‘MAIRA & THE JAGUAR PEOPLE’ is the name of a film that portrays the life of the Makushi Amerindian tribe and the music, trees, waterfalls, rivers and bird song of the Guyana rainforest around Surama in Region Nine (Upper Essequibo/Upper Takutu).The script was written by Dr. Michael Gilkes, Guyana’s leading film maker, writer, playwright, director, actor and professor and is to be filmed close to and involving the Surama community and other virgin forested locations within that Region.
But the filming is, however, in need of funding for its realisation.
Project Manager Gem Madhoo-Nascimento of Guyana Executive Management Services (GEMS) said persons interested in helping can make donations by way of credit cards.
They can log on to ‘http://igg.me/at/maira’ or go ‘www.indiegogo.com’ click on films on the top right hand corner, then fill in the details on the left hand side – ‘Maira & the Jaguar people’ to make donations, by means of credit cards.
While donating, persons would qualify for gifts according to their level of donation, she said.

GIFTS RANGE
These gifts range from a picture of the tallest wooden building in the world, St. George’s Cathedral, along with a poem on the church by Dr. Gilkes; a book by Graham Watkins on Rupununi: rediscovering a lost world; an embossed mug from Surama; Keith Waithe’s CDs, collectors’ items of videos of Caribbean Eye, music of the rainforest; wide Sargasso Sea; Carifesta in Barbados & Cuba; Carnival Mas music score and script of Maira and the Jaguar people; genuine Wapisiana hammock; tours to the Essequibo River and Hurakabra River Resort; two nights stay at Cara Lodge and trips to Surama Eco Lodge and Iwokrama, among others.
Mahdoo-Nascimento disclosed that ‘Maira and the Jaguar people’ is based on a young girl, Maira and her brother Mairun. Maira loves birdsong and Mairun dreams of being a hunter.
As a result of a terrifying encounter with a jaguar, they discover for themselves the practical wisdom behind the traditions and beliefs of their community and way of life.
They learn to listen to what the Shaman calls ‘the advice of the birds’ and that the jaguar holds a special place in the interconnected web of life and death in the rainforest: that there is a kind of mutual respect between humans and jaguars, now a protected species in South America.

In this film the rainforest will be more than just a beautiful backdrop, the music of its trees, waterfalls, rivers and bird song will play a very key part in the story.

The musical language of the Makushi (with subtitles) will also be featured, and the project will help to promote the restoration and preservation of the Makushi language and cultural heritage, already in grave danger of being lost through the pull of the cities on their young people.

The Makushi people of Surama will benefit directly from the making of this film, both in terms of their close involvement with the technical and casting areas of the production and also because the producers will be building a replica of a Makushi village from the 1950s as part of the set for the film.
The structures built will not be torn down after the filming but would remain in the care of the Makushi community and can then be used as living or guest spaces for residents and their visitors or serve as a museum site.
Persons who would like to make contributions but do not have credit cards can contact Madhoo-Nascimento directly by calling telephone numbers 225-3557 or 226-0240.