Support Jibaros
In 2017, Puerto Rico was hit by two hurricanes back to back. Hurricane Irma was strong enough to take down power in most the island while flooding roads and homes. Shortly after, Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc and blew off every last leaf from all of trees on the island. 100% of the power was gone in Puerto Rico, fallen trees blocked access to rural areas, and access to clean drinking water was scarce. The people of Puerto Rico were scrambling to support each other with what little resources they had on hand, and nearly 3,000 people lost their lives.
El Yunque BEFORE Hurricane Maria
El Yunque AFTER Hurricane Maria
NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin
Hurricane Maria quickly exposed the painful reality of Puerto Rico’s economic crisis. Nearly 90% of the food in Puerto Rico is imported.
The small, but growing, agricultural industry in Puerto Rico is nowhere near enough to feed the entire island. And after a powerful storm swept the island and devastated all of Puerto Rico’s crops, there was nothing but faith and prayers to keep the people going.
Hurricane Maria was a harsh awakening that Puerto Rico was almost entirely dependable on others to feed its people. This realization has resulted in an increase in farms and a self sufficient movement all across the island. It was clear that the only way to ensure that Puerto Rico didn’t find itself in the same position was to educate its people on cultivation, rain water collecting, how to build storm proof homes, and other self sustainable practices.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin
When the hurricanes devastated the island, I was frantically calling my family and friends. Scared by the never ending dial tone. Will they pick up? Are they okay?
Once the airport was open again, I flew to Puerto Rico with my mom to visit our family and friends. I’ll never forget the heart wrenching feeling looking out of the airplane at the sea of blue tarps covering homes, and the rubble. We sat with our friends as they retold the story of the scariest moment in their lives. They shared how they had to trek miles to the mountain side to drink whatever water was sliding down. How they felt the ground give and the house slide under their feet.
Nuestros Amigos en Utuado ,PR
I left Borikén heart broken but grateful. Grateful they lived to share their story. Grateful that mi gente refuse give up.
My “Support Jibaros” initiative was made as a way to support my people while living in Florida. 10% of the profits from my sales goes to supporting Jibaros, Puerto Rican farmers, that are rebuilding and educating our communities using ancestral practices. A portion also goes to Taino yukayekes (tribes) that are reclaiming and teaching our ways.
There is a very popular misconception that Tainos were completely wiped away by Columbus and are now “extinct”. While Columbus did reduce the number of our ancestors drastically, our people survived and our practices were preserved. There are multiple yukayekes that are working hard to teach our ways to reconnecting tainos. Donating a portion of the profits from to Taino communities, helps them continue to offer free education, put together ceremonies for the community, and most importantly, helps us BUY BACK OUR LAND. To lift Boriken (Puerto Rico), we need to go back to our roots. By supporting our farmers and Tainos, we can make Puerto Rico self sufficient by leveraging our ancestral ways to reconnect with the land and rebuild our communities.
Thank you, Jajom, y gracias for your support always 💚