Dear Editor,
I do hope that this letter would not be misconstrued, misinterpreted to be politically biased as is often the case when one speak on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Firstly, every citizen of this country, in this instance, the Amerindian Native has his/her right to political party affiliation, but where their Rights are concerned, that takes precedence.
Their right to practise their culture, their way of life, however others might describe it, is theirs to cherish, like any other.
We, the Indigenous Peoples care less what others may think, but we live simply, for the sake of the ones coming after us; our children, our grandchildren, our great, great, great grandchildren. Nothing must change our culture for to do so will become detrimental as it will ultimately go against the Divine Laws of Mother Nature.
We the Indigenous people cherish our forest resources deeply and take only what is needed for our upkeep; the medicines, the lumber, the food, the clean water from our rivers and creeks. No extravagance is practised, nothing is wasted, or destroyed and that is the ultimate reason why Guyana boasts of a huge area of standing forest. Our forests are still standing, although being depreciated on a daily basis.
We might have been labelled, stigmatised as unintelligent people by many, many persons for not “developing” our land spaces, our territories. Now large expanses of land are being distributed to the wealthy so as to “develop”, they say. They must bring “development” to the Indigenous People, they say, so they can “see” the light. They continue to scoff, malign us, derogate us on and on, all because they do not understand how we live. But, little do they know that given the malignant causes, the Culture of the First Peoples will gradually die and so too our sacred forests that we cherish since time immemorial.
Editor, Indigenous Peoples have always lived alongside, and with Nature. Trees, animals, creeks and rivers are their friends. These are too sacred to desecrate as this can result in disastrous consequences to all, should we not listen to and obey Mother Nature.
If not, Nature will take its course.
Absolutely.
Yours truly,
Joseph C. Atkinson
