We are the Yukayeke Yamaye Kokuio - the Taíno Firefly Tribe of Jamaica.
Hurricane Melissa devastated our Indigenous community’s homes, crops, and sacred spaces located in Patty Hill, Hanover, Jamaica.
We are raising funds for emergency relief and long-term Indigenous-led rebuilding.
What happened
In October 2025, Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica with devastating force, flooding villages, destroying homes, and cutting off rural communities from essential resources.
Our ancestral lands - where Taíno families have lived, farmed, and held ceremony for generations - were severely affected. Roofs were torn away, crops flattened, and elders displaced.
We are a small Indigenous community working to protect our people and our heritage. But we cannot do this alone.
Our immediate needs
Your donation will directly support families on the ground.
We are prioritizing:
- Emergency food and water kits for affected households
- Roofing materials and safe shelter for elders and families with children
- Community clean-up and debris removal
- Medicines and sanitation supplies
- Replanting of community gardens and crops
- Transportation and communication costs for coordination and delivery
All funds go directly to our community relief team in Jamaica, coordinated through the Kasike (chief), elder's council and community volunteers.
Our long-term vision
Beyond immediate relief, we are building Taíno-led climate resilience:
- Establishing a Resilience Centre for emergency response and cultural training
- Hosting workshops on Taíno ecological knowledge, hurricane preparedness, and sustainable farming
- Strengthening partnerships between our communities in Jamaica and Canada
This is not only about recovery, it’s about renewal.
Your support helps ensure that our people, our culture, and our lands continue to thrive.
How funds will be used
- Relief Supplies (food, water, medical kits) - 30%
- Shelter Repair (building materials, roofing, labour) - 30%
- Community Recovery (replanting gardens, rebuilding cultural & sacred sites) - 20%
- Logistics & coordination (transport, fuel, communication) - 10%
- Administration (banking transfer & reporting costs) - 10%
Funds are released by GoFundMe as they are donated, meaning your support reaches us immediately!
How you can help
- Donate what you can - every contribution matters.
- Share this campaign on social media with the hashtags
- #TainoRelief #HurricaneMelissa #IndigenousSolidarity #CaribbeanResilience.
- Host a mini-fundraiser (art sale, livestream, ceremony) to raise awareness.
Stand with us in rebuilding our homes and protecting our future. Together, we can transform tragedy into renewal, guided by the light of the Firefly!