By Miranda La Rose
Cultural activist and former aircraft pilot Ovid Williams of the Patamona nation, North Pakarimas is on a mission to research and retain the original place names as earlier ascribed by the Indigenous People of Guyana, as well as their meanings. He hopes to make obsolete the names by which they are now known.
“In English, the names of the places originally named by the Indigenous People do not have meanings, but in their original languages they do. For example, Aishalton should be reverted to Aishara Toon. In Wapichan it comes from the ‘aishara’ vine known also as the ‘haiarie’ vine and ‘toon’ meaning land or island. I want Guyanese to know the history and value of our Indigenous names,” Williams, 68, told Stabroek Weekend in a recent interview.