He Social Innovation Laboratory of the University of La Laguna The documentary “Instants of Memory: The Intangible Legacy of El Hierro” premiered last Tuesday, February 18th, in the Paraninfo, in an event that included the participation of institutional representatives, researchers, protagonists of the documentary and the general public.
The documentary is the result of a participatory action research process promoted by LabINS ULL within the initiative "Intangible Cultural Heritage as a Shaper of Identity," framed within the Igual Lab collaboration agreement between the University of La Laguna and the Vice-Ministry of Equality and Diversity of the Government of the Canary Islands. The piece was conceived by the director of the laboratory, Mónica Dios Rodríguez, the teacher Elisa J. Pérez Rosales and the designer Paula Sosa Núñez, and produced by La Gaveta Producciones under the direction of Eduardo Cubillo.
The presentation was opened by the Rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García Rodríguez, and the Minister of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Children, and Families of the Canary Islands Government, Candelaria Delgado Toledo. Subsequently, Mónica Dios, the researcher behind the work, emphasized the importance of pedagogy as a key tool for preserving and enriching Intangible Cultural Heritage. “The union of academic and popular knowledge, along with intergenerational exchange, ensures that this legacy remains alive and aligned with the principles of equality and diversity.».
Following the screening of the documentary, a discussion took place with the participation of Carla Brito Fernández and Iván Padrón Febles, folklorists from El Hierro and protagonists of the work; Elisa J. Pérez Rosales; Paula Sosa Núñez, who is also a folklorist and strategic collaborator on the audiovisual piece; and Carmen Marina Barreto Vargas, PhD in Anthropology and director of the Gender Equality Unit at the University of La Laguna. The panel was moderated by David Naranjo Ortega, historian, head of the Canary Institute of Traditions and presenter of the TVE program “Tenderete” in the Canary Islands, who was also in charge of hosting the event.
After the colloquium, the audience had the opportunity to share impressions, thoughts, and experiences about the importance of folklore and cultural identity in contemporary society. Furthermore, the university laboratory publicly recognized two of the documentary's protagonists and pioneers of El Hierro folklore: María Lucrecia Cabrera Morales and Juana Hernández Fernández, highlighting their invaluable contribution to the island's cultural tradition.
The documentary
From an inclusive and diverse perspective, the documentary highlights the experiences and knowledge of the people who make up the folk groups and cultural associations of El Hierro, emphasizing their fundamental role in the preservation and promotion of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Canary Islands.
The project has been supported by the Island Council of El Hierro, the Town Councils of Valverde, Frontera and El Pinar, as well as the folk groups Bailarines de El Pinar, Taicares, Bentaica, Taros, Sabinosa and Tejeguate.
Before its official premiere, a private screening was held in the El Pinar Town Hall's plenary hall, where the people featured in the documentary had the opportunity to validate it and offer their feedback to the lab team. The premiere in Tenerife marks a milestone in disseminating El Hierro's cultural legacy, bringing the richness of its Intangible Cultural Heritage to a wider audience and encouraging reflection on its role in building a more just and equitable society.
Spanish 
English 
French