Dear Editor,
A Journey with the Amerindians – the original inhabitants of Guyana. They have much to celebrate. Their villages are spread across the ten (10) Administrative Regions or 83 000 sq. mls of Guyana and are homes to seventy seven, five thousand Amerindians. They are the descendants of the original inhabitants of our country. In these villages reside the nine Amerindian Peoples or Tribes, viz: The Arawaks, Caribs, Warraus, Patamonas, Akawaios, Arecunas, Macushi, Wai-Wai and Wapishana, the earliest of whom came here over 5000 years BC and lived, according to Guyanese Anthropologist Denis Williams “along Guyana’s North West Coast and in the Orinoco Delta area of neighbouring Venezuela.”
Each tribe came with their own distinctive identities and cultural heritage. These distinctions are found in their language, economic activities, and the nature and extent of their system of governance and more. And so, on the occasion of the 22th Anniversary of Amerindian Heritage Day (September 10, 2022) and, more extensively, Amerindian Heritage Month September 2022, I am confident you would agree with me when I say they did have much to celebrate. Furthermore, Amerindian Heritage month has annually provided, since September 10, 1995, an occasion to celebrate.
But how and when did Amerindian Heritage Month observation begin? What is it all about? The late President Cheddi Jagan first designated September 10, 1995 as Amerindian Heritage Day in memory of Mr. Stephen Campbell, the first Amerindian to enter the Parliament of then British Guiana (September 10, 1957). In fact, Dr. Jagan’s government determined that the entire month of September would be celebrated annually thereafter by all Guyana. The celebration has expanded over the post-1995 years to highlight the special achievements of our indigenous people and in this regard, it does provide opportunity for all Guyanese and non-Guyanese to be able to view, experience and be reminded of the culture of Amerindians in the various villages and communities across our country. It’s a unique culture that most have grown to respect, cherish and helped to preserve.
Institutions which have helped to protect and to preserve Amerindian artifacts include the National Museum, the Walter Roth Museum, the Benab at the Sophia Exhibition Site and the Umana Yana… to name but a few. They all display an array of artefacts unique to the Amerindian way of life: the Amerindian architecture and traditional knowledge of the people. Since 1995 and every September thereafter, an Amerindian Village is designated Heritage Village. Rotation of the Heritage Village provides opportunity for all Guyana to experience and to learn more of the culture and way of life of our Amerindian people. It is celebrated under a theme. Activities and events revolve around the theme. It allows them to market their villages, its people and what they have to offer in terms of goods and services. In short, Amerindian Heritage Month is also a medium for promoting Hinterland Tourism. It provides opportunity to showcase improvements in the lives of the people in the Villages and Communities. Amerindian Heritage month 2022 is being celebrated under the Theme:” Maintaining our Traditional Integrity; celebrating our Cultural Identity”.
Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations provides opportunities for all Guyanese to participate and to share in the culture of our Indigenous people by bringing Amerindian people and their Communities into the mainstream of National Development. For me, it has been a pleasure/a productive period of my life – 1976 to 2015 – living and working among our Amerindian brothers and sisters in their villages and communities. I have learnt a lot from them, and with much humility I have no doubt, they from me also. To our Amerindian comrades I commend your contribution to the development of Guyana; more significantly, for keeping this dear and great land of ours intact so that we could all benefit. It’s all about Amerindian development with culture and identity. They do have much to celebrate. Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Norman Whittaker
Former Advisor, Ministry of
Amerindian Affairs
Former Minister of Local
Government and Regional
Development
