From my mother I inherited my Puerto Rican culture. As I became to research my ancestors, I found that the peaceful natural inhabitants of the island came from, what is now known as, South America. They were called the Taino natives. The Taino natives named the island “Boriken” or “Boriquen” meaning “the great land of the valiant and noble Lord” or “ land of the great Lords.”
By 1509, their peaceful island was conquered by Spain on behalf of Juan Ponce de Leon, who later became the first governor of the island. At first, the island was named “Porto Rico,” but later changed