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Since 1993, Tazzla Institute for
Cultural Diversity has pursued several cultural projects of documentation through television programming. Amazigh
Video Productions is a project of the institute and was started in 1998.
First produced under analog format for
Marin channel 31 and Adelphia Communications of Eagle Rock and Santa Monica by
Helene Hagan, over fifty
half-hour television programs were
aired in northern and southern California from 1993 to 2008. VHS copies were made available for all programs. Between
2007 and 2009, Helene Hagan began converting the analog documents to DVD format, and now, all programs are also available
as DVDs.
The following is a brief summary of the
production:
1. CIRCLES
-Tazzla Institute and Helene Hagan, Producer, created 11 half-hour programs in a series titled "Circles"
featuring American Indians of Marin county, California. Hosts: Lannie Pinola, Pomo/Miwok, and Sally Sherlock,
Oklahoma Indian, President of American Indian alliance of Marin County, California, and with the participation
of members of the Coast Miwok Indians of Marin.
Total programs: 10 (1993-1996)
No. 1. "We're still here" - part 1
No. 2 .."We're still here" - part 2
(History of the Coast Miwok people of Marin and Sonoma counties
- with Eugene Buvelot, Frank Ross, Tim Campbell, Lanny Pinole hosting)
No. 3 - Mrs. Arrowsmith and her daughter - (Cherokee)
No. 4 - Ed Willie, School teacher and Artist (California Indian)
No. 5 - Dan George, Boatmaster - Oklahoma Indian, Sally Sherlock
Hosting (Muskogee)
No. 6 - Basketmakers Sally Sherlock and Ed Willie
No. 7 - Pomo/Miwok Regalia and Music - Lannie Pinola
and family.
No. 8 - Bun Lucas Memorial
No. 9 - Navajo Artist Leatrice Nikelson
No. 10 - Intertribal Pow-wow with Sacheen Littlefeather
2. TAMAZGHA, BERBER
LAND OF MOROCCO. Amazigh Video Productions and Tazzla Institute (Helene Hagan, Producer and Host) created twelve
half-hour programs in this series, a 20 minute special archive program for World Amazigh Congress, and a special "Sounds and
Images of Morocco."
Total programs: 14 (1997-1999)
No. 1 - Introduction to Morocco - Casablanca
- Marrakech
No. 2 The road to Zagora - the Draa Valley
No. 3 - Djebel Bani West - In search of petroglyphs.
No. 4 - Djebel Bani East, Tazzarine pass and the Tafilalet region.
No. 5 - Atlas Trek - part 1 - Tinghir,
and the Valley of Dades.
No. 6 Atlas Trek - part 2 - Boulmane, High Atlas. M'Gouna
No. 7 - Ecology of an Oasis
No. 8 - The Argan Tree - souss Valley
No. 9 - Amazigh Jews with Habiba Boumlik, Guest
No. 10 - Amazigh Identity with Yahya BelKebir, Guest
No. 11 - Amazigh identity - a 20 minutes video for CMA Archives.
No. 12 Berber music - Traditional and contemporary , with Fatah Kaci,
guest.
No. 13 - Rock Art sites of Morocco
No. 14 - Sounds and Images of Morocco, a special program
without narration.
3. SAN FRANCISCO
BAY AREA ECOLOGY - Tazzla Institute and Helene Hagan produced four hour long programs in
this series, for a Marin Environmental Forum Project. At a later date, Helene Hagan re-created eight half-hour programs from
the original hour presentations, which were aired in southern California as a series.
Total programs: 12. (1997-1998)
Helene is very proud of her roll-ins
for this program and is making them available to you on this site.
4. THE RUSSELL MEANS
SHOW. Helene Hagan, Producer, Russell Means, Host. Six half-hour programs aired in southern
California, Adelphia Communications, Eagle Rock and Santa Monica. Russell Means is a Lakota Indian activist, film
and television actor, and political figure.
Total programs: 6 (1999-2001)
No. 1 - R. Means and Sacheen Littlefeather
reminisce about Wounded Knee 1973.
No. 2 - R. Means hosts kateri Walker, Hollywood actress.
No. 3 - R. Means hosts Red Bone performer ('Come and Get your
Love.")
No. 4 - Russell Means hosts author, Professor Greg Sarris (Miwok
- Graton Rancheria)
No. 5 - R. Means Commentary, part 1
No. 6 - R. Means Commentary , part 2
5. AMAZIGH NEWS
- This series includes eight programs on Berber events of North Africa, first a pilot program, then three half-hours of
news and cultural issues, two half-hours documenting Amazigh celebrations of the San Francisco Bay Area, a review of modern Kabyle
music with Umalu of Adrum Production of Beverly Hills , and a special documentary on Tuareg artisans and elders
of Mali. Total programs: 8 (1999-2006)
1. People of Tamazgha (pilot)
2. Algerian Report by Boualame Mokrane
3. Moroccan and Tuareg Reports by Helene Hagan
4. Cultural evening with Umalu
5. Contemporary Amazigh music.
6. Tafsut Imazighen 1998
7. Tafsut Imazighen 1999
8. Heart of the Sahara - Mali elders and artisans.
Tuareg culture.
A few short programs were created for
the Santa Cruz Amazigh Festival of 2006 (10 min), the Berber Institute of Oregon University (three - each 10 minutes) ,
the Berber Nights event of May 20, 2006 in Los Angeles, and The Los Angeles Amazigh Film Festivals of 2008 and
2009.
Total short programs: 7
All programs have been created for television audiences, and are in English. Each VHS costs
$16.00 plus $4.00 shipping in the US. ($20.00) and each DVD costs $20.00 plus $5.00 shipping in the
US ($25.00)
