Mound-Builders

Enjoying a dated but interesting documentary on Cahokia and related mound-building sites in North America. Featuring Leonard Nimoy as narrator, it serves as a nice overview or introduction to a complex of indigenous civilizations in the continent.

The Dominican Southwest

While we were hoping for more references to indigenous retentions or symbolism in this short documentary from Martha Ellen Davis, the overall result is an interesting one. Showcasing the regional identity and uniqueness of the Dominican Southwest, the film takes the viewer on a journey through various towns or areas of the Southwest. Along the way, one sees different cultural traditions, musical genres, and aspects of life and folklore, drawing on African, Taino, Catholic, and Haitian influences. It is unfortunate that the veve-like cosmogram drawn in the first third of the film and the corral de los indios in San Juan de la Maguana never receive significant analysis that would shed light on Taino influences in this part of the island. After all, the southwest of the DR is said to have retained Indian spirits as a part of their form of Dominican Vodou, usually associated with water. Why not include interviews with Dominican practitioners who serve these Indian spirits?

Hunters of the Caribbean

I recall watching this old documentary on the Taino several years ago. In my memory, it was better than this, though we were even more ignorant of indigenous Caribbean history and cultures in those days. Nonetheless, this documentary is effective as a brief introduction. I would have chosen a different title and emphasize more of the agricultural practices of the Taino.

Herencia Taina

Herencia Taina is a fascinating, somewhat outdated documentary on the Taino legacy in Puerto Rico. Associated with Ricardo Alegría and featuring Jalil Sued Badillo and other scholars as consultants, one can already guess that the film promotes the tripartite identity of the Puerto Rican people. It posits that the Taino legacy in Puerto Rico is both biological and cultural. That cannot be denied, although some have rightfully criticized the way this "tri-racial" heritage has been deployed in official discourse. We assume the inclusion of commentary on women and their role in Taino society and domestic life was perhaps shaped by Sued Badillo while Alegría's dominant position framed the general portrayal of Taino society. Anyway, the brief documentary is an interesting example of how Puerto Rican media (and corporate sponsors) incorporate the indigenous past of Puerto Rico into modern national identity.