Panelists included Dr. Arlene Davila, Syracuse University, Dr. Jorge Duany, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Dr. Miriam Jimenez, Independent Scholar and Dr. Peter Roberts, University of the West Indies at Cave Hill. Dr. Davila who was the session chair, opened the presentations with her paper entitled 'Local/Diasporic Tainos: Towards a Cultural Politics of Memory, Reality, and Imagery'. Dr. Davila's paper, which was by far the best researched, gave an overview of the use of Talno imagery and symbolism among Puerto Ricans within and out of the Island. She also noted that historically, this symbolism has only been promoted in the context of a 'lost heritage" - intent on creating the myth of the harmonious merging of three races in Puerto Rico. Dr. Davila was als0 acknowledged by a Taino in the audience for being the only panel speaker to actually contact and interview Taino People for her paper.

While the academic credentials of the other presenters were impressive, the subject matter explored in their papers seemed to follow the sarne tired theories and stereotypes that contemporary Taino activist have been working so hard to change. These papers included catchy titles like: "Making Indians Out of Blacks - The revitalization of Taino Identitv in Contemporary Puerto Rico," "The Indians are Coming," and "What's in a name, an Indian Name?". These presentations seemed to transmit a hostile, anti-Taino sentiment which was sensed by quite a number of people in the audience.

Although this symposium was probably one of the more emotionally charged that had been presented at El Musen del Barrio, the panel did succeed in highlighting the gap between the perspectives of realltv of the so- called 'Taino' scholars, Taino descendants and the genei al public.

Taino organizations with representatives in attendance included: Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos, Presencia Taina, Maisiti Yucayeke Taino, and Cacibajagua. The event was recorded on video bv War Party Productions.