Ermelinda Cortés is an Afro-Latinx, multidisciplinary artist from the beautiful Island of Borikén (Puerto Rico). Her creative battle cry constructs a body of work reaffirming indigenous survival through art and cinema. Ermelinda Cortés’ art and films look to bring light to the crisis of racial inequality, economic subordination, and sectarian divisiveness caused by colonial indoctrination.

We will view an excerpt and discuss Ermelinda Cortés’ documentary “We are Still Here, The Taíno Lives!”, which ignites conversations about DNA, culture and what this means politically for the people of Borikén. Ermelinda Cortés’ documentary “We are Still Here, The Taíno Lives!” ignites conversations about DNA, culture and what this means politically for the people of Borikén. The documentary film went on to win the Excellence Award at the Rincón International Film Festival and was an Official Selection at the Los Angeles CineFest Film Festival.