Founders / Tribal Council
History: Manicato Taíno Cultural Center Inc. and Yukayeke Manicato of Lancaster, Pennsylvania was founded in August 2013 by two families (Ortiz & Torres) on a mission to educate the people, preserve rich cultural history while honoring our Taíno ancestors of the Caribbean.
Manicato means bold and valiant person of a good heart.
SPANISH: El Centro Cultural Taíno Manicato y Yukayeke Manicato de Lancaster, Pennsylvania fue fundado en Agosto de 2013 por dos familias (Ortiz y Torres) con una misión de educar a la gente y conservar la rica historia cultural rica honrando a nuestros ancestros Taínos del Caribe. Manicato significa persona valiente con un buen corazón.
History: Manicato Taíno Cultural Center Inc. and Yukayeke Manicato of Lancaster, Pennsylvania was founded in August 2013 by two families (Ortiz & Torres) on a mission to educate the people, preserve rich cultural history while honoring our Taíno ancestors of the Caribbean.
Manicato means bold and valiant person of a good heart.
SPANISH: El Centro Cultural Taíno Manicato y Yukayeke Manicato de Lancaster, Pennsylvania fue fundado en Agosto de 2013 por dos familias (Ortiz y Torres) con una misión de educar a la gente y conservar la rica historia cultural rica honrando a nuestros ancestros Taínos del Caribe. Manicato significa persona valiente con un buen corazón.
Cacike & Behike Mark "Guatu Iri" Ortiz
President
Born: Lakewood, NJ
Native Homeland: Borikén
Occupation: Retail
Education: Bachelor’s Business Management Science
Interest: Classic Cars, Reading, Going to Movies
My favorite words to live by:
True leadership focuses always on the people’s needs. As a Cacike, my role is to provide nourishment to help people grow. As a Cacike, I should always measure my thoughts, mouth and heart so that whatever comes out will be in the best interest of the people. Total power corrupts totally. A true leader is one that is not driven by their egos.
Decisions should never be made when one is in an emotionally irrational state.
There should be a healthy union of the heart and mind. Never ever give up.
Listen to the advice of our spiritual guides for the consequences are too great when we don’t. Do not speak ill or sit in judgment of others. Through all this is how we can get to the unity we have all been yearning for some time. Seneca Kakona (Many Blessings)
Meaning of Cacike (Kah-SEE-keh): a leader / tribal chief of an indigenous group, derived from the Taíno for the
pre-Columbian tribal chiefs in the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles.
Cacique comes from the Taíno word kassiquan, meaning "to keep house."
Meaning of Behike (Beh-HEE-keh): Spiritual leader and medicine person of the native Taíno group. Among the Taino, the behike or shaman, was usually in charge of curing the ills in the community, thanks to his or her knowledge of medicinal plants and interaction with the spirit-world.
Meaning of: Guatu Iri sounds like 'Gwa Too Ee Ree' which means Firebird.
Native Homeland: Borikén
Occupation: Retail
Education: Bachelor’s Business Management Science
Interest: Classic Cars, Reading, Going to Movies
My favorite words to live by:
True leadership focuses always on the people’s needs. As a Cacike, my role is to provide nourishment to help people grow. As a Cacike, I should always measure my thoughts, mouth and heart so that whatever comes out will be in the best interest of the people. Total power corrupts totally. A true leader is one that is not driven by their egos.
Decisions should never be made when one is in an emotionally irrational state.
There should be a healthy union of the heart and mind. Never ever give up.
Listen to the advice of our spiritual guides for the consequences are too great when we don’t. Do not speak ill or sit in judgment of others. Through all this is how we can get to the unity we have all been yearning for some time. Seneca Kakona (Many Blessings)
Meaning of Cacike (Kah-SEE-keh): a leader / tribal chief of an indigenous group, derived from the Taíno for the
pre-Columbian tribal chiefs in the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles.
Cacique comes from the Taíno word kassiquan, meaning "to keep house."
Meaning of Behike (Beh-HEE-keh): Spiritual leader and medicine person of the native Taíno group. Among the Taino, the behike or shaman, was usually in charge of curing the ills in the community, thanks to his or her knowledge of medicinal plants and interaction with the spirit-world.
Meaning of: Guatu Iri sounds like 'Gwa Too Ee Ree' which means Firebird.
Sub Cacike & Behike in Training Jose "Nicoari" Torres
Born: Lancaster, PA
Native Homeland: Borikén
Occupation: State Government: Department of Human Services
Education: Bachelors Human Development and Family Studies
Interest: Dancing,
Meaning of Cacike (Kah-SEE-keh): a leader / tribal chief of an indigenous group, derived from the Taíno for the pre-Columbian tribal chiefs in the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. Cacique comes from the Taíno word kassiquan, meaning "to keep house."
Meaning of: Nicoari sounds like ‘Nee Koah Ree’ which means valiant, brave spirited.
Meaning of Behike (Beh-HEE-keh): Spiritual leader and medicine person of the native Taíno group. Among the Taino, the behike or shaman, was usually in charge of curing the ills in the community, thanks to his or her knowledge of medicinal plants and interaction with the spirit-world.
Native Homeland: Borikén
Occupation: State Government: Department of Human Services
Education: Bachelors Human Development and Family Studies
Interest: Dancing,
Meaning of Cacike (Kah-SEE-keh): a leader / tribal chief of an indigenous group, derived from the Taíno for the pre-Columbian tribal chiefs in the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. Cacique comes from the Taíno word kassiquan, meaning "to keep house."
