Heritage Month Must Confront Indigenous Rights, Land Threats- GHRA

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is calling for Amerindian Heritage Month to move beyond cultural celebrations and confront what it describes as growing threats to Indigenous rights, particularly over land ownership, mining and access to justice.

In a statement issued September 2, the GHRA criticised the official opening of Heritage Month, arguing that the programme focused heavily on cultural presentations while overlooking issues affecting the lives and security of Indigenous communities.

The association specifically criticised what it said was the failure to give prominence to the July 18 sinking of the MV Barima, a disaster that claimed dozens of lives and disproportionately affected communities in Region One.

The GHRA said Whitewater Community had taken a different approach by dedicating its Heritage Month activities to matters surrounding the tragedy rather than following the official programme.

The association also questioned the government’s emphasis on infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities, including roads, schools, health centres and airstrips.

While President Irfaan Ali has highlighted such investments as evidence of his government’s commitment to Indigenous development, the GHRA argued that the projects represent only a portion of the benefits that should accrue to Guyanese from the country’s natural-resource wealth.

It also questioned whether some infrastructure development is being driven by the interests of the mining sector rather than the needs of Indigenous communities.

The GHRA’s most serious concerns, however, centre on Indigenous land rights and mining activity.

The association argued that communities continue to face obstacles within the legal system when seeking to protect lands they traditionally occupy and use.

It pointed specifically to Chinese Landing, where tensions have continued over mining activity, as an indication of the challenges that other Indigenous communities could face.

The GHRA said the courts have failed to adequately address the fundamental question of Indigenous community ownership of traditional lands.

It argued that the legal system has been reluctant to accept that relatively small and economically underdeveloped communities can exercise complete control over extensive territories containing potentially significant mineral resources.

The association said this has contributed to Indigenous communities being denied effective legal remedies for decades.

In one of its strongest criticisms, the GHRA said:

“The land-grabbing situation in Chinese Landing foreshadows what many communities should prepare to contend with in future.”

The organisation also took issue with what it described as political efforts to assert ownership over Indigenous communities, arguing that communities should be free to engage with political parties and organisations of their choice.

The GHRA is urging Village Councils, the National Toshaos Council and Indigenous organisations to use Heritage Month as an opportunity to examine how Indigenous lands, livelihoods and economic interests can be protected.

It said Heritage Month should emerge from the experiences and priorities of Indigenous communities rather than being shaped exclusively by official programmes.

“A genuine heritage event should not be forced into some straight-jacket that suits Ministerial control but emerges from within the communities and their lived experience, addressing issues of ownership and possession of lands which they traditionally occupy and use.”

The association said a more meaningful observance would place the realities facing Indigenous communities—including the MV Barima tragedy and disputes over traditional lands—at the centre of national attention.

It concluded:

“When Heritage Month genuinely reflects the lived experience of communities, the reality of the Barima tragedy would occupy the place it deserves.”