User:Reyessasamu

RUBEN REYES is an entrepreneur in Los Angeles, California, born in the city of Tela, Atlantida, Honduras. At the age of 9 his parents relocated to the Garifuna community of El Triunfo de La Cruz. Ruben later developed interest in learning the Garifuna language and culture. He then became a Garifuna activist. At the age 14 Ruben became very active in the church leadership (Iglesia San José). He later served 3 years in the First Artillery Battalion in Zambrano, he held the rank of sergeant. He was decorated best soldier by then Honduran President Policarpo Paz Garcia. He attended the parachuting School in Támara, Honduras, where he became the first Garifuna/afro descendent to graduate parachute from the First Artillery Battallion. Ruben Reyes was born with a natural ability to draw. He won several drawing and painting contests, in college and in the military. 1981 Graduated as public accountant in Instituto Triunfo de la Cruz, in Tela, Honduras. 1982-1984 Migrated to New York, he became (Patronato) president of El Triunfo New York, and was leader of the Garifuna soccer team (San José). He managed to send band instruments to the school (Esteban Guardiola) in El Triunfo De La Cruz, Honduras. 1984-1985 took over a music radio program from Carlos Co and founded "Clamor Garifuna" (Lamumehan Garifuna) a social Radio program in Radio Impacto, Tela, Honduras, bringing the social issues in the Garifuna language to the air for the first time in the region. Became the vice-president of OFRANEH (Fraternal Organization of Blacks in Honduras) branch of Triunfo de la Cruz. Translated the Honduras National Anthem into the Garifuna language. Was elected president of SONHOCA (Society of Black Honduran in California)

He was a pupil of Dr. Jorge Bernardez and became very fluent and knowledgeable in reading and writting in Garifuna.

He worked for 21 years on a trilingual dictionary which was published in www.amazon.com in 2012.

www.Garifunainstitute.com has the content of the Ruben's trilingual dictionary available for free to all. An app for iPhone and Android also has the trilingual Garifuna, English, Spanish dictionary available for the portable devices.

Ruben also participated in coordinating and was a keynote speaker in the three-day seminar “El Garifuna de frente al Siglo XXI”, in Trujillo, Honduras in 1996.

He researched information regarding Garifuna National hero Juan Francisco Bulnez (Walumugu) and hired the Garifuna artist German Alvarez from San Juan, Tela, Honduras to draw a spoken image of the hero.

In 1998, he spearheaded a relief effort from Los Angeles to Honduras after hurricane Mitch.

He designed a Garifuna Flag Coat of Arms for the Garifuna Nation in 2001.

Ruben Reyes researched his family ancestry tree which he expanded to 4,500 people, that includes Garinagu from Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and the United States. Today, many people call or write to Ruben Reyes to obtain information about their ancestry. His work has become the largest Garifuna Family Tree to date.

He became a Certified trilingual (Garifuna, English and Spanish) interpreter to immigration court in Los Angeles County.

Between 2004 and 2005, he co-founded “Wáfadaha Úwara”  (Let’s cooperate together) in Los Angeles and in Honduras. The organization installed the first Internet Café in the Garifuna community of El Triunfo de la Cruz providing employment for 4 residents during 12 months. The venture gave inspiration to the members of the community to trust in the Garifuna own businesses.

The Blazer Center and Ruben managed to ship 15 computers to 7 Garifuna communities in Honduras. Ruben also invented his own version of the Garifuna Clock, using the way Garinagu relate to time prior to the mechanical clock.

He also led the shipping of an Ambulance to the Garifuna hospital “Luagu Hátuadi Waduheñu” in Ciriboya, Honduras.

In 2008 Ruben founded The Garifuna Museum of Los Angeles (www.garifunamuseum.com). He later transfered the management to Garifuna Hope Foundation, Inc. which he presides. The museum was expanded to two additional sections in 2009 including an art exhibit an a library.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKING:

GAHFU’s Garifuna Language and History class presentation in Cal State Northridge.

2012 at Dartmouth College - Garifuna History and Language.

1213, Virginia State University,

A&M Texas University,

Pfizer College,

Michigan State University - Garifuna Language and History.

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Cal State LA, Los Angeles, CA

Garifuna Houngua Foundation, Inc., Seattle, WA

Since 1995, Mr. Reyes through his plumbing company “Cal Plumbing” has employed and trained over 15 young men, including Garinagu in Southern California.

