Amerindian Culture Deep down in the interior of Guyana, far from the noise and bustle of Georgetown, her only modern city, tiny Amerindian villages bask in the sun on the savannas, lie lazily along the banks of gently flowing rivers or are tucked into little known folds of rain forest. These are the indigenous people of Guyana. They are quiet people, peaceful and shy, beautiful to behold with their light brown skin, shining eyes and welcoming smiles. They live quite the same now as they have for thousands of years.
Amerindian man weaving a matapi
Generations of Amerindians have sustained themselves completely from the land. They drink the water from their rivers and mountain streams, which have not yet been turned to poison by pollution. They can derive their tools and weapons directly from the forest, fashioning bows and arrows from reeds, natural hardwoods, plant fibers and feathers. Dugout canoes are carved out of the trunks of trees. Palm fronds can just as easily be plaited into roofing material as they can be woven into an instant backpack for carrying food and supplies into and out of the forest. The Amerindians know which plants can be used to ease nausea, treat a headache, or prevent pregnancy. And they have folklore and songs about the plants and trees and animals of the rain forest that explain the natural events around them and define their own relationship to the land. They bleed natural rubber from “balata” trees, and fashion intricately detailed figurines and village scenes by melting the rubber in old pots over an open fire and shaping the tiny rubber details by hand. Their staple food is the cassava root, which the women spend many hours preparing in special “cassava huts” so that it can be made into flat bread, tapioca or any of a wide variety of main course foods. Their nights are dimly lit by oil lamps, or just by stars. The music they listen to comes from the birds in the forest or, after the sun has gone down, from the insects, and from the Howler monkeys whose haunting calls roll through the night like typhoon winds. The Amerindian people are, in so many ways, rich. Their wealth comes from their culture, which is beautiful and honest.
From their connection to the natural world, which has sustained them since the beginning of time. From the slow, steady pace of their unhurried lives that are ruled by the rising and setting of the sun and by rainy or dry seasons, but not by clocks, deadlines or tightly wound schedules. Some of the trappings of modern society have filtered into Amerindian villages, and of course, they desire these “things”. Outboard motors on small boats work better than paddles. Provided with fabrics, needles and spools of colorful thread, the women’s sewing clubs produce detailed, hand stitched tapestries that are attractive to visitors. While string can be made sufficiently from plant fiber, nylon string is a desired commodity. Typical Amerindian villages do not have electricity, but if a primary school or community building can be powered by the donation of a generator, computers or DVD player, worlds of educational possibilities can open up for the children who are generally lucky to even have books. Modern medicine, also, to help with illnesses like malaria, is more effective than what the forest might provide. The inevitability of the modern world seeps in to lure young Amerindians like a pied piper. It threatens not only a slowly fading traditional culture, but Guyana’s intact ecosystems as well. However, there is a glimmer of hope that what is precious about Guyana can be saved. Many village elders are becoming increasingly reluctant to relinquish the land of their ancestors to international exploitation and destruction. And young Amerindians are beginning to step forward in defense of their cultural heritage by pursuing eco-cultural economic alternatives, understanding that the key to their future lies in their past.
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