Dear Editor,
Stephen Campbell, a man from humble beginnings in Moruca, is behind the heritage celebrations in September in Guyana. His great courage and hard work in representing his people gave him recognition in the legislature in 1957 as the country’s first Indigenous parliamentarian.
Coming from a poor Amerindian background, he, like many others in the country, worked in the logging, bauxite, and balata industries. Engaging in these labourious activities taught him the harsh reality of Amerindian life, which hasn’t changed much in this modern-day nation. In contemporary society, many young men still seek quick cash in places like the gold mines and logging where most times they are underpaid to make ends meet to maintain their families.
Mr. Campbell’s humble beginnings and grounding in Christian teachings laid the foundation for his success after he soon abandoned his previous money enterprise and considered pursuing a different path in life. A time when the Catholic Church was expanding its mission in the South Rupununi. While working among the Wapichan people in Sawariwau village, Mr. Campbell taught catechism and literacy to the children. This activity led him to the first bilingual education experience among the Wapichans, where the English Language made contact with the local Wapichan language.
Apart from Mr. Campbell’s engagement with teaching, he recognized the people’s rich culture and language, the environment, their right to land, their unique modest lifestyle, and their vulnerability. These experiences along with his previous ones in the North-West district motivated him to realize his potential to become a great representative for his people in the advent of Guyana’s independence.
In retrospect of the trailblazer’s trajectory, it reflected that he was a man who wanted the best for his people. They must be properly represented and have a dignified life in Guyana. He was a fearless person who had a strong sense of social justice to represent the forgotten and gentle people. His meeting with authorities, nationally and overseas, demonstrated his passion for the betterment of Amerindians in Guyana. If it was not for Mr. Campbell’s genuine passion for his people, who else have could done it for us?
This being said, in this time of modernization and advancement across all Amerindian communities in Guyana, who would be the next Stephen Campbell to genuinely represent us in parliament and other higher levels without bowing to powers? Because up to the present, we continue to see fellow Amerindians starting brave but losing track due to individual agendas and personal gains, ultimately showing that anyone can buy and trample on us easily and kick us around like a football by those in authority. This reality makes me sad and ponder that still in this twenty-first century, we continue to be vulnerable and are not strong enough to face up to politicians and others with money who dangle it in front of us catching our attention, and in the midst, we turn a blind eye to consequences even if we sell out our people and forests etc.
There is a need for a new Stephen Campbell who must be able to represent and assist us in adapting to the changes in communities occurring with the entry of technology that is transforming our lives, particularly the young generation.
To know how to use gadgets wisely for success in enhancing our education, culture and traditions and not allow cell phones and social media to replace family, and collective efforts to get things done in villages. The new Stephen Campbell (man or woman) must continue to encourage us to know how to fish and hunt and toil harder to earn more cash to pay bills and also be technologically savvy in contemporary Amerindian communities across Guyana.
The twenty-first century Stephen Campbell must also guide Toshaos to be alerted in dealing with outside influences; for example, economic development should not overshadow or stifle indigenous ways of development. There must be a balance with the rapid transformation taking place in Amerindian communities. The other is sustaining the culture and traditions but not allowing exaggerated extravaganzas and ‘washdown party activities’ to override the Indigenous way of fun and entertainment, again balance must be there. If not, I fear all or most cultures and traditions of our people will be gone and recorded in history books soon.
Indigenous resilience which is rooted in cultural values, has collectively empowered us over the years to dialogue with outside forces. It also assisted us in finding ways to sustain our worldview and Indigenous identity. These unique strengths must be fostered by the new Stephen Campbell and must serve as a tool to lobby for more lands to be demarcated so that we continue to be stewards of the forests and lands, contributing to Guy-ana’s green development and also addressing social ills in communities.
The twenty-first century Stephen Campbell should promote the other aspect of modern development that all should not only be centred on material comfort but emphasis must also be placed on addressing social issues. For example, report and jail sex offenders in communities and leadership in villages, control the exaggerated use of alcohol consumption, domestic and gender-based violence, try to understand and fix the issues of many broken homes, teenage pregnancies, excessive use of alcohol, incest, and other ills which plague our communities causing many families and children to suffer from trauma.
There is a need for collective efforts to address these issues that spoil our ‘good life’ in communities. As a suggestion, the new Stephen Campbell should work with church leaders, elders, teachers, and villagers to mobilise to visit homes and hold regular workshops to educate people on these issues. This initiative can help Indigenous communities combat social ills and have fewer people suffering emotionally as a result of obsession over material comfort that turns a blind eye to social ills in communities.
Sincerely,
Medino Abraham.
