Guyana Chronicle Supplement 29-09-2023

‘Tasinpansa’ sets Main Street ablaze with three-day display of rich Indigenous culture

By Trina Williams

AS Main Street came alive for the first-ever Tasinpansa Festival, Indigenous persons from all walks of life lit up the atmosphere with their tasty foods and drinks, traditional Amerindian wear and colourful craft pieces.

The festival, which derives from a Macushi word and means “we are happy,” ran for three days, September 21-23, and added something new to the annual Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations.

Cruising Main Street left one in a state of bliss

owing to the delightful aromas emerging from delicacies such as the tuma pot and the bright, warm smiles from business owners.

Moreover, the Guyana Chronicle had the privilege of speaking to a few of these talented persons, in order to get an insight into what the

festival meant to them. With Pepe Moreno blasting and transforming the atmosphere into one of vibrancy and exhilaration, Ingrid Cozier, kept the place lively with her Indigenous treats, which would have anyone’s taste buds begging for more.

As she strives to keep the culture alive for future generations to be proud of, Cozier emphasised that that she wants to play her part in sustaining the Amerindian heritage.

Cozier who is a member of the Warrau tribe, said that all of her ingredients are from Region One (Barima-Waini), where she is also originally from.

She aims to source her ingredients from Amerindian villages in order to bring out the authenticity of the various eatables and beverages she makes.

Catering to persons’ every need, she provides a range of products such as: cassava bread, piwari and fly.

When asked what sparked her love for continuously replicating traditional Indigenous cuisine, she said it was her grandparents.

“My grandparents used to do this business [when] I [was] growing up with them. I continue with this because I feel that Indigenous people

from out of Georgetown [their] product is not here,” Cozier said.

Furthermore, she added: “The up and coming indigenous youths must know about our products, not stray away from our lifestyle.”

Additionally, Cozier lauded the exposure her business was getting and said that it was her intention to expand.

“It’s really great because I never have this exposure,” she said, adding that the government’s intervention has pushed her to be more visible.

“I want to say thank you to the government, for our small business being showcased here,” Cozier gleefully remarked, adding: “Can’t complain, this was great.”

Shy yet passionate about her craft, Martina Samuels, from the Arawak tribe accredited her mom for the joy she has for creating various craft items from scratch.

She said that every September for Amerindian Heritage Month, she and her family would

participate in exhibitions in order to showcase their talents.

“I grew up seeing my mom and seeing this is where my mom got her income from. So I am working on my own too… Now I have my own family and we do the craft work,” the Santa Mission resident said.

With over 30 years in the field, Samuels has perfected her craftsmanship which comes to her like second nature.

On display were: vibrant earrings to put some colour back into one’s face, jewellery boxes to place the valuables in, slippers, baskets and traditional Amerindian wear.

When asked where she sees her blooming business in five years from now, Samuels said: “I want to expand.”

Moreover, she gave credit to the government for providing such a large platform, not only for her, but for others to show the Guyanese community what they have to offer.

Ingrid Cozier (far right) and her sisters display some of the traditional Amerindian products they make

Martina Samuels at the Tasinpansa Festival (Delano Williams photos)

Abrams Authentic Products: Preserving traditional knowledge, supporting Amerindian artisans

By Cassandra Khan NARESSA

Abrams, a dedicated medical technologist with a passion for preserving traditional knowledge, has embarked on a remarkable journey.

Abrams, who hails from Waramuri Village, Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini), is the founder and owner of Abrams Authentic Products (AAP), a brand committed to providing customers with high-quality, organic, and authentic indigenous products.

From cassava casareep to crabwood oil and handcrafts, each item sold by AAP is a tribute to indigenous heritage and a lifeline for local artisans.

"I've recognised that access to authentic Indigenous products can be quite a challenge, leaving interested persons with limited options," Abrams recently explained.

"This realisation led to the birth of Abrams Authentic Products last year, in July,” she added.

AAP's core products include cassava casareep, crabwood oil, cassava bread, and an array of handcrafted items. What sets AAP apart is its fair trade partnerships with indigenous artisans from various regions in Guyana. Each artisan, Abrams explained, is paid a fair price for their

work, ensuring a sustainable income for indigenous communities.

