Although a few Taino people were extended last minute invitations to the conference, these invitations unfortunately proved only to be a form of tokenism. In an article which appeared in the San Juan Star three days before the event, Cheile Zarate Vargas, public relations coordinator of the CISA declared, "...in Puerto Rico, there are not indigenous people any longer." Mr. Ramon Nenadich, CISA Director, supported Ms. Vargas' statement, continuously relating this same position to the visiting Indigenous delegates.

noted "the fact that Taino participation throughout this conference was so isolated and obviously manipulated by the organizers, is unfortunately representative of the discrimination, oppression and intolerance still perpetuated against contemporary Taino descendants in Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean."

Local Taino representatives, like Nanki Reyes Ocasio were especially concerned that native people could come from other lands and perform spiritual ceremomes without consulting with the island's Indigenous residents.

Despite the local concerns, and displaying the commitment of the Taino community to the solidarity of Indigenous Peoples, positive dialogue and interaction did occur between the visiting Indigenous delegates and the representatives of the General Council of Tainos Borincanos.

As lessons can be learned from every situation, this conference revealed not only the importance of Indigenous Peoples being directly involved in the organization of all activities which concern them but the urgent need for a new dialogue to begin between the native people of Puerto Rico and the present academic establishment.