CANADIAN mining firm, Aurora Gold Mines (AGM), has thrown its support behind this year’s Indigenous Heritage Month celebrations through the donation of a cheque which the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs will spend on an award ceremony next month.

The company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Field Officer, Delon Brathwaite, and Sustainability Coordinator, Miranda LaRose, on Thursday, handed over the cheque to Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, at her Thomas and Quamina Streets Office, the ministry said.

Minister Garrido-Lowe, on receiving the contribution, which the ministry said will go towards offsetting the expense for the purchase of gold pins to be awarded to twenty recipients during the 2019 Stephen Campbell award ceremony, noted that, “we are happy to partner with AGM Inc. and over the years this has proven that you are a really good cooperate citizen and that you care. So thank you so much and we appreciate this so much and our honorees will certainly cherish the golden pins.”

Braithwaite, after handing over the cheque, pointed out that the relationship between the ministry and AGM Inc. has been a fruitful one and noted that the company “recognise and appreciate the great work the ministry has been doing and it is our hope that by giving this little token of our appreciation, that the ministry can be able to continue its tremendous work.”

Looking into the future, Braithwaite said, “we look forward to partnering more and strengthening collaboration with the ministry so that we can reach every part of the hinterland of Guyana and the ministry can be rest assured that they have our full support.”
This would be the fourth year in a row that AGM Inc. has contributed financially to the successful hosting of the Stephen Campbell Celebrations during heritage celebrations held each September.

On each pin contains nine feathers which represent the nine indigenous tribes of Guyana.
Ms. La Rose, one of Guyana’s first Indigenous journalists who is AGM’s Sustainability Coordinator, is a former recipient of one of the Gold Pins after being recognised for her staunch contributions in the field of journalism. She was among the first recipients of the gold pin back in 2016. La Rose has dedicated some 34 years of service in this field.
Meanwhile, among the 2019 awardees are Minster of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock; Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton; Dr. Selomi Henry, nurse Zena Cornelius; Politicians, Mr. Stanley McGarrel and Matheson Williams; Toshao, Whanita Phillips; Father George Spencer; rodeo champion, Paul Atkinson; musician Leon Couchman and artist, Foster Simon.

This year the Celebration of the Life and Work of Stephen Campbell and other notable Guyanese will be held on September 10 at Rivers View, Region 10 during the National Heritage Village Day Celebrations.

In the past, the two activities – Celebration of Stephen Campbell and National Heritage Village Day – were held separately, however, the ministry made the decision going forward, to host the activities together with the aim of bringing about the true meaning of celebrating Mr. Campbell’s life and work, while also recognising the contributions of other Indigenous Guyanese.