Abrams diligently seeks out these artisans by attending exhibitions including the ones held during Amerindian Heritage Month, where potential suppliers are identified.

"I will explain to them my business and if they will be interested in supplying me," she said.

The partnerships have led to hammocks from Mabaruma, bags from Region Two and earrings from Region Nine. All of the items are skillfully crafted by indigenous women.

Though AAP doesn't have a physical location, you can easily find them on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Orders can be placed via phone at 678-9755, and Abrams ensures timely delivery by coordinating with her suppliers.

In Georgetown, where she has resided for about 10 years, she repackages the

products for distribution.

Abrams, who recently graduated from ActionInvest’s ‘Road to Growth’ programme, expressed her gratitude for the knowledge she was able to gain.

"Going into business, I didn't know much about how to run one. This programme provided me with the fundamentals," she stated.

Despite working part-time as a medical technologist, Abrams acknowledged the challenges of juggling multiple responsibilities. "Some days, I feel burned out," she related.

"However, having a resilient mindset is what makes me succeed in this journey,” she noted.

Abrams in explaining her vision for AAP said: "My future plan for my business is to have my products in all leading supermarkets throughout Guyana."

"My whole busi -

ness is to support indigenous communities and help promote and preserve local traditions by marketing to various markets."

Abrams emphasised the importance of preserving indigenous traditions and knowledge. "Much of our traditional knowl-

edge is close to being lost," she lamented before adding, “With me doing this, I hope to inspire other indigenous people to continue what we do and pass down our knowledge to the younger generation.”

At 28 years old, she is deeply committed to preserving indigenous heritage while empowering local artisans.

Abrams Authentic Products is not just a brand. It was created for indigenous communities to help ensure that their traditions and crafts continue to thrive.

Founder and owner of Abrams Authentic Products (AAP), Naressa Abrams

Some of the products made by Amerindians that are sold by AAP

Amerindian youths show off dance moves at ‘Tasinpansa’ concert

TASINPANSA (Ta-shinpan-sa) is a Macushi word meaning, ‘We are happy’. This year, an event bearing this name was held to showcase Amerindian food, culture, crafts and much more in an exhibition form, over a three-day period in the Main Street Avenue.

On the final night, a concert which featured numerous dance performances by Amerindian youths was held. There was also some vocal talent on display.

Among those featured were popular indigenous dance groups such as the Aishalton Culture Group,

the Santa Mission Culture Group, the Cumang Culture Group, the Twins of the Deep South and the Batavia Culture Group.

Included in the lineup were performances by the St Cuthbert’s Mission Culture Group, and the well-known sister act, The Riverside An-

gels. This year’s cultural concert was one with a difference as it saw participants moving away from traditional Amerindian songs. Some sang international songs, while others danced to soca and dancehall music.

A song was performed

by Crystal Williams, while Lebron Smith, Jenissa Dickson and Carrieann Acampo danced to several popular songs in the Caribbean.

Many of these groups came from as far as the Deep Rupununi and the CuyuniMazaruni, where languages and music know no bounds.

This Heritage Month was held under the theme, “Sustaining Our Cultural Heritage, While Contributing to One Guyana”.

Tasinpansa 2023 was hosted by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

Various Amerindian groups performing at the Tasinpansa concert on September 23 (Delano Williams photo)

Talented Amerindian artists display work at Castellani House

By Faith Greene

FOR the past few years, the National Art Gallery - Castellani House, has hosted the annual heritage exhibition, and this year was no different.

This year’s exhibition featured art and craft from members of ‘The Moving Circle of Artists’ group.

Formerly known as the Lokono Artist Movement, this art and conservation initiative has been actively enriching hinterland and Georgetown communities. Since its establishment in 1987, the group has played a crucial role in bridging cultural gaps and fostering collaboration across diverse indigenous communities.

The Moving Circle of Artists’ main focus, in addition to collaboration among artisans, is on cultural preservation and artistic excellence. The group serves as a shining example of how grassroots initiatives can positively impact communities and promote the rich heritage of a nation.

