A village forged by faith and nature

THE village of Tapakuma is captivating at first sight, with the mysterious and serene red dirt road leading into the village, surrounded by a blackwater lake, and home to welcoming people. A community built by strong and courageous individuals, Tapakuma embodies community strength and is on the road to success with its rich history propelled by the cooperation of its residents.

Tapakuma’s Origins
Discovering the serene haven of Tapakuma entails a 14-mile journey past the nearest township of Anna Regina. Venturing into the village takes you down a unique red dirt road sheltered by a canopy of trees. Home to more than 400 people, very little is known about how the community acquired its mysterious name, Tapakuma. However, the Toshao of the community, Aubry Fredericks, shared with Pepperpot Magazine how the village earned its alternative title, St. Denys.

Like so many other communities, Tapakuma was founded on faith. The village was started by a church and has been a home and haven to many over the years. The toshao explained, “Long ago, many different people passed through here. Even the Dutch passed through here; we found their bottles all over the place.”

But it was the people of Tapakuma’s first church who made a mark. As the toshao stated, “We had our first church, an Anglican church, built in the village. And our first priest, his name was Denys. So that is how the village became St. Denys, because of the priest’s name at that time.” Today, the community is officially referred to as St. Denys Tapakuma, as an ode to both history and culture. The village is a cultural melting pot, hosting people of all races within its boundaries. Although many of the community’s residents are people from faraway places, captivated by the village’s beauty, various indigenous peoples still live there. The toshao is one such person, born and bred in the community.

The toshao shared that most of his youth was spent in the village, living a happy and vibrant life in his home community. He eventually attended St. Rose’s High School, which presented its own unique set of challenges, stating, “I used to attend school right here at Tapakuma Lake Primary and then I wrote exams. I actually went to St. Rose’s High School, but unfortunately, I did not complete my education; I had to leave.” Upon returning home, the toshao engaged in various jobs around the community. But there was always something that highlighted the community’s issues and gave him the urge to find solutions. “I returned and started to do just like everybody else, face the hard life in the village. I mean, farming, lumber, and fishing are the ways of life in our village,” he added. “I remember the first time I decided I was going to contest; it was because I wanted to see changes.”

‘Change’ scarcely sums up the development seen in the community of Tapakuma. According to the Toshao and residents, Tapakuma has developed significantly. Although the community has a long way to go, there is no doubt it is developing at a rapid rate. The most significant improvement in the community has been the state of its road. The access road is a recent gift to the community, but venturing into Tapakuma was a nightmarish journey. Toshao Fredericks shared that, although not yet perfected, Tapakuma’s road has been developed. “In 2019, the road was improved and built up higher. So that was much better; life is much better for us.”

The village has always had its own school and health centre. In recent years, however, they have seen the implementation of an information hub and improvements in the existing school and health centre. These have boosted the community, particularly benefiting its students. Discussing the development of the information hub, the toshao stated, “It is something good for the village, especially for those using the internet. We have a few people doing the GOAL programme, and it benefits them.”

The community’s tourism potential
Although unique, Tapakuma easily identifies with its neighbouring counterparts, villages such as Capoey and Whyaka. But as much as the trifecta shares similarities, Tapakuma stands out with one major differing factor. It is the only one among the three that has not developed in the field of tourism. The toshao says this is due to the community and its lake’s unique location. “The lake is about a mile away from the village, and we do not have easy access to it.” This has been a hindrance to the village’s development. Despite this, the toshao and his council are working to develop the famed Tapakuma Lake and unlock its full potential. Tapakuma is a great example of the importance of natural beauty and how captivating authenticity can be. Tapakuma may not have fully leveraged its natural resources, but it still attracts people from everywhere who come to see its beauty.