Judy Winter-Smith Makes History as First Wapichan Lawyer from Deep South

Attorney-at-Law Judy Winter-Smith of Aishalton Village, South Rupununi, was admitted to the local Bar on October 7, 2026, marking what the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) described as a significant milestone for the Wapichan people and the Deep South Rupununi.

The APA congratulated Winter-Smith on her admission and welcomed her entry into the legal profession, describing her as the first Wapichan lawyer from the Deep South Rupununi.

The organisation said it looks forward to her contribution to the advancement and protection of Indigenous peoples as she begins her legal career.

“The APA wishes Mrs Winter-Smith a successful career as she begins this new chapter of advocating for her peoples,” the organisation said.

Winter-Smith hails from Aishalton, a titled Amerindian community in Region Nine’s Deep South Rupununi. The village is predominantly Wapichan and serves as a hub for communities in the Deep South area. It has its own schools, hospital, police station, community facilities and other services.

Aishalton is also among the communities with an active unit of the APA, which has more than 40 units across Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight and Nine. The organisation was established in 1991 to advocate for the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples in Guyana.

The achievement comes amid growing recognition of the importance of legal professionals from Indigenous communities in advancing access to justice and addressing issues affecting hinterland and Indigenous populations.

The Deep South Rupununi is predominantly Wapichan territory, with communities having longstanding interests in land rights, natural-resource management, cultural preservation and community development.

Wapichan communities have also developed grassroots systems to monitor their traditional lands and document environmental and other concerns.

Winter-Smith’s admission follows another recent milestone for Region Nine, with Lethem native Rennata A. Nickram admitted to the Guyana Bar in September and expressing plans to eventually return to the region to practise law and improve access to legal services.

For the APA, Winter-Smith’s achievement represents more than an individual professional accomplishment. Her entry into the legal profession adds another Indigenous voice with formal legal training and the potential to contribute to advocacy and representation for communities in the Deep South Rupununi and beyond.

The organisation extended its congratulations as Winter-Smith begins her career at the Bar and takes on the responsibility of serving her community and advocating for Indigenous peoples.