Indigenous women and youth from the Upper Mazaruni District, Region Seven are calling for increased awareness and education regarding the Amerindian Act of 2006, as well as an emphasis on language preservation and skills training programmes, a release from the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has stated.
It informed that these calls were made during a three-day leadership and governance workshop which ran from October 29 to November 1 in Paruima Village, Upper Mazaruni District, which targeted Indigenous women and youth and was facilitated by the APA in collaboration with the Upper Mazaruni District Council (UMDC). Participants included over 100 women and youth from Jawalla, Phillipai, Omanaik, Kamarang, Waramadong, Kako, Paruima, and Chinoweing.
These trainings are expected to develop new and emerging leaders with a strong sense of leadership who are proud of their heritage and traditions and knowledgeable of their rights in the context of village and national development efforts and policy changes.
Funding for the event was provided by the Nia Tero Foundation, which supports the work of the APA and UMDC.
According to the release, during the three days, both women and youth were exposed to leadership and governance concepts to understand the leadership styles that best promote Indigenous peoples’ rights and people-centred development and governance at the community level. Participants also explored the elements of effective communication, public speaking in leadership roles, land and resource management and community development.
It was observed that while discussing village governance, many participants related that although they were aware of the Amerindian Act, they were not familiar with all of its contents. As such, recommendations were made for more opportunities to be created to deepen understanding of the law and rights as Indigenous peoples. They also used the opportunity to highlight some of the issues affecting their respective communities, including illegal mining and limited monitoring and protection of the environment, especially their waterways.
Participants also proposed a phased initiative for language preservation and urged village councils to create youth engagement strategies that could include stipends and exchange programmes between villages and regions. The need for Global Positioning System and mapping training, especially in Omanaik, was identified as a priority, along with the implementation of craft skills training for the entire Upper Mazaruni Centre.
These recommendations, the release explained, are designed to build a more inclusive and empowered district, driving sustainable development and active community participation. The workshop sessions were facilitated by staff from the APA’s Policy and Mapping and Monitoring departments with support from the UMDC’s advisor John Andries.
At the close of the activity, participants shared a series of recommendations to strengthen district-wide community development and engagement. They emphasised the need for increased training in critical areas such as finance, accounting, office administration, leadership, and public speaking. Additionally, they highlighted the importance of human rights education, legal knowledge, and guidance on the toshao election process.
This is the third activity of its kind facilitated by the collaborative efforts of the APA and UMDC and is a direct response to repeated calls for training that targets Indigenous women and youth in the region. In 2021, the first women and youth workshop was held in Kamarang/Warwatta, and the second in Kako Village, Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven, the release added.
