World Premier of Ragiñ Epu Mapu / Between Two Worlds: Voices of the Elders and the Youth

Celebrating its 33rd Anniversary La Peña Proudly Presents the World Premier of

Ragiñ Epu Mapu / Between Two Worlds: Voices of the Elders and the Youth

A documentary film by Tierra Films & Pachamama Conservation
Saturday, June 21, 2008. 8pm. $10
At La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley. 510-849-2568


A new documentary about the story of the Mapuche peoples’ struggle to retain their indigenous culture in the modern world of Southern Chile. A collective vision of a people trying to preserve what is most sacred to them: their land and culture. Q&A with filmmakers. Produced by Pachamama Conservation

Ragiñ Epu Mapu/Between Two Worlds: Voices of the Elders and the Youth documents the story of the Mapuche peoples’ struggle to retain their Indigenous culture in the modern world of Southern Chile. It is a story that acknowledges the cultural pride of Indigenous people, as well as the challenges of immigration and assimilation.

Following the life of Jose Pablo Painen, a 23 year-old Mapuche student, the film illuminates the human drama of leaving the tradition-rich countryside to study in the city of Temuco. Jose Pablo’s urban experience is contrasted with compelling footage of daily life in rural communities, and interviews with elders and spiritual leaders. What emerges is a collective vision of a people trying to preserve that which is most sacred to them: their land and culture.

Tierra Films is a video production company dedicated to support and collaborate with a diverse group of organizations and people who work for a positive change in the world. Using state of the art equipment and creativity Tierra Films produce the best videos to promote their ideas and work to the world. Tierra Films, films from the hearth of the earth. Tierra Films, 2894 23rd street. San Francisco. CA 94110. 415-6438210

Pachamama Conservation is a non-profit organization committed to providing alternative economic ways to fulfill basic needs of the indigenous people of Chile. By means of providing education, job training, and environmental restoration, we seek to contribute in their self sufficiency, thus enabling them to preserve and reclaim their culture and traditions. Pachamama Conservation, 88 Canyon Road, Fairfax, CA 94930. (415) 721-0774

Why this work is important

Indigenous people have traditionally lived in harmony with Mother Earth, respecting all existing forms of life.

In recent Years, the destruction of Pachamama (Mother Earth) has reached alarming proportions. The rapid extinction of indigenous cultures, the permanent loss of ancient forests, medicinal plants and wild life, and drastic changes in weather patterns have been a wake-up call to the world.

In response to the difficult reality that indigenous people face today, Pachamama Conservation was formed in 1999. Our vision is to strengthen indigenous cultures, and empower indigenous people's ability to stand for and represent their own interests. Furthermore, allow them to blend knowledge and wisdom in order to insure the wellbeing of Pachamama and the global commons.

It is of vital importance that they pass on their traditional knowledge of organic farming and the use of medicinal plants and herbs to future generations, thus insuring that their way of life will be sustainable in the next millennium.

Production Team:

Ariel Lopez-Segovia, Technical Director
Video activist from Valparaiso, Chile. Since 1994, he has been living in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a graduate of the Bay Area Video Coalition’s video production internship. Since 2000 he has been teaching media literacy trainings with TILT (Teaching Intermediate Literacy Tools) and has produced numerous documentary videos for NGO’s in the Bay Area. His video, “Two September 11ths in a Lifetime” won BEST FILM ABOUT POLITICS in the 2004 Latino Film Festival of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Leila Salazar-Lopez, Interviewer & Co-Producer
Social justice/environmental activist. She is a native Californian/Chicana living in San Francisco, CA. Since 1995 Leila has been advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples in the Amazon and currently works with the Rainforest Action Network. She has also worked for Amazon Watch and Global Exchange.

Ana Bravo, Script Writer
Co-founder of Pachamama Conservation. She is a native Chilean living in Fairfax, California where she practices native healing. Ana has built relationships with the Mapuche elders and youth, she also helped to create the script and conducting the interviews while in the Mapuche communities.

Mario Bravo, Photographer
Co-founder of Pachamama Conservation. He is a native Chilean living in Fairfax, CA. He is a contractor and a photographer. He has traveled to Mapuche communities on various occasions and has documented their way of life through photography.

Http://www.pachamamaconservation.org
http://www.betweentwoworldsvoices.blogspot.com
http://www.lapena.org

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