THE TAZZLA INSTITUTE FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY

MISSION STATEMENT

The MISSION of the Institute is to promote multicultural understanding through peaceful, educational means, and to assist American Indian and Amazigh (Berber) organizations through cultural and educational projects.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Institute was created in 1993 as a publicly supported, charitable and educational organisation in Marin County which relocated to the Los Angeles area in 1998. It received its tax-exempt status under Article 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and was reviewed in 1999 by the IRS which confirmed it as a publicly supported tax-exempt Corporation.

The Corporate Federal Tax Identification Number is: 94-3206147

THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE:

HELENE E. HAGAN Acts as the Executive Director of the Institute, she is an Anthropologist with a minor in Psychology from Stanford University. She is also an educator and Public Access Television Producer.
Kabyle.com Interview of Helene Hagan

tazzla@earthlink.net

JENNIFER J. HAGAN, ESQ. is a Partner with The Hagan Law Firm in Palo Alto, California. Ms. Hagan's principal practice is business law. Ms. Hagan is an officer of the Institute, acting as Secretary. If you wish to send any legal notices to the Institute, please contact Ms. Hagan at jhagan@haganlaw.com

SHIRLEY CHESNEY Art Historian, International Rock Art Lecturer, U.N. Representative of International Peace Action. Also acts as Vice President. chesneyshirleys@yahoo.com

SANDRA PARRY, Ph. D. Psychologist, degree in Family and Child Psychology with minor in Ethnology, has worked with tribal women of Australia, and assisted in Public Access television production. Also acts as Treasurer. satp333@aol.com

PAST PROJECTS

The past PROJECTS of the Institute have included:

• Research and Development for the Federated Coast Miwok of Marin and Sonoma Counties, (Helene Hagan served the tribe as Historic Officer for three years). Having been closely involved with the Coast Miwok Indians of Marin, we are most happy to report that after decades of efforts on the part of the Coast Miwok Indians to obtain Federal recognition as a tribe, a Bill introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer was signed into effect by President Clinton on December 27, 2000, granting sovereign status to the Miwoks of Marin and Sonoma counties.
  
  
• Research and advocacy with C.A.P.S. Citizens Association in Marin County.
  Helene Hagan was a Board member for three years.
  
  
• Assistance in the development of the Alliance of American Indians in Marin
  
  
• Several cultural events and fund-raising concerts for various indigenous organizations, including Amazigh Association in America, A.C.A.A., of which Helene Hagan has been a member for eight years. She has also served as cultural ambassador for A.C.A.A. region six (western states) and is presently also serving on a national committee (Amazigh WATCH) for the protection of Amazigh culture and identity. Helene Hagan is presently serving her second term (fourth year) as one of the National Directors for A.C.A.A.

SPECIAL PROJECT OF THE INSTITUTE

PAUL RADIN'S PAPERS AND MANUSCRIPTS (Marquette University Library Archives, Special Collections)

Helen E. Hagan obtained personal papers and unpublished manuscripts of the well-known American Anthropologist, Paul Radin, from his widow Doris Woodward Radin in 1994.

With the help of a grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation, Helen Hagan was able to create and complete a Historical Preservation Project which culminated in securing a repository for this voluminous anthropological collection. She obtained the collaboration of Mark Thiel, Archivist, Special Collections, Libraries, Marquette University, and contracted with Marquette University to permanently house this special collection.

The Paul Radin's Papers are presently stored at the Special Collections Archives of Marquette University. Helene Hagan is the lifetime Associate Curator of the Collection which includes linguistic materials, Winnebago Indians papers, numerous Field Notes, several unpublished manuscripts. One of these manuscripts is an unusual manuscript with abundant field notes entitled "Souls Piled Like Timber" which is a collection of dreams, visions, and interviews with African Americans speaking of their conversion to Christianity.

In addition, having learned from documents left by Doris Radin that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had amassed a long file on Paul Radin over the years, Helene Hagan requested this document through the Freedom of Information Act. It took an additional three years (1995-1998) to secure this sizeable file which Helene Hagan has added to the original legacy of Mrs. Woodward Radin and the history of Anthropology.

A link to an online catalog entry is available for scholarly research at the Marquette University library website. To proceed to this site, please click here.

TAZZLA VIDEO PRODUCTIONS

The VIDEO PRODUCTION PROJECT has included the following:

• A series of twelve programs titled, "CIRCLES: AMERICAN INDIANS IN MARIN", which has been shown in 1997, 1998 and 1999 in the San Francscio Bay area and in 1999 in the Los Angeles area.

• A series of four hours titled "NORTH MARIN BAYLANDS" on the geology, history, and life of the North Baylands of the San Francisco Bay with commentary by noted experts. This 1998 series is still used in Marin County as a tool for the education of environmental students and citizens.
  
  

• A series of thirteen programs on the Berber culture of Morocco, titled "TAMAZGHA, BERBER LAND OF MOROCCO," shown in 1998 and 1999, with two additional half-hour programs on A.C.A.A. cultural events in the Bay Area.

• A series of five programs titled "THE RUSSELL MEANS SHOW" in Los Angeles, featuring American Indian artists and writers.
  
  

• Amazigh News Series: 4 programs 2001-2004. "THE PEOPLE OF TAMAZGHA" (Fall 2003) and "HEART OF THE SAHARA" (Tuaregs of Mali, Spring, 2004).
  
  click here to order our videos

CURRENT PROJECTS FOR TAZZLA

TUAREG FUNDRAISING PROJECT : Kel Tamasheq of Niger.
Our organization has engaged itself to provide direct funding of pastoral economy projects of the Air Mountain Twareg families of Niger, for herds, gardens and wells.
Tazzla Institute is seeking funds to help maintain the thirteen schools of OVD TEDHILT, in the Air region of northern Niger, serving families of nomadic groups (see details under Projects of the Institute.)

THE UNITED NATIONS PROJECT
The Tazzla Institute for Cultural Diversity has recently joined an international alliance working on Human Rights issues, and is now a member of the International Amazigh Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights (C.A.I.D.D.H.), an NGO organisation headquartered in Switzerland.

AMAZIGH NEWS

is in production in Los Angeles and aired on Public Access Television. Executive Producer, Moroccan and Tuareg News: Helene Hagan.

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