The goal is show the story of a people whom traditional scholarship once labeled as “extinct.”
Now, the Yale Peabody Museum’s newest temporary gallery to run from Dec. 13 through June 21, 2026, will tell the rich story of the Taíno, the Indigenous people of Puerto Rico, Haiti, Jamaica, and other ancestral homes throughout the Caribbean.
The exhibition delves into the Taíno people’s cultural legacy through stories, contemporary crafts, musical instruments, and everyday objects from both the Smithsonian and the Peabody’s collection.
Desiree Vargas of the Higuayagua Tribe (Taino people of the Caribbean) attends the the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Schemitzun – or Feast of Green Corn and Dance – a public event wherein tribe members give thanks and honor to the Creator for the yields of the harvest. (Douglas Hook / Hartford Courant)
Entitled the “Caribbean Indigenous Resistance / Resistencia indígena del Caribe ¡Taíno Vive!,” the exhibit was created by the Smithsonian Institution.
“Taíno culture has roots in Puerto Rico, Haiti, Jamaica, and other ancestral homes throughout the Caribbean. The culture is also strongly represented in New Haven and across Connecticut,” said Interim Director Erika Edwards.
“The Yale Peabody Museum is delighted to work alongside Taíno cultural practitioners to help share the history of this community.”
Admission to the Peabody is now always free.
The bilingual exhibition brings to life the story of a people whom traditional scholarship had labeled as “extinct,” disproving that narrative through examining the history of resistance and survival in the Caribbean, and the current Taíno movement in the United States, according to museum officials.
“By centering the work of cultural practitioners who examine the history of the islands and the impact of Caribbean Indigenous knowledge throughout the world, we hope to help them convey the story of legacy and endurance,” said Kailen Rogers, associate director of exhibitions.
“This community-centered approach will inform how we work with partners moving forward, especially when sharing stories of cultural heritage.”
Members of AraYeke Yukayek, a New York based Caribbean Indigenous Taíno community, Luis Sanakori Ramos, behique or medicine person, and Stephanie Bailey, archeologist and Tribal Chief, curated a list of Peabody collection items to be displayed alongside the Smithsonian’s offerings, and wrote label text for the exhibition.
“As a Caribbean Indigenous person and emerging archaeologist, working with the Yale Peabody Museum on my first exhibition has been the opportunity of a lifetime—one that allowed me to bring together my passions for archaeology and culture in a shared space that amplifies Caribbean Indigenous voices,” Bailey said in a statement.
Carlos Torre, a professor at Southern Connecticut State University, worked with students from New Haven’s Sound School to create a conuco garden, an important aspect of Taíno heritage and culture, a museum official said.
“By working directly with a team of collaborators who are themselves Taíno cultural practitioners, the Peabody is better able to understand and meet the desires of the community for the exhibition,” said Charlie Catacalos, interpretation manager.
Visitors will learn about the Caribbean Indigenous survival journey through stories, contemporary crafts, musical instruments, and both ceremonial and everyday objects. The exhibition will include video storytelling and more than 60 striking images and graphics, a museum official said.
The Peabody has been developing additional content with collaborators and members of the Taíno community.
This includes: Historical materials from the Peabody collections, including religious materials, household items, and other objects that illustrate the Taíno community’s rich cultural life.
Rafael Feliciano-Roman, president and CEO of Connecticut’s Afro Caribbean Cultural Center, said the exhibit is a chance to “deeply engage” the Puerto Rican and Caribbean communities.
Roman said he’s “excited” to engage with people at the exhibit and tell stories.