This year’s heritage exhibition was held under the theme, ‘An Exhibition of Cultural Identity and Representation.’

According to the creators of this spectacular showcase, the Amerindian artists were urged to embark on a journey that would take them through the bright world of art and craft and one where tradition meets innovation and identity finds its voice.

The aim was to celebrate how artists from a number of backgrounds and experiences were able to express their rich native heritage. This was done through painting, sculpturing, and several other means of artistic expressions.

One of the most remarkable pieces at the heritage exhibition was titled, ‘A Chronology of Neglect’ and was collectively designed by Nigel Butler, Pekahiah James, Ransford Simon, Sheliza Rampersaud, and Bevan Allicock.

This creation aimed to shed light on the very often forgotten story of the Amerindians’ contribution to Guyana’s art and culture.

This creation challenged its viewers to approach the historical negligence, and to work toward an inclusive and appreciative future where Guyana’s rich cultural tapestry can be completely appreciated and celebrated, the

description on the piece said. The creation was described as a thought-provoking installation that delves into the forgotten pages of Guyana’s history. Additionally, it specifically highlighted the rich contributions of the Amerindian culture to art and society.

The piece which served as the main point of the exhibit, has a timeline of three divided sections. Each section represents a distinct phase of native contribution to Guyanese art and history. At the very top of the canvas is a painting in red to orange hues which symbolises the early vibrant contributions of the indigenous communities. These colors, the description noted, capture the spirit and vitality of the indigenous traditions that have contributed to shaping our nation. Standing out on this canvas is the middle and second section which was left blank and folded, to symbolise the

Continued on page 7A

Some of the work done by talented members of ‘The Moving Circle of Artists’ group (Delano Williams photos)

Batavia: The beautiful ancient district

By Shaniya Harding

THE village of Batavia was founded and the name has been said to mean ‘The ancient district’. At the time, the village was a small group of farmers, hunters and fishermen. Today, the village of Batavia is 600 people strong with more than 130 households. This little village located along the Cuyuni River was selected as this year’s Heritage Village as part of the 2023 Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations. Batavia runs alongside both banks of the Cuyuni River, and for the people of this little

community, boats are a must for life on the river.

Donna Boyal is Batavia’s Deputy Toshao and as a deputy, teacher and villager, she deeply understands the village of Batavia. Donna grew up in Batavia and she recounted what life as a child in Batavia was like.

“As a child growing up, I enjoyed coming to school because we used to paddle in our canoe to get to school. I live on the right bank of the Cuyuni River, and growing up, there were ten of us in the family. And there were only two girls. I was the baby, the favourite, because my father

passed away a very long time ago when I was like three years old. And growing up without a father was very hard as a child. But my mother always tried her best for me,” the Toshao recalled.

Batavia village stretches for several miles along both banks of the Cuyuni River. The people of Batavia use the river the same way people elsewhere use roads. With small speedboats constantly traversing the water, school boats bringing home children and neighbours calling to each other from bank to bank, the village of Batavia is truly captivating.

Batavia is made of many

different areas, with the infamous Arian Island being the focal point of most of the community’s activities and where heritage month activities were held this month.

As Donna explained the village’s many areas, she stated, “From the right bank of the Cuyuni River, we have a place named Greenfield. Then we have the Bamboo landing. Then we have the tiger bay and the Pine Tree landing. We have the Flat Rock area and going up, we have the Upper Kamaira, and then the lower Kamaira. Coming down to the left bank of the Cuyuni River, we have the Sandhill area.”

Heritage in the charming little village of Batavia has always been an occasion the people look forward to. So, when the news that they were chosen was delivered, all works and preparation by villagers commenced almost immediately.

Donna stated that “The Arian Island is the proposed site for the heritage celebrations on the 17th. When I heard the news that we were selected as the national heritage village I was happy. And my people were so excited. My residents will prepare our traditional drinks because we always have the best Paiwari, cassiri and beltiri, and when people come, they always enjoy our local drinks and food,” she said.

