A petition has been launched to ask the newly-appointed Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai not to rename the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.
The change.org petition, which was started by Romario Hastings, a resident of Region Seven, also calls for the government to discontinue the use of the label “Amerindian” in official references to Guyana’s indigenous peoples out of the recognition that it is a historical misnomer.
In an interview with Sunday Stabroek, Hastings said that he anticipated a change in ministerial portfolios and designations, including that of the ministry charged with responsibility for the affairs of the Indigenous peoples.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was renamed the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MOIPA) in 2015 under the former APNU+AFC administration.
“At the swearing in, the new minister, the honourable Pauline Sukhai, was publicly designated as Minister of Amerindian Affairs. All new media releases quickly adopted the designation of her appointment. In her brief interview, she also went ahead and made reference to us Amerindians, against which we would not outpour our disapproval vehemently since it has been used interchangeably without opposition by Indigenous peoples,” he said.
However, Hastings added that it is time, especially as youth uncover historical misnomers and colonial inventions, that the Indigenous peoples demand the erasure of the “Amerindian” label from speeches and references, especially from those persons operating as their representatives and leaders.
He said against this background, there are a number of young people who argue against the renaming of the ministry and some, including him, felt as though they needed more force in advancing their proposition and to show how serious they are about their collective identity. Hence the petition.
“I must add [that] this is not politically motivated in any measure, but us simply exercising our right to determine how we want to be addressed as a people,” he said, before noting that he wanted at least 1000 signatures before presenting the petition to the minister. Up to press time, 1,582 persons had signed the petition.
The petition states, “We, the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana congratulate you on your appointment as the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs. We admonish you to execute this duty with the highest regard for the interests and aspirations of our peoples in all matters which may affect us.”
Against this background, it appeals to the minister to refrain from renaming the ministry.
It further states, “To address us as Indigenous Peoples, and not as Amerindians in executing all duties in your capacity as our Minister. To ensure the incumbent government honours this appeal in all references pertaining to Guyanese Indigenous Peoples, especially within the media. The generalized ethnic label “Amerindian” or “American Indian” is now an acknowledged misnomer resulting from the erroneous geography of Christopher Columbus, a label which has been perpetuated without the consent of Indigenous Peoples; a label which will continue to distort our histories and search for our lost and hidden indigenous identities. This historical blunder must end with us,” the petition said.
It adds, “Until we derive a label authentically indigenous and empowering to our peoples collectively, we choose to identify as Indigenous Peoples of this beloved country as enshrined within the Preamble of our Constitution. It promotes solidarity with our brothers and sisters of other nations and also fulfills the spirit of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and similar declarations and conventions. This is our simple request and we hope it is respectfully observed.”
