Guyanese Online

—By Francis Quamina Farrier – on Indigenous Heritage month

September is observed as Indigenous Heritage month by many Indigenous peoples of the Americas, including the USA.

Stephen Campbell

This is also here in Guyana, where September 10 is celebrated as the Day for National Indigenous Hero, Hon. Stephen Campbell. He was the very first Indigenous Guyanese to serve in the country’s legislature (Parliament). Stephen Campbell worked tirelessly for the upliftment of his people, especially for land rights. He died on May 12, 1966, just two weeks before Guyana’s independence on May 26, 1966. Campbell Town which is adjacent to Lethem in Region 9, is named to his honour and memory. (see video on Stephen Campbell at end of article)

For the purpose of this article, I decided to look at the fortunes, or lack thereof, of the Indigenous peoples of the “A-B-C” countries of South America; Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Columbia and Chile.       

  ARGENTINA

Argentina is located at the southern end of South America, and is 1.07 million square miles in size – second only to Brazil in South America. It is a country which I have visited on a few occasions. With a population of 45 million, 600,000 identify themselves as being Indigenous. However, it has been established that there are those who do not admit to being Indigenous, because of the racism against their people in Argentina. There are also many Argentines who are part Indigenous. –

In 1995 the government of Argentina established a Federal Law to combat racism against the Indigenous citizens. A law which previously prohibited the use of Indigenous names was also revised. At this time, the country is being hard-hit with the COVID-19 pandemic. There are now over 402 thousand cases and 9,000 deaths; many being Indigenous.

BRAZIL and BOLIVIA

BRAZIL: Guyana’s giant neighbour Brazil is 3.2 million square miles in size, and the largest country in South America. Its population is 212.560 million. The Indigenous population is estimated at 997,000. The majority of the Indigenous peoples of Brazil have been living on the edge of society since the arrival of the Portuguese in 1500. A lot of their ancestral Lands, principally in the forested areas of the country, have been taken away from them by greedy ranchers of European heritage. In many instances, Indigenous Brazilians have been murdered with impunity especially during the more recent brazen land grabbing. Such reports have been made in a number of International Media over the past two decades.

The news is not good either with the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. There are 3.900 million cases and 121,000 deaths as of the first week of September. Brazil’s COVID-19 fatalities are second only to the United States. Reports out of Brazil are that the government is not letting Doctors Without Borders go to Indigenous villages to assist the people. Some of the Indigenous leaders have organized demonstrations against the Brazilian government. Meanwhile over 170 esteemed Indigenous Elders and Leaders have already died of the disease. They include two of Brazil’s most influential Indigenous Leaders; 66 year old Paulo Paiakan and 71 year old Chief Aritana Yawalapiti. Their deaths is a devastating blow to the Indigenous communities. Over the past four months, a growing number of Brazilians have been making their way into Guyana, entering illegally primarily across the Takatu river in Region 9.

BOLIVIA: Fortunately, the Indigenous citizens of neighbouring Bolivia, experience a much better Standard of Living. In landlocked Bolivia, 2.262 million of the 11 million population is Indigenous. Over 50 percent of the population is “Mestizo”; which is a mix of Indigenous and European. The Indigenous Bolivians enjoy a much higher standard of living than those in Argentina and Brazil, for example. There is now a growing Indigenous Bourgeoisie in Bolivia. Some Indigenous women live the High Society life, wearing the very best and are even able to employ one or even two bodyguards. Bolivia was the first and only country in South America to have elected an Indigenous person as President. Evo Morales, an Indigenous Bolivian, became president of the country and served two terms. Under his presidency, the country developed even more and Indigenous citizens improved their wealth immensely. His popularity remains intact even now.

COLOMBIA and CHILE

COLOMBIA: With a population of 50.666 million, Indigenous Colombians total 1.906 million. Through organization and agitation they have been successful in increasing their land base, and securing Land Titles which cover one third of the country. At present, there is a total of 334 autonomous Indigenous communities in Colombia. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck Colombia, Indigenous leaders took immediate action to keep it from spreading into their communities. All public roads into their communities were blocked and guards stationed. Only vehicles taking food and other essentials were allowed in. At this time, there are 608,000 cases of the COVID-19 in Colombia and 19,400 deaths.

CHILI: Like Guyana, there are nine Indigenous Nations in Chile. Located on the western flank of South America facing the Pacific Ocean, Chile is shaped like a long bora, being 2,653 miles long from north to south, and just 109 miles at its widest section. The population of Chile is 19.12 million, with 1.566 million Indigenous citizens. Classified as being one of the more stable and developed countries in South America, the welfare of the Indigenous population is now foremost in the drafting of a new Constitution for Chile.

MEMORIAL

In closing, I invite you to think of the late Guyanese Lokono artist and archeologist George Simon, AA, of St. Cuthbert’s who went to be with his ancestors two months ago. The planned paving of the access road from the Soesdyke/Linden Highway in to St. Cuthbert’s, may well be christened “The George Simon Drive” by the bishop, on completion.

Cultural Group from the South Rupununi, at the Guyana Cultural Association FAMILY FUN DAY in Brooklyn, New Your, USA, September 2017. (Photo by Francis Q. Farrier)

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QUIETLY HEROIC – STEPHEN CAMPBELL

Video by By Errol Brewster

‘Quietly Heroic’ is a remembrance of the 1st Arawak Parliamentarian in Guyana – Stephen Campbell, in celebration of Amerindian Heritage Month 2013.

In it his daughter – the noted Guyanese woman painter and potter – The Late Stephanie Correia, paints with poems, paintings and recollections an intimate portrait of her father as a private family man, whilst colleagues and opponents of his tell of his political character, his struggles and achievements.

The programme composed from footage taken in 1998, echoes the call of the Amerindian community for a national holiday on 10th September, to commemorate Stephen Campbell’s formal entry in 1957 into the Legislative Council as a representative for the the North West District.