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Historians and archeologists tell us that there were definitely at least 12 indigenous groups on this land before the Dutch colonised it in the 1700s. As things stand, there are 9 groups – or tribes – remaining. The total population of Indigenous Guyanese is estimated to be close to 80,000 individuals.
Before colonisation, some groups were coastal dwellers while others lived mainly in the rainforest, savannahs and mountains of the hinterland.
The coastal Indigenous peoples are the Kalihna (Carib-Galibi), Lokono (Arawak-Taino) and Warau, whose names reflect the three indigenous language families.
That is to say: language experts have grouped all nine Indigenous languages into three groups based on similarities among them. Often, speakers of an Indigenous language may be able to understand a speaker of another language within the same group.
The interior Amerindians are classified into six groups, or tribes, by anthropologists: Akawaio, Arekuna, Patamona, Waiwai, Makushi and Wapishana. All of these interior groups originally spoke a Carib-based dialect with the exception of the Wapishana, who are within the Taino-Arawak linguistic family.
One does not need to have much more technical knowledge of Indigenous languages to appreciate the cultural significance and importance of preserving them.
Experts say that there are about 14,000 Indigenous Guyanese who can speak their respective languages with varying degrees of fluency. While this number may appear to be relatively high, one should note that almost all speakers of Indigenous languages are above the age of 50 years old. Combined with this, the fact that younger Indigenous Guyanese are not learning their native languages to ensure sustainability. What this means is that some Indigenous languages could become extinct. Incidentally, one of the most endangered languages is the Carib tongue with fewer than 1500 speakers.
One of the saddest facts about the extinction of any language is the high probability that many aspects of a culture are permanently lost whenever a language dies. Often, songs, poems, stories, legends, and traditions are lost. This sad state of affairs is not unique to Guyana. According to the United Nations, some 7000 Indigenous languages are spoken worldwide, unfortunately, though, 2680 of them are in immediate danger of becoming extinct.
The previous A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Administration had recognised how important it is to preserve Guyana’s Indigenous languages.
Shortly after the Coalition came to power in 2015, Former President Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger said, “The rich and diverse culture of our Indigenous peoples need to be safeguarded. I wish to particularly express my hopes for indigenous languages in this republic.” Echoing the president’s position, Former Minister George Norton said that, “Preserving Guyana’s traditional knowledge, languages and practices, is preserving a part of what makes us a nation with a rich cultural heritage – it is a part of the national patrimony which we must pass to the generations to come. The effects of colonisation took its toll and eventually, much of what was Indigenous, faded, however, we cannot allow the language and culture to die.”
Sadly, the determination to preserve Guyana’s Indigenous languages came to an end in August 2020 when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime was installed into office. It appears that preservation of Indigenous cultures is not high on the PPP’s agenda
It is hoped that the PPP regime wakes up to the realisation that keeping the languages and cultures of Guyana’s first peoples alive is more important than running after oil-money and pursuing unfettered autocratic political power.