Meaning of: Nicoari sounds like ‘Nee Koah Ree’ which means valiant, brave spirited.
Meaning of Behike (Beh-HEE-keh): Spiritual leader and medicine person of the native Taíno group. Among the Taino, the behike or shaman, was usually in charge of curing the ills in the community, thanks to his or her knowledge of medicinal plants and interaction with the spirit-world.
Tekina Rafael "Guamoel" Torres
Secretary
Born: Lancaster, PA
Native Homeland: Borikén
Occupation: State Government: Veterans Employment Representative
Education: Associates Social Science, In Progress
Interest: Puerto Rico History, Music, Nature, Gardening
My favorite words to live by:
"How we dedicate our lives is the appreciation that we’re giving back to the Creator. WEPA!"
Meaning of Tekina (teh-KEY-nah): leader / teacher, Tekina are the leaders of the areyto (celebration) songs for the tribe during ceremonies. Rafael "Guamoel" is the official tribal Council Tekina (Messenger) who conducts cultural presentations in schools, festivals and businesses in the communities and is the officer of public media relations.
Meaning of: Guamoel sounds like 'Gwa Moe Elle' which means voice of the people.
Guatiao John "Ironhorse"
Treasurer
Born: Philadelphia, PA Tribe: Oglala Lakota & Northern Cheyenne
Occupation: Security Specialist - Supervisory
Education: Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Sociology,
Master of Theology
Interest: Crafting, Native Dancing
My favorite words to live by:
"Be the Hollow Bone"
Meaning of Guatiao (sounds like gwa-TEE'-ow) is: exchanging of names and becoming blood brothers. Guatiao forms the building blocks of the society. Guatiao is a social system based on love, valor, respect, and dignity; and not on greed or power-lust. As Guatiaos (brotherhood) become established, they have an already existing set of social bonds and structures in place, which makes for a lesser need for politicking and polemic. Wars, conquest, and territorial skirmishes are excluded.
Treasurer
Born: Philadelphia, PA Tribe: Oglala Lakota & Northern Cheyenne
Occupation: Security Specialist - Supervisory
Education: Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Sociology,
Master of Theology
Interest: Crafting, Native Dancing
My favorite words to live by:
"Be the Hollow Bone"
Meaning of Guatiao (sounds like gwa-TEE'-ow) is: exchanging of names and becoming blood brothers. Guatiao forms the building blocks of the society. Guatiao is a social system based on love, valor, respect, and dignity; and not on greed or power-lust. As Guatiaos (brotherhood) become established, they have an already existing set of social bonds and structures in place, which makes for a lesser need for politicking and polemic. Wars, conquest, and territorial skirmishes are excluded.
Tribal Elder "Itu" Lisa
Board Member
Born: West Chester, PA
Tribe: Munsee Lenape, Cherokee, Powhatan Confederacy
Occupation: Retired
Education: High School
Interest: Beading
My favorite words to live by:
"What is, is."
Meaning of Tribal Elder Itu (sounds like Ee-too): Itu means sister in Taíno within the
Native American community there is an abiding tradition of respect for the importance of family and the honoring of elders. Elders teach younger tribe members about the tribe’s culture and traditional ways of life, and it is through the oral traditions shared by elders that social values and beliefs are preserved. Essentially, elders are libraries of native knowledge, history and tradition.
Board Member
Born: West Chester, PA
Tribe: Munsee Lenape, Cherokee, Powhatan Confederacy
Occupation: Retired
Education: High School
Interest: Beading
My favorite words to live by:
"What is, is."
Meaning of Tribal Elder Itu (sounds like Ee-too): Itu means sister in Taíno within the
Native American community there is an abiding tradition of respect for the importance of family and the honoring of elders. Elders teach younger tribe members about the tribe’s culture and traditional ways of life, and it is through the oral traditions shared by elders that social values and beliefs are preserved. Essentially, elders are libraries of native knowledge, history and tradition.
Behike in Training Itu Julia "Karaya Guali" Garcia
Board Member
Born: Bronx, New York
Native Homeland: Boriken
Occupation: Medical Administration
Education: Herbalist Homeopathic Medicine
Interest: All Things Natural, Organic, Health Related and Environmentally Conscious
My favorite words to live by:
"Be patient. Like storms, the challenges will pass. Know too, that like the sun, your true soul self is constantly radiating." - John Morton
Meaning of Itu (sounds like Ee-too): Itu means sister in Taíno within the
Native American community there is an abiding tradition of respect for the importance of family and the honoring of elders.
Meaning of Behike (Beh-HEE-keh): Spiritual leader and medicine person of the native Taíno group. Among the Taino, the behike or shaman, was usually in charge of curing the ills in the community, thanks to his or her knowledge of medicinal plants and interaction with the spirit-world.
Board Member
Born: Bronx, New York
Native Homeland: Boriken
Occupation: Medical Administration
Education: Herbalist Homeopathic Medicine
Interest: All Things Natural, Organic, Health Related and Environmentally Conscious
My favorite words to live by:
"Be patient. Like storms, the challenges will pass. Know too, that like the sun, your true soul self is constantly radiating." - John Morton
Meaning of Itu (sounds like Ee-too): Itu means sister in Taíno within the
Native American community there is an abiding tradition of respect for the importance of family and the honoring of elders.
Meaning of Behike (Beh-HEE-keh): Spiritual leader and medicine person of the native Taíno group. Among the Taino, the behike or shaman, was usually in charge of curing the ills in the community, thanks to his or her knowledge of medicinal plants and interaction with the spirit-world.
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