American Indian Community House Gallery

This 30 minute audio visual video montage (© 2001- produced by Roger Hernandez Jr.) features hundreds of color photographs from the island of Boriken (Puerto Rico) highlighting the 21st Century contemporary presence of the Taino Indians in Puerto Rico. Clear, sharp beutiful shots accent the musical selections of Taino melodies song by noted Taino Indian leader - Roberto Mucaro Borrero. Join us on our musical media journey into the mountains of Boriken with our ancestors as we celebrate our continum.

Slideshow

Taino Revival - AMNH Panel Discussion

The three hour education on critical perspectives on Puerto Rican Identity and Cultural Politics must be seen to be believed. Join panelist Dr. Pedro Ferbel, Grandmother Naniki Ocasio Reyes, and Roberto Mucaro Borrero (moderated by CUNY Professor Dr. Gabriel Haslip- Viera) as they discuss the intriguing social commentaries and intellectual issues of Taino Survival Revival at NYC¹s American Museum of Natural History.

This 3 hour video features a stimulating panel discussion from an historian, elder, activist and educator on the topic of the new publication "Taino Revival- Critical Perspectives on PR Identity and Cultural Politics".  This is the event held at the American Museum of Natural History (November 17th, 2001) in response to the elements raised in the copyrighted Hunter College- Centro Estudios Puertorriquenos book documenting the 1998 symposium on the issues of Taino Survival sponsored by El Museo del Barrio (NYC). 

Join Taino elder- Naniki Ocasio Reyes (Caney Quinto Mundo), Taino activist- Roberto Mucaro Borrero (United Confederation of Taino People), Taino historian- Pedro Ferbel, and educator Dr, Gabriel Haslip as they discuss the cultural politics of Puerto Rican identity and Taino Survival in the 21st Century.  Listen to the documented studies, false assumptions and perspective critiques on Caribbean racial, nationality, ethnicity and native spiritual and cultural sovernity recognition issues confronted by Taino educators, scholars and writers which also include Dr. Arlene Davila, Dr. Jorge Duany, Dr. Peter Roberts, and Dr. Miriam Jimenez-Roman  in this contemporary assessment of Taino Survival.

News coverage of El Museo del Barrio Taino Symposium provided by Taino Newsletter "La Voz del Pueblo Taino" can be accessed at:

http://www.uctp.org/Volume4/OctDec2001/index.html
and
http://www.uctp.org/UCTP_Newsletter_-_May06.html

Taino Tobacco and the Colonization of Virginia Settlements

Historical docu-drama video exploring the early colonial settlements (Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown) and their reliance on the indigenous tobacco cash crop as America's (first and most profitable) export commodity. See the relationship between English Privateers (Pirates) and their theft of Spanish secrets learned from the Taino indians of the Caribbean. Tobacco - used traditionally throughout the Caribbean (medicinally as a sacred plant)- has been overlooked by history as the primary foundation of Virginia's Plantation Agarian Society and the basis of fortunes amassed by America's founding fathers. Learn from docu-presenters of America's colonial periods as they present the Spanish/English Empire struggle to colonize the New World, and the economic benefits of Virginia's Tobacco Farmers (and invited French military intervention) to seek independence from Great Britain leading to the Revolution War for Independence.

The Tainos

This 60 minute BBC Television Special special explores and documents the geology, environmental habitat, animal, fish and fauna, along with the native cultural and spiritual ecology of the Caribbean homelands of the Tainos.

Excellent educational video resource for every library featuring UCTP leaders Elba Anaca Lugo, and Roberto Mucaro Borrero visiting the Lesser and Greater Antilles of the Caribbean.

Trouble in Paradise
(Naniki Interview)

Listen to Taino Spiritual Elder "Grandma Naniki" (Naniki Reyes Ocasio)in her featured audio visual 77 minute lecture video presented at NYC's American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) on the continuing desecration of Taino sacred sites, and her work focusing on the public display, attitude and treatment of Caribbean indigenous ancestral cultural remains in Boriken (Puerto Rico).

Grandmother Naniki also relates some aspects of Taino Indian history and spiritual tradition with an insightful question and answer follow up. This event, sponsored by the AMNH was produced to commerate the AMNH Education Department's lecture series "Indigenous Peoples: Perspectives and Perceptions".

Visit Naniki Reyes Ocasio at her farm “Caney Quinto Mundo” located in Cialles, Puerto Rico (Boriken), while she gives viewers a short discussion on the benefits of coming back to the homelands. Feel the love and hear the coquis sing in this sit down chat filmed in November, 2004.

News coverage on AMNH feature on Naniki provided by Taino Newsletter "La Voz del Pueblo Taino" can be accessed at:

http://www.uctp.org/Volume4/April_June_2001/index.html

This presentation introduces the worldwide appeal to end the desecration of indigenous sites and sacred ceremonial objects currently ignored in Boriken.  Join us by reviewing and supporting the accompaning hyperlinked website:

Petition to Support Taino Rights to Their Ancestral Remains
and Sacred Sites in Puerto Rico

United Nations International Day of the
World's Indigenous Peoples Opening Celebration-August 9th, 2001

Open your eyes and your ears for this Bilingual worldwide conference opening celebration bringing together Indigenous leaders from throughout the hemispheres to discuss native issues. This event sponsored by the United Nations (UN) NGO Committee of the Decade of Indigenous Peoples is now in its seventh year and has served to bring the UN closer to resolving the creation and establishment of the The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

This 72 minute VHS video production features many honored speakers including Roberto Mucaro Borrero as the activity's host, Gillian Sorenson and Mr. Julian Burger (UN Rep.- Geneva), Mohawk Nation Chief Jake Swamp, Lakota Spiritual Pipe Carrier Dr. Arvol Lokking Horse, Mohawk Singers and Dancers, Mr. Luis Delgado Hurtado and Dave Chief (Lakota, Nakota and Dakota Tribal Council Elder). Introducing spanish translation by Casandra and produced by Mr. Roger Hernandez Jr., this interesting historical celebration offers an insight into today's Native worlds.

News coverage on the UN International Day of World's Indigenous Peoples Celebration provided by Taino Newsletter "La Voz del Pueblo Taino" can be accessed at:

http://www.uctp.org/Volume4/JulySept2001/index.html

"YOCO: El YOSHIKAWA"

"YOCO El YOSHIKAWA Japanese Belly Dancer in NY" is an inspired dance performance complimented by ANIMUS World Fusion Music featuring:

Bill Koutsouros (Bouzouki, Oud, & Doumbek), Don Dinkin (Bass), Hamit Golbasi (Ney, Zorna, & Riq), Billy Tayoun (Doumbek & Riq) and Yoco El Yoshikawa (various fusion belly dance forms and costumes).

Other Videos
South / Central America

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