September is Heritage Month

By Mark DaCosta- Guyanese are currently observing Heritage Month. This annual observance is held every year in Guyana in recognition and honour of the country’s first peoples. The observance is officially called Amerindian Heritage Month by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). However, this publication is aware that many of Guyana’s first peoples object to being called “Amerindian,” preferring to be known as Indigenous – a fact of which the PPP regime is aware but chooses to ignore. This publication – out of an abundance of respect for Guyanese – will refrain from using that government’s designation that may be offensive to many citizens.

Heritage Month began with the commemorations and celebrations of September 10, 1957. That  day – one of the most important on the calendar of Guyanese Indigenous peoples – is the day on which Mr. Stephen Campbell became Guyana’s first Indigenous Member of Parliament. On September 10, 1995, then Prime Minister Dr. Cheddi Jagan officially designated September of every year as Heritage Month. The month was chosen in memory of Stephen Campbell’s achievement. September 10 of each year is celebrated as “Heritage Day.”

Indigenous peoples are defined as first inhabitants of an area and their descendants. Such peoples are found on every continent except Antarctica. Although the term was first used in 1646, there is still no general or universal consensus about a definition. In some territories, Indigenous peoples are seen only as those who have successfully preserved their original cultures, languages, and traditions. In other places, the definition is wider and includes all first peoples whether or not their original values were preserved. And yet, in other countries, any minority is regarded as Indigenous, even if they were not original inhabitants.

As a result of such widely varying definitions, the numbers of Indigenous peoples around the world are differently recognised by various territories. Those numbers vary between 200 million to 600 million people living in some 5,000 communities across the globe.

In Guyana, there are nine (9) distinct Indigenous peoples including nine recognised languages of Akawaio, Macushi, Waiwai, Arawak, Patamona,Warrai, Carib, Wapishana, and Arekuna.

Each of Guyana’s First Peoples occupy different regions of the country, and have various customs and traditions – in addition to different languages.

According to archaeologists, evidence shows that  Indigenous peoples have lived on this land for some 12,000 years. To put such an amazing length of time into perspective, we may consider that it is believed that Jesus walked on earth some 2,000 years ago.

Experts say, too, that in addition to the nine “tribes” of Indigenous peoples who now live in Guyana, there were probably others that have since disappeared. Some experts say that there may have been up to six (6) other Indigenous groups.

As Heritage Month is observed, this publication will continue to report on various aspects of this interesting facet of our collective heritage.