CHRONICLE has decided to pay tribute to Guyana’s indigenous people as Amerindian Heritage Month comes to an end today with a few highlights of various pertinent aspects of Amerindian events and culture.

A extensive programme of activities in observance of Amerindian Heritage month officially began on Tuesday, September 1.

In 1995, the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan designated September as Amerindian Heritage Month to showcase and promote Amerindian culture and contributions to the Guyanese nation.

This month of celebrations has moved from simply one of observance to one that focuses more on the development of the Amerindian people and the contributions they have made to our diverse society.

Amerindian Heritage Day activities were billed this year for Orealla in Region Six, which was designated “Heritage Village” for 2009, although most Amerindian villages across the country observe cultural and other activities on this day.

Their rich culture and strong traditional practices have certainly impacted positively on the Guyanese culture and national development.

The Golden Arrowhead of Achievement, the national Headdress, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, and the names of several communities and popular sites around the country, such as the Kaieteur Falls – even the name of our country, originated from the indigenous people of our land.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration has conceived a continuum of developmental programmes working with the Amerindian people and their communities to fully integrate them into the mainstream Guyanese society so that they could be given equal recognition as other Guyanese, while yet sustaining their traditional cultures and respecting their rights to make choices relevant to their own peculiar needs.

While the contributions of Amerindians continue to be recognized nationally, September is now a special month to focus on the contributions that the Amerindians have made to the development of our country, and for them to take stock of where they were previously, where they are now, and where they are heading in the future.

Amerindians have certainly developed in all areas of the social sector and with the committed efforts of the Government more development is assured for Amerindians and Amerindian communities.

The observance in September has received recognition from various Amerindian groups because on September 10, 1957, the first Amerindian Parliamentarian Mr. Stephen Campbell of Santa Rosa was sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP).

The month of activities to honor Amerindians was first observed under the first and former Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Mr. Vibert De Souza, who firmly believed that the contributions of Mr. Campbell need national recognition.

Cabinet had approved a budgetary allocation to be used by the various Regions to celebrate Amerindian Heritage Month.

The Miss Amerindian Heritage Pageant was held on Saturday, 26th September, with Miss Nandanie Jerry, Miss Region Seven, copping the crown from nine other competitors. This was one of the highlights of this year’s celebrations.
The pageant concluded Amerindian Heritage Month activities for 2009.