Batavia has a wide array of their own schools, centres and institutions. Batavia has an ICT hub building, a market building, and the women’s cross centre, where many of the indigenous crafts are still handmade by the women and girls of the village. The village still has a very strong sense of tradition, culture and community. As Donna explained, most of the economic activities of the village are centred around farming, hunting, fishing and logging. Many of the village’s young women have jobs in the field of nursing or teaching.

As a teacher in the past, Don-

na is very passionate about the education of her people. She has been deputy Toshao of Batavia for a little over two years now, and she is working towards bettering the education of the children in her community. “My responsibilities are concerning education and tourism. For education, my role is to make sure the children come to school regularly, mostly based on attendance.”

The responsibility of education in Batavia is a big one, as the community has a high dropout rate. Many of the village youths leave school before completion and, more often than not, don’t further their education. This results in one of the village’s biggest issues currently is unemployment. As Donna explained, “The issues we have are with the dropout from school. Many children aren’t finishing school. We want more people to learn new skills, especially more women, because a lot of them are unemployed. We really want them to learn a skill to help themselves and help their families.”

The community is working towards resolving this problem, however, by trying to get more training in the village, particularly for women and girls.

(First published on September 10, 2023 in the Chronicle Pepperpot)

Donna Boyal (Shaniece Bamfeild photos)

A family crossing the river in their boat

Arian Island Batavia

Promoting culture through tourism

-hoteliers looking at accommodating artisans beyond Amerindian Heritage Month

By Michel Outridge

SEVERAL hotels in Guyana have pledged their support to accommodate artisans in an effort to promote our culture and tourism in designated spaces at their hotels, not only for this month but throughout the year.

Herdmanston Lodge, located in Queenstown, Georgetown was the first to host a handicraft maker, Janet Patterson, who hails from Santa Aratack, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

Patterson told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has been at Herdmanston Lodge for more than 10 years and she is allocated a little space to display and sell her products and those of other indigenous artisans.

She reported that she has a wide variety of craft, all hand-made by herself and others, including jewels, hammocks, fans, purses, baskets, bags, jewel boxes and other keepsakes.

“I feel happy and pleased that I can showcase my products and that of my people at such a prestigious place where both locals and visitors frequent,” she said.

Patterson told the Pepperpot Magazine that she would sell products from the people in Santa

Aratack and other suppliers and has been doing it for many years.

She has been promoting arts and crafts for as long as she can remember and says she has a few years left in her and will continue to promote their heritage for as long as

She came from a family of artisans and is happy to continue the tradition of making and selling indigenous products.

Patterson stated that it is challenging to commute and costly, and she does it as much as she can.

She is of the view that more hoteliers should accommodate artisans to showcase and sell their products at their hotels across the country beyond Heritage Month.

Meanwhile, Herdmanston Lodge Events Manager, Crystal Baptiste told the Pepperpot Magazine that management agreed to accommodate Janet Patterson many years ago and will continue to do so.

Since there isn’t a lot

of space for more artisans, Baptiste related that they can find space if they have new options of mini sculptures and paintings artisans to partner with.

Baptiste added that Herdmanston Lodge remains committed to promoting Indigenous culture and will keep their doors open to artisans.

Jaigobin Hotel, both at Anna Regina and Cotton Field, Essequibo Coast, through their Event Manager, Koreshma Jaigobin, told the Pepperpot Magazine that it is something they are open to.

She stated that they will consider the option in the future, but they do not have the space to accommodate any artisans and their products.

Over at Grand Coastal

Hotel, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, Events Manager, Elena Singh related that they are in the process of rapid renovation, and maybe after that is completed, they will pitch the idea to management. While little shops over at Pegasus Hotel that is at Battery Road, Kingston have since been replaced with offices and there are no craft shops presently, other hotels have since expressed an interest in accommodating artisans and will provide the space when the time is right. Some are also looking at other options to include local craft makers. (First published on September 17, 2023 in the Chronicle Pepperpot)

possible.

Patterson would commute from her village a few times per week to sell all Amerindian products at Herdmanston Lodge and participate in exhibitions including the Amerindian Village at Sophia earlier last week.

Talented Amerindian artists...

silence, ‘missing pages’ and absence of acknowledgement of our native culture. The empty space also serves as an important reminder of the neglect and oversight that has marginalised these contributions.

