Dear Editor,
Selfhood is an important concept. In our part of the world what defines our selfhood? What has defined normalcy in our thinking, in our daily lives? Do we simply say, ‘well this is who we are!’ and leave it at that, rather, take it or leave it! Really? The fingers of history are long and stretch down many, many years. The maw of Lady History is filled with the corpses of native populations, of enslaved peoples both Africans and First Nations peoples, of indentured peoples who came as cheap labour and perished, or lived. She breathes her miasma even today into the essence of our societies, not only in Guyana, but in other places where she began her reign. She is alive and well and her fingers touch and taunt and push aside and divide. She keeps injustices alive and well and justified as present day practice.
In our post-slave, post-colonial societies we have inherited old injustices, old cruelties, old structures of control, past degrading practices which were defined and upheld as right and somehow deserved by those who were the victims of these practices. And this thinking is alive today as the fingers of History poke and push, and manoeuvre, a touch here, a touch there, to create today’s acceptance. Don’t doubt this! How else can a court of Guyana not rule against the ancient injustice contained in the ruthless dispossession of the First Nations peoples from their lands by marauding bands of European thieves? The thievery was celebrated and officially recognized as a grand achievement.
They came like Cushay ants taking all in their paths and their kings and queens were happy and boastful and rewarded their appointed thieves and thugs generously.
First Nations did not bequeath their lands to non-tribal persons. They did not relinquish title or right at any time. They always knew that they owned these lands. Stephen Campbell knew this very well and was committed to recognition of tribal land rights wrenched away by invaders. So we come back to Lady History which tells us today as she said at the start: keep a chain on them. Deceive them to feel that they own the lands, but not really. Set controls in place by proclaiming that truly the real owners are the government. They cannot enjoy the freedom of the ancestors. Too much of freedom is too damn bad! Any officially sanctioned miner can come in and destroy a cassava field if he wants to mine, pollute a creek or river to take out mineral wealth. He can destroy environmental wealth free sheet!
Disrespect the Toshao and the elders, disrespect the women. Import some diseases following the example of the European thieves. Show them who is man! Lady History pushes and pokes and divides, and her miasma is a fog that is difficult to see through like the fog on the Waini in early morning. What is encouraging about that river fog is that it lifted off like a blanket being thrown off and suddenly all became clear and bright Morning! And the enslaved and indentured peoples, in their misery and lack of control over their daily lives, inherited the injustice against the First Nations people. The slaves had learnt early on to resist meant a necktie party or mutilation. Also, when we suffer we might well enjoy the suffering of another.
So Lady History manipulates. And in our time, Bob Marley proclaims the need to free ourselves from ‘mental slavery’. Are we going to change or must another prophet come saying the same thing? What is amazing about all of this crushing of tribal land rights is that alongside is the African demand for reparation for hideous wrongs of slavery which could only have existed with the enabling environment created by stolen lands. Without the stolen lands there was no need for plantation slavery. So, the African demand for reparation is also a just one, and they must get what they rightly ask for. They must see, however, that the previous injustice of dispossession of First Nations peoples from their land laid the foundation for the dreadful experience of their own slavery.
So what is our selfhood? Are we merely imitators who perpetuate old injustices? Or will Guyana rise to the challenge of being free? Will the shackles of the marauder be treasured and preserved or will they be consigned to an unenviable past? Why make First Nations bear the yoke of inferiority still? Why insist on their powerlessness? Let the courts give them full and total control over their land and free the Guyanese conscience to move into a new era of national empowerment. Full land rights now for all First Nations of Guyana! Take off the chain! Guyana is big enough and rich enough for all its peoples to be comfortable alongside of each other. Consign to the ashes the disreputable precedent that to steal a man’s land and restrict his control of property is what First Nations deserve.
Recognize that although the unjust denial of land rights was inherited, it does not have to define the selfhood of Guyana,’ the free’. We were all wounded and because of this we must not retard the healing of each other. We must heal together. Recognize full land rights for First Nations. Do not make them beggars for justice. Do not say they own the land but anyone can go over their heads and gain access to their land and do as they please. Courage to First Nations and success to your fight to really own your lands! So I say!
Sincerely,
Gabriella Rodriguez
