Haiti is a Taino Word

Did You Know: Haiti is one of the ancient Taino names for the island the Spaniards named Hispaniola, which is today spilt between what is now the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Other words include Ayiti, Kiskeia, and Bohio. Haiti is said to mean "Highlands." - UCTP Taino News © 2010

Guaisa

DID YOU KNOW - In his diary written from a vessel moored off the coast of Hispanola, Columbus described the Taino Kasike (chieftains) wearing intricately carved, small sized mask or amulets around their necks. The Taino call these little mask pendants "Guaisa" and often they were inlaid with gold. Some contempoary Taino translate "guaisa" to mean "our face or "our seed". Guaisa could be fashioned out of clay, wood, bone, shell or even stone. - UCTP Taino News © 2008

Quiskeya is a Taino Name

Did You Know: Quisqueya or Kiskeia (Kiskeya) is one of the Taino names for the island of Hispaniola, or what is now the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The name, is said to mean "Mother of the Earth," and is still used to this day. Many Dominicans still refer to their island as La Isla Quisqueya, and refer to themselves as Quisqueyano. – UCTP Taino News (c) 2007

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