He taught the Garifuna Culture & Language Class in Los Angeles as a joint venture with GAHFU (Garifuna American Heritage Foundation, Inc., The Blazer Learning Center, and The Garifuna Hope Foundation, Inc. for over 5 years.

Lead actor and co-produced, co-directed the  film "Garifuna In Peril" with Ali Allie. (www.garifunainperil.com)

Hosts “The Sásamu Show”, an online television show, produced by GariTv.com

NOTORIOUS TRANSLATIONS:

Ruben Reyes translated the following National anthems from Spanish or English to the Garifuna languague:

Honduras National Anthem

Guatemala National Anthem

U.S. National Anthem

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines National Anthem

Over 20 popular songs from the Spanish of English languages to Garifuna.

Ruben Reyes is the prime organizer of the Garifuna Nation organization, by making a call to leaders of organizations from Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the United States, to come together to form an Indigenous Nation to represent and advocate for all Garinagu (plural for Garifuna) wherever they may reside.

Ruben Reyes is regarded as an authority in the Garifuna language, an inspiration to the youth, and respected by the scholars due to his extensive experience and knowledge of the Garifuna language.

Currently expanding the teaching of the Garifuna language by supporting the Pablo Lambey Garifuna language Class taught by his cousin Roy Cayetano in Dangriga, Belize and organized by his student Emilio Thomas. Preparing teachers of the Garifuna language in Seattle, Washisngton. Ruben also provides Garifuna language material and identity guidance to the "Barauda Elementary Scholl" in his hometown, Triunfo de la Cruz, Honduras.

LEREMUNA GARIFUNA (Garifuna National Anthem/ Himno Nacional Garifuna)

Version: Lita Ariran, 1995 Author: Adriana (Adí) Sanchez, 1930, Lívingston, Guatemala

Presented by / Presentado por: Ruben Reyes

FURUMIENTI LAGUAHA (I) An Yurumeingienru nege Wayuna An Yurumeingienru nege Wayuna An Yurumeingienru nege Wayuna, Waruweite, An ragübei benehene wabu An ragübei benehene wabu Wáluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi

LIBIAMAN LAGUAHA (II) An liyumoun churunruti duna An liyumoun churunruti duna An liyumoun churunruti duna, Waruéite, An liyumoun churunruti duna, Ñeinba bagüra bügüra wabu, An ñeinba bagüra bügüra wabu, Waluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi.

FURUMIENTI LÓUNABAHA (CHORUS I) An Yurumein nege buga wageirabei Bugarügü hamutiwa Harutiun ñeingien An Yurumein nege buga wageirabei Bugarügü hamutiwa Harutiun ñeingien

LIBIAMA LÓUNABAHA (CHORUS II) An ligía gu wayabinbei fayafayahañadügü Lenchu Waluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi An ligía gu wayabinbei fayafayahañadügü Lenchu Waluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi

(BIS) An Yurumein nege buga wageirabei…

ÁSÜGÜRAGÜDÜNI (Translation/Traducción) FURUMIENTI LAGUAHA (I) An Yurumeingienru nege Wayuna An Yurumeingienru nege Wayuna An Yurumeingienru nege Wayuna, Waruweite, An ragübei benehene wabu An ragübei benehene wabu Wáluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi

Our Great-grandparents came from Yurumein (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) (2) Our leaders, Our Great-grandparents came from Yurumein You also grab on to the paddle with us, (2) We are seeking for our Garifuna people.

Nuestros bisabuelos vinieron de Yurumein, Oh, Líderes, nuestros bisabuelos vinieron de Yurumein, Tomen también sus remos con nosotros, (2) Estamos buscando a nuestros hermanos Garinagu.

LIBIAMAN LAGUAHA (II) An liyumoun churunruti duna An liyumoun churunruti duna An liyumoun churunruti duna, Waruéite, An liyumoun churunruti duna, Ñeinba bagüra bügüra wabu, An ñeinba bagüra bügüra wabu, Waluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi.

At the mouth of the river (2)				A la boca del rio, Leaders, At the mouth of the river,			Oh, Líderes. A la boca del rio, At the mouth of the river,				A la boca del rio, There, you will set your hammock with us,		Allí, amarraras hamaca junto a nosotros, Yes. There, you will set your hammock with us,	Sí. Allí amarraras hamaca junto a nosotros, We are seeking for our Garifuna people. Estamos buscando a nuestros hermanos Garinagu.

