How a remote Indigenous community is carving a path forward through leadership, culture, and bold development

ALL across Guyana, communities, both small and large, are working alongside the country’s leaders to drive development while balancing the preservation of culture. But Indigenous communities are banding together, taking bigger, bolder steps. With the recent National Toshaos Council Conference, leaders had the opportunity to share their experiences and bring the concerns of lesser-known communities to the forefront. One such community is Turunbang Settlement, located in Region Seven.

Among the passionate leaders speaking on behalf of her home was Colleen George, Senior Councillor of Turunbang Settlement. Representing a remote village deep within the Upper Cuyuni River, George brought not only the concerns of her people but also the passion and drive to work with Guyana’s leaders to put her community on the map.

Turunbang may not be known to most, but for the families who call it home, it is a peaceful, breathtaking piece of Guyana’s frontier. A culturally rich and diverse community, Turunbang stands as both a guardian of tradition and a settlement striving to meet modern needs. Being nestled close to the border adds a layer of complexity to life there. However, Councillor George describes the community as peaceful, serene, and a hidden gem open to the possibilities of tourism. “Turunbang is not a big community; we are actually very small, but it is a very peaceful place. Our community is very beautiful,” she stated.

No stranger to leadership, Councillor George has served on her community’s council for more than three years, years that she says have been challenging but fulfilling. Born and raised in Turunbang, Councillor George has seen her community grow and change over the years, with some sectors transforming more than others. Her passion for change, coupled with her love for her community, is what initially pushed her to become a leader.

And although leadership was not her first choice, she now believes it was her calling. Prior to joining Turunbang’s council, Councillor George worked various jobs in the community before being elected. “I have been Senior Councillor for the past three years. My family belongs to the community, but we have never worked in the council or with the government,” she added. “But I have always been working in a few different places, and then the village elected me as Senior Councillor. I decided to take the responsibility.”

During her tenure, Turunbang has seen progress across various sectors. As a riverine community, Turunbang has focused on developing areas such as agriculture, carpentry, and transportation. That attention and emphasis, coupled with governmental support, have given rise to significant development in recent years. Highlighting a few of these changes, Councillor George stated, “My community has seen changes, especially in certain areas. For example, we have our carpentry centre, and we have development in agriculture. We now have our village shop. We completed our multipurpose building,” she further added, “We also have transportation because we are in the river area. So we use boats to transport and reach from point A to point B,” she stated.

The development hasn’t come easy, and the community still faces hurdles. Like many other hinterland villages, education is a significant focus for Councillor George. While issues like health, water, electricity, and land demarcation remain top priorities, bolstering education is next on the community’s agenda. Reflecting on her time at the conference, she states, “It has been good so far, and I’m glad for this opportunity where we can bring our issues.” She added, “Our main goal right now is education; we want to develop education for the children in the community.”

For Senior Councillor George, education is the next vital step in developing Turunbang to its full potential. “I want to develop education to make a better quality of life in the community,” she added. With major announcements and initiatives expected to begin soon in communities like Turunbang, Councillor George is ready to work with her community and the government to develop vital areas.

As a passionate leader, George describes her role as both fulfilling and demanding, expressing the emotional and mental strength required of Indigenous leaders. “Being a leader is not easy, and it’s very challenging, but I love the community and the people,” she stated. As Guyana’s Indigenous communities gain greater access to national conversations and developmental resources, settlements like Turunbang have a renewed sense of optimism and drive to see the tangible benefits of state support. “I feel great about the conference and what I heard coming to our community because it’s going to help a lot, for the residents, for the community, for development,” George said. “On behalf of my community, I want to thank the government for supporting us in our settlement to develop. And also, I want to say, we are with Guyana. The community, the settlement, is with Guyana, and we want to work along,” she added.

As the conference concludes and attention shifts towards action, leaders like Colleen George are anchoring their communities in unity, vision, and progress. Whether through education, health, or infrastructure, they are laying the groundwork for a future where frontier villages like Turunbang are no longer remote in opportunity but integral to the nation’s journey forward.