September has been designated Amerindian Heritage Month in Guyana and this is the time when Amerindians countrywide set aside time to reflect on where we came from, where we are presently and where we are going.
This year’s celebration started out with opening ceremonies at the Umana Yana in Georgetown. President Bharrat Jadgeo and Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Vibert De Souza addressed the gathering which comprised mainly of Amerindians living in Georgetown, representatives of foreign missions and other government representatives.
In his address, President Jagdeo promised that his government would continue to support the development of the Amerindian People.
Celebrations in the hinterland communities took on a more festive, and in some cases more serious nature, or a combination of both depending on the way activities were organised.
Geting ready for the Bullseye heritage celebrations Lethem
Mainstay
According to the tradition of declaring one Amerindian village as heritage village, Mainstay Village on the Esssequibo Coast, Region 2, was named Heritage Village for this year.
Highlights of this village celebrations included Amerindian music, dances, food and other aspects of traditional culture.
The following poem was written and recited by Joan Henry, a resident of Capoey, during the Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations in 1998 at Capoey Village on the Essequibo Coast.
I’m Your Brother
You always say me mad, stupid and
bad
When we quiet you say a dumb
When we speak fu we rights
Now we try to betta we life
To dat is another strife
Me disgust, me disgust
Since we start we journey
Only exploitation, marginalization, and discrimination
Sterotypes of all sorts
Backwardness, cowardice, and stupidity
All attack me? To this age?!
Ah weary! Ah weary wid this load
Ah hear you clearly
When you say we shouda never be alive
But it takes a man
All these tortures to survive
You say ah don’t contribute to the economy
That is true ‘cause when we wuk fuh you don’t
pay we
When we get we self an education and share
in yourso-called sophistication you say we
shoulda be
Where we come from in the Bush
You give lip service to the ideals of justice
and
civil-rights
Yet so statutary lowless
You boast of being civilized, yet so brutally
barbaric
So religionized, yet so demoralized
You say we stupid but me know all yuh styles
Be not weary, do not give up
I have good news for you
As I look with introspection
God has given me the direction
That we Amerindians are a people of noble
distinction
Take my hand my brother
Ours is the same destination
Joan Henry – Capoey Village, Essequibo Coast
Rupununi
Lethem was the venue for the, Rupununi, Region 9 celebrations. Residents from the five sub-regions came together to discuss issues of importance to their communites, including their land rights, the opening up of their area to multinational mining companies and constitutional reform, among others.
Cultural aspects of the communities’ life were also displayed and there were competitions among the sub-regions in various fields. These included archery, cotton spinning in which men, women and children displayed their skill, basket making, football, and even a beauty pageant.
AmerindianHeritage Month Celebrations, September,
1999, Lethem