FURUMIENTI LÓUNABAHA (CHORUS I) An Yurumein nege buga wageirabei Bugarügü hamutiwa Harutiun ñeingien An Yurumein nege buga wageirabei Bugarügü hamutiwa Harutiun ñeingien

Yurumein was our state land. The white men cast us from there. Yurumein was our state land. The white men cast us from there.

Yurumein era nuestro estado nación. El hombre blanco nos exilió de allí. Yurumein era nuestro estado nación. El hombre blanco nos exilió de allí.

LIBIAMA LÓUNABAHA (CHORUS II) An ligía gu wayabinbei fayafayahañadügü Lenchu Waluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi An ligía gu wayabinbei fayafayahañadügü Lenchu Waluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi

Lorenzo, that is why we came floating and drifting seeking to find Garinagu like us. Lorenzo, that is why we came floating and drifting seeking to find Garingu like us.

Lorenzo, por eso venimos flotando a la deriva, en busca de nuestros hermanos Garinagu. Lorenzo, por eso venimos flotando a la deriva, en busca de nuestros hermanos Garinagu.

DIFANSEI LILA LEREMUNA GARIFUNA (Garifuna National Anthem Explained / Interpretación del Himno Nacional Garifuna)

by/ por: Ruben Reyes

FURUMIENTI LAGUAHA (I) An Yurumeingienru nege Wayuna An Yurumeingienru nege Wayuna An Yurumeingienru nege Wayuna, Waruweite, An ragübei benehene wabu An ragübei benehene wabu Wáluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi

Difansei / Explanation / Interpretación

Our Ancestors were born in "Yurumein" Our great-grandparents came from "Yurumein" To the Garinagu leaders, do not forget our ancestry And take full the mandate we give you for your leadership Your leadership is faithful to the masses of the Garifuna people. Because the task for the well-being of each Garifuna is constant, that is why we look for each Garifuna, because we are all one.

Nuestros Ancestros nacieron en “Yurumein” Nuestros Bisabuelos vinieron de “Yurumein” A los líderes Garinagu, que no olviden de nuestra ancestría Y tomen de lleno el mandato que les damos para su liderazgo Vuestro liderazgo es fiel a las masas del pueblo Garifuna. Porque la faena por el bienestar de cada Garifuna es constante, por eso buscamos a cada Garifuna, porque todos somos uno.

LIBIAMAN LAGUAHA (II) An liyumoun churunruti duna An liyumoun churunruti duna An liyumoun churunruti duna, Waruéite, An liyumoun churunruti duna, Ñeinba bagüra bügüra wabu, An ñeinba bagüra bügüra wabu, Waluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi.

Preserving our nature And in full use of our rivers and seas, Lead preserving our territories And securing our ancestral lands, So, there we will rest Because there is our abode Garifuna unification is perennial.

Preservando nuestra naturaleza Y en pleno uso de nuestros ríos y mares, Líderen preservando nuestros territorios Y asegurando nuestras tierras ancestrales, Entonces, allí descansaremos Porque allí es nuestra morada La unificación Garifuna es perenne.

FURUMIENTI LÓUNABAHA (CHORUS I) An Yurumein nege buga wageirabei, Bugarügü hamutiwa Harutiun ñeingien, An Yurumein nege buga wageirabei Bugarügü hamutiwa Harutiun ñeingien

Never forget that Yurumein is our motherland and state That the injustice of Europeans intruders sent us away from there, Yurumein was the land that gave us birth as Garifuna people. And the unmeasurable abuses of our enemy gave us death and exile

Nunca olvides que Yurumein es nuestra patria y estado Que la injusticia de los intrusos europeos nos alejó de allí, Yurumein fue la tierra que nos dio a luz como pueblo garífuna. Y los abusos inconmensurables de nuestro enemigo nos dieron muerte y exilio.

LIBIAMA LÓUNABAHA (CHORUS II) An ligía gu wayabinbei fayafayahañadügü Lenchu Waluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi An ligía gu wayabinbei fayafayahañadügü Lenchu Waluahéinaña Garinagu wáladi

And we find ourselves in an economic disadvantage, without our own government but united as one people. Yet, we are looking all over to ensure we care for every Garifuna alive Decimating us was not enough for our enemy. After harrying and exile us, we are seeking all our loved ones, because each of us is needed to rebuild our nation.