Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ra Jikotea Niaku’no Ruiz Leon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ra Jikotea Niaku’no, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

All of the projects I work on are meaningful to me, but my most recent one was releasing my first single “Idia Wadi”. It is sung in the Hiwatahia-Taino language. This Indigenous language is part of a language reconstruction and revitalization effort by the Higuayagua Taino tribe, which I am a member of. I am also a member of the language team. The song has received alot of positive feed back from my community so it makes me so happy and grateful to have their support. Speaking our Indigenous languages is so important and it makes me so happy to be making music in my language.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Ra Jikotea Niaku’no Ruiz Leon. I am Taino-Borikua from Boriken (Puerto Rico) and I am a kiwari (queer) vegan. I am a singer, poet, dancer, community organizer, and teaching artist. My work focuses on decolonizing and Indigenizing, to empower ourselves as Indigenous Caribbean people and feel rooted and grounded in our culture and language. I am a member of Higuayagua Taino of the Caribbean and a member of the Hiwatahia-Taino language team. My partner and I live moving between my island (Boriken) and New York City (Lenapehoking). We are very proud of our virtual monthly show “Areito: Taino Voices”. It has been running for two years now, the first weekend of every month. In the show we feature guest speakers from our Taino community and also from the larger Indigenous community. It has been a great way to bond and build with our community.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

All of my work is driven my passion and love for my Taino identity. My work departs from that place of knowing and seeking to empower myself and others in my community as Indigenous people. As a singer, as a poet, a dancer, a teaching artist, and community organizer- I am focused on leading with an Indigenous lens and with Indigenous solutions. My work is driven by my vision of helping to create a better world. A way for us to be better to ourselves, to other humans, to our animal relatives, and better to our mother planet. Everything I do, is grounded in that mission.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part for me is watching your ideas come to life. It’s watching them go from ideas to actual tangible things out in the world that can positively impact others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.raruizleon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raruizleon/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/k5pqqJziG0w

Image Credits
Gladys Yacely Aponte, Anaselies Rodriguez