While commemorating International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples yesterday, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs launched the calendar of activities as well as unveiled the theme for Amerindian Heritage Month.
Come September, Amerindian Heritage Month will be celebrated under the theme “Celebrating our traditional culture while building one Guyana.”
The theme, according to Minister Pauline Sukhai, reflects President Irfaan Ali’s vision of creating ‘One Guyana’. She added that indigenous communities should come together in furtherance of this vision as well.
“We would like to say to you that in September we will bring a whole package of what the Amerindian traditional knowledge is about. What indigenous culture is about and what our traditional custom is like. We will be able to introduce to this country again, our unique dances, our music, our food, and of course the treasure of the way we work, the way we live as one. With our president, Dr Irfaan Ali pursuing a One Guyana we can truly say that we feel very proud in this country as Amerindians, as indigenous people, as the first people because we can call ourselves anything we want in this nation that we would be making our contribution. We will be taking our position in this country and we will contribute to Guyana transitioning into a modern country,” Sukhai said.
The activities for Heritage Month will commence on August 31 with the Amerindian religious service and the official cultural extravaganza to start celebrations will be held on September 1 at the National Stadium, Providence. The much anticipated Amerindian arts, craft and cuisine expo returns to the Amerindian Village in Sophia from September 2 to 5. It opens at 10 am daily.
According to the calendar of activities, the Ministry would also be hosting the heritage pageant and games.
This year, the Region Two indigenous community of Mainstay/Whyaka has been selected as the Heritage Village.
Yesterday was also International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and this year it is being observed under the theme “The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge”. The Ministry used that occasion to also honour five indigenous women who have been contributing to the development of indigenous peoples and culture.
The women are veteran radio broadcaster and current Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Communications Network (NCN) Michella Abraham Ali, former Vice Chair of Region One Sarah Browne Shadeek, indigenous culture icon Gloria Duarte of Rupertee Village, indigenous scholar Laureen Pierre and general surgeon Dr Latoya Outridge.
Addressing the gathering, Sukhai said that the rights of indigenous peoples are guaranteed under the law and that the government has had a long history of respecting and furthering those rights. She said that the Irfaan Ali administration is one that respects indigenous peoples and will always ensure that they are comfortable.
“I want to say that our president His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali has even made us even more comfortable in this country. At the last NTC and even prior to that, he mentioned very clearly that indigenous people and the Amerindians of Guyana should feel comfortable that their rights will be honoured, protected and recognized,” Sukhai said.
She added “With that being said I also want to say that with his philosophy of building a One Guyana, it is truly important that our country see ourselves as one.”
The Minister urged every indigenous person never to be ashamed of their identity.
“We should never be ashamed of being champions for ourselves. We should never be ashamed of our identity. We should never be ashamed of where we come from or where we’ve been and where we are today. We are as equal in this country as anyone,” she advised.
Speaking on the theme of Indigenous Peoples Day, Sukhai said that every indigenous woman is truly deserving of being honoured. She acknowledged that indigenous women are more than often leaders in both their homes and villages while ensuring that their culture is preserved.
Meanwhile, Chair of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Derrick John said that he is of the view that the theme for Indigenous Peoples Day is fitting since women are at the forefront of preserving the culture.
“Every year on the 9th August [this observance] just speaks volumes of the role or the contributions that indigenous people have made and those are that we can have a safer world for future generations. In our country, we have seen where Indigenous women have played a significant role in our society and I’m really glad that on this occasion we are able to honour five indigenous woman. I know that there are several others who have made a significant contribution also but yet we cannot at this time, be able to recognize the vast contribution of our indigenous women,” John said.
While expressing his gratitude for being reelected as Chair of the NTC, John also said that the NTC is “the sole legal elected body that represents the indigenous peoples of Guyana.”
A number of cultural groups also performed at the event.
