Amerindian Heritage Month 2020 celebration will be held virtually under theme “Fostering traditional practices for a safe environment” for the entire month of September.
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, during a virtual press conference on Friday, announced that the annual Amerindian heritage celebrations would abide by COVID-19 guidelines. She said that in keeping the nation safe, all are invited to be a part of the online activities which will be used to promote knowledge about the indigenous peoples’ culture including their art, craft and produce.
By sticking to a budget below $15 million, the Minister said that the observance which brings recognition and honour to Guyana’s Indigenous people will feature productions that will be accessible for television broadcast.
The indigenous people will be able to showcase their talents and be appreciated for it with the use of an online marketplace for craft, art and other items where they will be advertised for sale, Sukhai informed. She said that these items will be indigenous-owned and will be advertised on the Ministry’s Facebook page.
Indigenous cuisine will also be made available and all those interested are encouraged to get on board and participate in the celebrations.
The schedule of events is yet to be confirmed, however, Sukhai disclosed that pre-recorded cultural presentations will be aired on NCN every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 11am, 8pm and 4pm, respectively. An art exhibition will commence virtually from the 7th and will continue until the 30th of September. Cuisine day will be on Wednesdays and for persons interested in sampling the indigenous cuisines, they will have to contact the Ministry as a venue for pick up is yet to be decided.
To facilitate a better understanding of the Indigenous culture, Zoom lectures will be broadcast on television starting from September 10. And so as not to forget Stephen Campbell, the first Indigenous Member of Parliament, there will be documentary programmes aired in his honour.
According to the Amerindian Affairs Minister, these activities will honour the indigenous people and the theme used this year is significant because the traditional practices maintained by the Indigenous peoples of Guyana is one pathway which the indigenous people can use to continue to secure their customs and traditional practices that are manifested in the talent and the cultural heritage displayed by them.
