It is becoming increasingly apparent that skilled indigenous craftsmen and women are seeking to extend their ambitions beyond simply parading their talents to provide coastal admirers with access to their work through seasonal bazaars at absurdly ‘knocked down’ prices. Twenty-eight-year-old Moruca resident, Naressa Abrams, Proprietrix of Abrams Authentic Products is one of a growing number of Amerindian craftsmen and women (mostly women) who appear to be determined that when their culture and their skills are invested in their creations, the physical and emotional effort must count for something.
Heritage Month, over the years, has come to be seen by Amerindian craftsmen and women as a ‘season’ during which to ‘catch their hands.’ The period prior to September, therefore, is spent by many investing time and talent, along with their own indigenous raw materials, in ‘turning out’ the numerous varieties of their craft, cuisine and clothing and travelling to Georgetown to put in appearances at the various events in the capital.