Dear Editor,
The First Peoples of Guyana are enjoying an entire month of heritage celebrations as we open our wonderful communities to Guyanese of all walks of life so they can participate in the many national heritage events that will be taking place from coast to the hinterland during September.
I take this opportunity to join with my many brothers and sisters during this special month to celebrate the unique heritage, diverse culture and outstanding achievements of the First Peoples in Guyana. Our culture is reflected in our way of life, and we like to celebrate the heritage given to us by our ancestors.
The First Peoples’ languages are as follows: Akawaio, Arawak, Arekuna, Carib, Makushi, Patamona, Wapishana, Warrau and Wai-Wai.
While we celebrate we must also stay focused on the many struggles we face and it is at these events that we must highlight how determined we are in the fight to demand that the authorities give us full rights to our lands and resources.
It is a well-documented fact that First Peoples have historically faced the denial of their rights, been victims of ancestral knowledge theft and experienced the destruction of their livelihoods. Despite this, First Peoples still possess rich and diverse cultural knowledge, language, values, traditions, customs, symbolism and spirituality. These components form the basis of our cultural heritage, and allow us to interact with and have a positive influence on the economic, social and political dynamics of our lovely motherland, Guyana. Traditional knowledge has been stored in the memory of First Peoples for centuries, and is seen through the day-to-day activities of men and women. It is expressed through stories, songs, folklore, dances, myths, cultural values, beliefs, rituals, local language, agricultural practices, tools, materials, plant species, etc. In essence, the natural environment is what makes the knowledge of each people unique and different from that of any other. The First Peoples’ greatest and most laborious achievement so far is the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in the belief that First Peoples’ control over the events that affect their lands, territories and resources will maintain and strengthen their institutions, cultures and traditions and promote the development of individuals according to their aspirations and demands.
However, despite this UN declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples there is still hesitation by our government to implement targeted strategies and policies that facilitate and foster First Peoples use, processing and management of their natural resources for food security and health through self-determination and autonomy.
As a Lokono Arawak, I call on all of the Native First Peoples organizations operating in Guyana and the wider region to come together and develop strategic programmes in the best interest of fostering First Peoples’ well-being and health.
I make a plea to the Government of Guyana to respond positively to the voices and cry of the First Peoples not only to recognize the UN declaration but most importantly to implement policies protecting their cultural knowledge and customs and overall health (mental, emotional, spiritual, physical) and well-being.
Five indicators of the UN Declaration for Indigenous Peoples’ rights stressing cultural indicators for food security, food sovereignty and sustainable development:
1. Access to, security for, and integrity of lands, territories, natural resources, sacred sites and ceremonial areas used for traditional food production;
2. Abundance, scarcity and/or threats regarding traditional seeds, plant foods and medicines, food animals, and the cultural practices associated with their protection and survival;
3. Use and transmission of methods, knowledge, language, ceremonies, dances, prayers, oral histories, stories and songs related to traditional foods and subsistence practices, and the continued use of traditional foods in daily diets;
4. Indigenous Peoples’ capacity for adaptability, resilience and/or restoration regarding traditional food use and production in response to changing conditions;
5. Indigenous Peoples’ ability to exercise and implement their rights to promote their food sovereignty.
Yours faithfully,
Rickford Adrian
