia indígena del Caribe ¡Taíno Vive! with upcoming programs at the Mattatuck Museum. Through conversation, artmaking, storytelling, and scholarship, these programs offer opportunities to learn more about Taíno culture and identity. Register on mattmuseum.org/calendar
Cocktails & Conversations: Caribbean Indigenous Resistance / Resistencia indígena del Caribe ¡Taíno Vive!
September 17 | 5:30–7 PM
$15 Adult | $10 Sober Adult | $10 Members
Join Michelle Bangash, Valerie Vargas, and Kasike Atunwa Jorge Baracutay Estevez of Higuayagua Taíno of the Caribbean for a conversation about contemporary Taíno life and cultural revitalization. The discussion will explore the reconstruction and revitalization of the Taíno language, women’s tribal roles within the yukayeke, and the importance of incorporating Taíno perspectives into the teaching of Caribbean history.
Cemi/Semi Sculpture Workshop with Kasike Atunwa Jorge Baracutay Estevez
September 19 | 3–4:30 PM
Free
Celebrate Taíno culture through hands-on artmaking. Kasike Atunwa Jorge Baracutay Estevez of the Higuayagua Tribe, a skilled storyteller and historical researcher, will demonstrate Chicoide-style art before inviting participants to create their own work inspired by Taíno traditions.
This family-friendly workshop is presented with support from Art Bridges.
Kids Art Workshop: Taíno Symbols & Myths
September 26 | 12–1 PM
Free
Young artists will discover the fascinating world of the Taíno people through storytelling, art, and creativity. Led by Kasike Wakyua Rafael Feliciano-Roman, Executive Director of the Afro Caribbean Cultural Center, participants will learn about Taíno myths, symbols, and the meaning behind ancient petroglyphs before creating their own Taíno-inspired artwork to take home.
Intermediate Art Workshop: Taíno Symbols & Indigenous Identity
September 26 | 2–3:30 PM
Free
Explore the history, artistry, and cultural significance of Indigenous Caribbean symbols in this mixed-media workshop led by Kasike Wakyua Rafael Feliciano-Roman. Participants will examine how Taíno and other Indigenous symbols communicate identity, spirituality, community, and connections to the natural world before creating layered artwork inspired by traditional iconography.
Annual Julia Q. Keggi Lecture: Island Display: Documenting Material Legacies of Museum Collecting in and Curation of Puerto Rico
September 27 | 1–2 PM
$10 Non-Members | $5 Members
Every object on display in a museum has a hidden history: how it was collected, why it was chosen, and who decided how its story should be told. Join Dr. Guzmán of Trinity College for this year’s Julia Q. Keggi Lecture exploring the choices and practices behind museum displays and the history of collecting and exhibiting Puerto Rican art and artifacts in North American museums.
Light bites provided.
Experience Taíno Vive!
Caribbean Indigenous Resistance / Resistencia indígena del Caribe ¡Taíno Vive! is on view at the Mattatuck Museum through October 4, 2026. Explore the exhibition and join us for these upcoming programs as we consider Indigenous history, cultural identity, artistic traditions, and the continuing presence of Taíno culture in the Caribbean and beyond.
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