– the original inhabitants of Guyana

1) THEIR villages, spread across the ten administrative regions or 83,000 square miles of Guyana, are homes to between 72,000 to 75,000 Amerindians. They are Guyana’s Indigenous people, the descendants of the original inhabitants of our country.

In these villages reside the nine Amerindian Peoples or Tribes, viz: The Arawaks, Caribs, Warraus, Patamonas, Akawaios, Arecunas, Macushi, Wai-Wai and Wapishani; the earliest of whom came here over 5000 years BC and lived, according to Guyanese Anthropologist Denis Williams “along Guyana’s North West Coast and in the Orinoco Delta area of neighboring Venezuela.”

Each Tribe came with their own distinctive identities and cultural heritage. These distinctions are to be found in their language, economic activities, and the nature and extent of their system of governance and more. And so, on the occasion of the 26th Anniversary of Amerindian Heritage Day (September 10, 2021) and, more extensively, Amerindian Heritage Month September 2021, I am confident you would agree with me when I say they did have much to celebrate. Furthermore, Amerindian Heritage month has annually provided, since September 10, 1995, an occasion to celebrate.

But how and when did Amerindian Heritage Month observation begin? What is it all about? Amerindian culture, art and craft, cuisine, music, dances and other aspects of Amerindian traditional lifestyle were kept alive when the late President Cheddi Jagan first designated September 10, 1995 as Amerindian Heritage Day in memory of Mr Stephen Campbell, the first Amerindian to enter the Parliament of then British Guiana. And so we began to celebrate in 1995. In fact, His Excellency and his government determined that the entire month of September would be celebrated annually thereafter by all Guyana.

The celebration has expanded post 1995 to highlight the special achievements of our Indigenous people and in this regard, it does provide an opportunity for all Guyanese and non-Guyanese to be able to view, experience and be reminded of the culture of Amerindians in the various villages and communities across our Country. It’s a unique culture that most have grown to respect, cherish and helped to preserve.

There are specific Institutions which have helped to protect and to preserve Amerindian artifacts that are specific to the Amerindian way of life, viz the National Museum, the Walter Roth Museum, the Benab at the Sophia Exhibition Site and the Umana Yana… to name but a few. They all display an array of artifacts unique to the Amerindian way of life; the Amerindian architecture and traditional knowledge of the people.

3) Since 1995 and every September thereafter, an Amerindian Village is designated Heritage Village each year. This rotation of the designated Heritage Village from year to year provides opportunity for all Guyana to experience and to learn more of the culture and way of life of our Amerindian people. It is celebrated under a theme. Activities and Events revolve around the Theme. It allows them to market their villages, its people and what they had to offer in terms of goods and services. In short, Amerindian Heritage Month is also a medium for promoting Hinterland Tourism. There is more to Amerindian Heritage Month than a mere name. It provides opportunity to showcase improvements in the lives of the people in the Villages and Communities. Amerindian Heritage month 2021 is being celebrated under the Theme:” Maintaining our Traditional Integrity; celebrating our Cultural Identity”.

4)Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations provides opportunities for all Guyanese to participate and to share in the culture of our Indigenous people by bringing Amerindian people and their Communities into the mainstream of National Development.

5) Thanks to the collective efforts of the government working with the National Toshaos Council and the village councils… Our Indigenous people have realised for themselves and families wider choices in terms of the goods and services and the quality of those goods and services from which they have been able to benefit viz: education, healthcare, river, air and road transportation; the construction/extension of schools and dormitories, building of hospitals, health centres/posts and the furnishing of these facilities; training of teachers, health workers etc. The extension of these important services to many and the provision of a wider supply of quality goods to our Hinterland areas where most of our Indigenous people

6)Add to the above (i) significant infrastructure support such as new airstrips, extension of /rehabilitation of a number of these Airstrips (ii) improved roads, provision of river and land transport viz ATVs and outboard engines, boats and life jackets for use by school children and other hinterland residents (iii) radio sets, landline and cellular phone services for use in hinterland administrative centres, schools, health centres, health posts, village offices and individuals resulting in improved communication (iv) provision of Solar Electricity and use of solar electricity at these very Institutions and even in homes (v) the provision of potable water by way of solar pumps, water tanks/trestles (vi) the hinterland housing schemes started in Regions One, Two and Nine (vii) the 2006 Amerindian Act that guides and informs what is done in the villages and communities; moreso, with respect to governance and land ownership and use.

For me, it has been a pleasure/a productive period of my life … 1976 to 2015 living and working among our Amerindian brothers and sisters in their villages and communities. I have learnt a lot from them, and with much humility I have no doubt, they from me also. To our Amerindian comrades I commend your contribution to the development of Guyana; more significantly, for keeping this dear and great land of ours intact so that we could all benefit. It’s all about Amerindian development with culture and identity. They do have much to celebrate. Congratulations!