STEPHEN Fredericks told the Pepperpot Magazine that although he was not born in the community of Moraikobai, it has been his home for the past 16 years.

He explained that he went there in search of work in the logging industry and he chose to remain there even after, because the place felt right.

Fredericks stated that the village is surviving and remains self-reliant, adding that Moraikobai is a peaceful and beautiful place to live. He stated that he prefers residing there rather than living in the city because the place is crime-free; you can sleep with the doors wide open and don’t have to worry about thieves making off with anything.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that Moraikobai is run by a Village Council and visitors are welcome, but they do need permission to enter the settlement from the Village Toshao, Colin Adrian.

He was part of a large group of fellow villagers who were at the Sophia Exhibition Centre in the Indigenous Village to showcase their indigenous food and craft.

“The experience here has been good so far, I met some folks from different villages across Guyana and the interaction has been nothing but good and I will surely return next year,” he said.

He was manning a food table with some wild meat Pepperpot, cassava bread to go with it, some alcoholic beverages such as piwari and ‘fly’, that is, potato wine and of course the home-made cassareep.

He pointed out that life in Moraikobai entails hunting at any given time with an arrow and bow and they usually get labba, wild cow, tapir and wild hog.

Fredericks describes hunting in the community as an activity which requires some patience and expertise.

He said annually on September 27, they have their own heritage celebration and it is a grand event in which the entire village participates.

The Pepperpot Magazine encountered another villager, a quiet but friendly young man, Don Adrian, who was at the time assisting the women to peel some garlic for a pot which was on the stove.

He reported that they are a simple people and they live in unity like in any village; however, some of them have their traditional way of life which is no problem, while others have modernised their homes.

Adrian stated that life in Moraikobai is hard work, but it is rewarding because they don’t have to worry about what they will eat every day, since they make use of what they have within the community.

He noted that some villagers hold good jobs such as teachers and nurses and they would often return to serve the village and that is very commendable.

The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke to 78-year-old Loraine Henry and her pretty granddaughter Kelly Moses, who were vending the food and drinks they made.

Henry said that she has lived all her life in Moraikobai and has been a humble farmer since she was a young girl and at her age, she is still very much active on her farmlands. Apart from farming, this grandmother also makes a good tuma pot and Pepperpot to go with cassava bread.

“Life there can be hard work because you have to work and I plant some crops. I walk two miles from my house and I have crops of corn, provisions, pears, and coconuts; then after that I started to plant pineapples too. The pineapples, however, take one year to grow, so I had to plant other crops such as cassava, which I would sell at the Mahaicony stelling,” Henry said.

Meanwhile, Kelly Moses, who recently completed the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations, said she was there to lend a helping hand to her granny. “I am waiting to see what career path to take and in the meantime, I have to find things to do, so I am here to help,” Moses said.

She explained that she was happy to be of assistance and was very pleased to meet new people at the Indigenous Village.