My Indigeneity Is Political: Why I Chose to Leave My Tribe
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It's taken me months to finally face this truth and get it off my chest. I owe it to my people—the Taino who have come to trust me over the years as Behique: medicine woman, protector, advisor to our Indigenous communities in Cuba, Boriken (Puerto Rico), the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and those of us in the U.S., my tribe—well, my former tribe now.
A couple months ago, I made the decision to step down as Behique and leave the Higuayagua Taino tribe. It wasn't easy. It took long sleepless nights, tears, grief, and a level of reflection I can't even fully describe. All of it came from Spirit. Of honoring what my Ancestors ask of me.
My Indigeneity is political.
There is no way to reclaim language, land, or identity without politics. There's no resisting the genocide and colonization of our people or others without it. To live as an Indigenous person, to speak our names, to keep our culture alive—these are political acts of defiance and survival. Our very existence is political. We are walking resistance. We breathe reclamation. We stand in direct opposition to oppressors, white supremacists, colonizers, and all the lies told about our history.
So when I took a public stand for Palestine back in 2023, when I called out the genocide happening under Israeli occupation—I was met with excuses, resistance, rejection. Leadership told me our tribe couldn't take a political stance. Let me be clear: this came straight from my elders, my Cacike (chief), and others at the top.
But neutrality during genocide isn't neutrality. It's complicity.
You can’t claim Indigeneity and keep silent while Indigenous people around the world are slaughtered. That's not integrity. It's definitely not alignment with our Ancestors. It's not liberation. It's flat-out failing our assignment as Indigenous people.
I tried hard to create space for real conversation, to push for solidarity, to even start an activism branch in the tribe. Every effort came with restrictions and half-assed support.
I kept going and doubled down on supporting Palestine, focusing on community outside my tribe. That’s when the messages started coming in from members, worried about the lack of support for Palestine, and about other shit happening behind the scenes.
I'm not even going to unpack everything the tribe is getting called out for. But I will say this… When someone is given a sacred position, like mine was, it requires ceremony. The Ancestors call that person into responsibility for our people, and elders in other sacred positions come into council—not just one person calling all the shots. Lately, these positions were being handed out without any ceremony or council.
There’s one appointment, in particular, that members of the tribe are against and that pissed off the Taino in Boriken (Puerto Rico). Someone made Cacike (chief) who’s now under fire for charging Indigenous people to learn about and visit their ancestral sights. Exploiting and profiting like that spits in the face of what we’re supposed to be about—reclaiming, unlearning, reconnecting. These sites are part of the Indigenous people (connected or those trying to reconnect) so packaging and selling excursions for your own gain is just wrong.
Plenty of members went to our elders, asking them to stop this, and in return got nothing but resistance and aggression. Some elders even called them liars and manipulators, going so far as to claim actual text messages were faked with AI.
That was it. That was the last wound. One I just couldn't stomach.
I will not stand by while members I am meant to care for, nourish, and spiritually advise are being treated this way. Harassment, threats, and even legal action have been taken against them. Full STOP. I do not stand by this. I do not support this. And I will not ignore it either.
I will not be silenced. I will not separate my spiritual path from the political reality of our existence because they are not separate. They never have been.
So I left. I stepped down.
I was also met with—let’s just say—an unpleasant reaction to my departure and my reasons why. I’ve pulled my children out of the tribe, and I will no longer direct non-tribal Taino folks to them. A big reason I’m announcing this publicly is because many of you joined the tribe because you trusted me. I cannot, in good faith, stay silent. I need you to know: I am no longer part of the tribe.
I tried to speak with them when I made the decision. I wanted them to see that what they’re allowing is wrong. But they see nothing wrong with profiting off our birthrights. They even claim to be pro-Palestinian and say they’ve been supportive—no, you have not. Do not even try me. I have receipts.
The way they treated other members? Huge red flag. That is not being in good relation with your people. When your people raise concerns, you’re supposed to listen and hold space for real conversation, not push back just because your authority is being challenged. A tribe is not a hierarchy. We are a community. A family.
