Private Project

TAINO DAKA ( I AM )

A man is on a journey to reclaim his Caribbean indigenous identity as a Taino. History books say that the Taino People have been extinct for the past 525 years since their first encounter with Christopher Columbus on his first voyage to the New World. He is faced with many obstacles both from within and from institutions that continue to keep the Taino People in the past. The Taino are reclaiming their identity and just as history wrote them out of history they are rewriting themselves back into history.

  • Alex Zacarias
    Director
    TAINO DAKA ( I AM )
  • Alex Zacarias
    Producer
    TAINO DAKA ( I AM )
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 1 minute 1 second
  • Completion Date:
    August 15, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Alex Zacarias

Alex Zacarias (TAINO Borikén) was born on the island of Vieques (Bieke), Puerto Rico (Boriken) and after the U.S. military occupation that devastated his island people both emotionally and physically it gave him sensitivity towards other people who have been exploited. He recalls his grandmother telling him back in the island to never forget your Boricua roots. His given TAINO name is Guaragua'Ko or Hawk'Eye. Alex has worked in broadcast television including Telemundo, ABC & Fox affiliates, and Wisconsin Public Television. He is the owner of 3N Productions, LLC video production company and is also a Professional Practicing Teaching Artist for the Boys and Girls Club Greater Green Bay.

Emmy Award of Excellence
2003 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Chicago/Midwest Chapter) - Emmy Award of Excellence “Cultural Horizons of North America” – Wisconsin Public Television

The International Day of the World's Indigenous People, United Nations Headquarters, N.Y. - Honor 2010 Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Presented short film, “Taino Indians Counted Out of Existence” for The International Day of the World's Indigenous People at the United Nations Headquarters in N.Y. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues," Celebrating Indigenous Film Making - Development with Culture and Identity."2010 http://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/2010/index.shtml

Silver Accolade 2009 Remi Award WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival – Silver Accolade 2008 - 2009
Film Awards, Honorable Mention, “Any School, Any Time” documentary Wisconsin Public Television

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

TAINO DAKA ( I AM ) is a documentary film that will engage the general public and it is also available with Spanish language subtitles. Telling the Taíno story is challenging because of many factors from academic dogma to politics but the goal of the film is to bring awareness of the indigenous contributions of the Taínos, the first American Peoples of the Caribbean. What some refer to as the Taíno revival movement can be seen as an integral part of the wider resurgence in Caribbean indigenous self-identification and organization. The story resonates well with Latinos of Caribbean descent and particularly Puerto Ricans (4 million Puerto Ricans in the U.S. and 3.7 million in the island of Puerto Rico). Because the universal theme of the story is about self-identity which is becoming more and more complex because of the growing population of mixed races, President Obama is a good example; the story will strike a chord well with many of the viewers. In addition, the story of conquest and revival will be recognized by many Indigenous Peoples and Native Americans here and abroad.

Alex recalls his grandmother telling him back on the island to never forget your Boricua roots and spent a number of years to earn the trust of those that self-identify as Taínos giving him exclusive access to their personal stories. The project began as a seed of an idea in 2004 when producer/director Alex Zacarias was invited to participate in the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) signature Producers Academy Program and was the beginning of bringing the story of the Taínos to light. In 2009 the filmmaker received research and development funds from ITVS. ITVS’s Diversity Development Fund provided funds for development of a treatment and a trailer for THE LOST TAINO TRIBE now renamed TAINO DAKA ( I AM ) documentary AND is the sole rights holder of documentary project.

The making of TAINO DAKA ( I AM ) continues to be a remarkable journey of meeting remarkable people.

Alex 'Guaragua'ko (Hawk'eye)' Zacarias, (Taino Borikén )

"The same way they wrote us out of history, we will rewrite our way back into history."
Naniki Reyes Ocasio (Taino Borikén)

“Inside every mestizo there is either one dead Indian, or an Indian waiting to re-emerge.”
Jose Barreiro (Taino Cuba)

https://repeatingislands.com/2018/08/23/smithsonian-taino-culture-once-believed-extinct-is-flourishing/