SEAMOS AMIGOS EN FACEBOOK, HAZ CLIK: http://es-es.facebook.com/people/Manuel-Mora-Morales/100000010106454 "Canarians of the Mississippi: The Canary Islanders In Louisiana" is the lastest work by Manuel Mora Morales, for his unfinished series "La Ruta del Gofio: History of the Canarian Immigration." The documentary was filmed around the marshes of the Mississippi river in Louisiana, USA in 2005 and 2006. It tells the story of the Canarian Islanders who immigrated to Louisiana in the 18th century in order to establish colonies and to defend Spanish territories from the British and French forces in the area. "Canarians of the Mississippi" is produced by Amazonas Films and is being released in Spanish and English versions. To this day there are descendants of the first Canarian immigrants, known as "islenos," that continue speaking the Castilian language with the same accent as their ancestors. During the last 200 years the islanders have been subject to perhaps the most unusual story of the Canarian Migration; while it is full of unusual tales and events the story of the islanders is the least known inside and outside the archipelago. Mention could be made of their important contributions to the American War of Independence, the islander battalions under General Lee and their presence in the American congress, as well as other numerous political figures whom have influenced politics in the United States government. Many traditions and folklore in the islander community that exist today came from the Canary Islands over two centuries ago: music (the decima,) food (the caldo) and folk healing known as Curanderismo. The documentary also contains historic interviews with islanders as well as antiquated film footage of the great flood of 1927. Canarians of the Mississippi is more significant though for its treatment of the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the Islander community and it's struggle to survive. While most of the documentary was filmed shortly before the hurricane, Mora Morales returned to Louisiana in 2006 and found that many people and places had disappeared or no longer existed. Many of the films informants have been direct or indirect victims of the Hurricane, including Charles Robin who died in January 2006. ABOUT THE DIRECTOR Manuel Mora Morales was born in Canary Islands in 1952. He has spent many years as a writer, editor and filmmaker and is currently President of the Canarian Editors Association. His most important work has been writing and directing the documentary series La Ruta del Gofio: History of the Canarian Migration. The first part of the series has been televised TV several times (Television Autonomica Canaria). Mora Morales is currently still working on the subject of the Canarian migration to the United States.

• published: 17 Feb 2007
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