At this point, I have zero fucks to give about the outcome of my decision. I will sleep well at night. I will be in right relation with my Ancestors and my Taino relatives. My position as Behike is still mine. No one can take that from me. It is my assignment to my people (tribal or not). My magic, my gifts cannot be taken because I refuse to be part of a tribe. Spirit lives and breathes in each of us. What divinity has blessed you with is yours. No man can undo that.
Not being in a tribe does not make me any less Indigenous. Does not make me any less Taino. Does not make me any less of a healer.
And let’s be clear: my gifts as a healer are not solitary, they come with the gift of a warrior. I believe that healers today—true healers, in integrity and right relation are warriors too. This reality we’re living in demands resistance. This is not just a physical war—it’s spiritual. And if you think staying silent, people-pleasing, or avoiding resistance is okay, you are not in right relation with Spirit. Period.
Those who claim to be healers, brujas, witches… while staying silent? Performative. Complicit.
This is not the time to play small. Do you not see the giants of evil coming for us? Do you not see where the world is headed?
We need to rise up and stand in truth. We need to be in right relation with each other. We need to show up. We need to stop being scared. How dare we shrink while these forces try to destroy everything generations before us fought and sacrificed to preserve?
From this point forward, I will not be careful with my words. I will not hold back, even if it makes you uncomfortable. I will not sugarcoat anything. We are in dire circumstances, and it is our responsibility to honor those who came before us and protect those who will come after. We are not the end. And we will not be the ones who let it all go to shit. We must do what needs to be done. We must give it our all.
We do have power. And to believe otherwise is bullshit. You are victims to the lies created so you can believe that.
Look to other countries, other people, and generations—how they stand together in good relation, in resistance, against the very forces trying to divide, harm, and destroy.
I have a lot to say. And I won’t say it all now. But I will say it. Expect more from me in the coming days and weeks. I’ll write and speak until Spirit says otherwise.
No one is in charge of me but Great Spirit. My Ancestors are my guides, and nothing can take that from me.
The old Juliet is dead. The Juliet that allowed people to take her gifts and kindness for granted is GONE. She’s been gone for a while. Her heart shattered the moment she witness the very people in her community (online and off) stay silent, ghost her, talk shit about her, and take opportunities away because she stood on the side of humanity. FUCK YALL!
If you’ve been with me long enough, you know the shit I’ve endured for standing in integrity. And it’ll only get worse from here because that’s how evil works. That’s how these systems work. They will cut you off, silence you, do whatever they can to keep you quiet—both in the physical world and spiritual. But this tongue of mine? It was gifted to me by Ancestors who fought to keep our people alive. I will not bite it. I will not bleed out for anyone. Not for their comfort. Not for their agenda.
I have an unwavering commitment to justice—for my people, and for all people who suffer under the violence of colonialism, oppression, and occupation.
I am Indigenous. And my existence will always be political.
Juliet
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This situation is similar to one I and others experienced in a kalpulli. There were calls for community discussion, but “protocol” and hierarchy called for individual conversations to be had with the jefa of the community, one on one, never in larger groups.
Big red flag. Certain concerns were brought about by multiple folks and they were ostracized. when I brought up concerns and stood in solidarity with those who were ostracized, I too was attacked and made out to be a “bad” person. I made sure to keep things in writing, but what hurt the most was other members just, accepted my absence. No one asked if I was okay, what happened, nothing. When shit was hitting the fan with the first to leave, I made sure to reach out to the people involved, I didn’t want to take things at face value. And they were right.
Complacency in these situations brings reward, which means they are allowing you to be a part of the community. ONLY if you do what they say. If you deviate, you’re OUT 🥾
I don’t blame those who decided to stay. They have their own reasons, and some have dedicated so much time and energy to this “community” that I understand how hard it can be to leave.
It’s also hard when you’re looking for guidance and mentorship for reclaiming your indigenous medicine, but being in a place where elders are few, some stay in toxic communities because they feel like they don’t have other paths to learn. Sad all around
🖤❤️🔥 thank you for sharing so transparently and for shining a bright example of doing what you know is right in your Spirit in the face of loss, evil, and retaliation