The bottom and final part of the canvas is adorned with a spectrum of blue shades that evoke the presence of the Caribbean Sea that surrounds Guyana. It represents the resilience and enduring spirit of the Amerindian communities despite the challenges they have faced over the years.

The canvas was suspended in the air by a tree branch

Continued on page 6A

serving as a tangible link to nature and a reflection of the close relationship that Amerindian communities have managed to maintain with the land throughout their history.

Further, the unpolished tree branch symbolises the natural authenticity and beauty of the Amerindian culture. This, the creators noted has been ignored often or romanticized by outsiders.

Woven fibers connected the canvas to the branch and told a story of interconnection and unity. Each of these fibers represent a thread of Amerindian heritage, culture and their contributions to

Guyana’s history.

Among the other incredible works of art on display were paintings done by Pekahiah James, Sheliza Rampersaud, Jeriel Jose, and Nigel ‘Nix’ Butler.

A Simaropa wood water-based painting and varnish, titled ‘Peacock Bass’ by Victor Captain, several mixed 3D art pieces by Jennifer Gibson, and woven crafts by Arlene Hussein were also on show.

The colourful masterpieces by each of these artists truly showcased the level of unlimited talent we have in Guyana.

Local craft, all hand-made pieces (Japeth Savory photos)

Showcasing the Amerindian

Throughout this year’s Amerindian Heritage Month, several activities were held to showcase the Indigenous Peoples’ rich culture. Members of the public had the opportunity to purchase authentic Amerindian cuisine, drinks and craft items. Dance, artwork and other aspects of the Amerindian culture were also on display. The images below capture some of what was offered to the public at the various events (Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Office of the President, Delano Williams, Shaniece Bamfield and Japeth Savory photos)

Amerindian culture

Keeping indigenous art and craft traditions alive

LEOME Willis isn’t just a gifted craft maker but loves what she does for a living, and makes all her products by hand, a tedious process, but she does it anyway.

Willis is the owner of the only craft shop in her village, and in her employ are two migrants who have exceptional craft skills.

She is from the Arawak/ Warrau tribes and a native of Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) and for the past four years, she has been participating in the Arts and Craft Exhibition at Sophia Exhibition Site in the city during Amerindian Heritage Month.

Willis resides at the Mabaruma Compound, the township’s central point, and employs the two female Ven-

craft,” she said.

Willis reported that she would sell the craft made by all the local people in the community at her Craft Shop.

She is seeking to expand to a city location for her own small business and is exploring the options of a grant/loan for that purpose.

Even though the craft is all hand-made, it takes a long time to produce the final product, but it is all in the day’s work for Willis and her team of two because they love what they do, so it is certainly not a burden.

Willis has in stock hand-woven baskets in all sizes, colours and shapes, hammocks, hand-held fans, colourful earrings made of beds, feathers and bamboo, hanging baskets, purses, backpacks, bracelets, headpieces, jewel boxes, rocking chairs and so much more.

These products are made from muckru, tibisiri, nibbi and mosurie rope, all of which she would have to buy locally from people in the village and farther afield.

Willis told the Pepperpot Magazine that craft is part of her family and it is their heritage, her grandparents were gifted, and so was her mother, whom she learned from.

support morally because she is a wealth of knowledge and is very versed in arts and craft.

“The young people are not willing to take up the tradition of craft-making and they seem to be moving away from their culture, but she believes in time, some will step up to remain grounded in their her-

itage,” she said.

Willis believes that craft-making is set deep within her roots and it is her daily vision she creates fresh, new pieces and with her quick eyes and willingness to learn, she has what it takes to stay in the business.

She is also the caregiver of her elderly husband, who is

72 years old and visually impaired, and her aged mother. Willis is the mother of five and her youngest child is 19 years old while her eldest is 34 years old and she is of the view that she will only participate in the arts and craft exhibitions for three more years.

She explained that the commute from Region One to the city is quite fatiguing and very costly by air, and she would have to pay by pound for her products.

“I love to see my vision manifest into arts and crafts products. I am still in this business because of the love for it, it has nothing to do with money. I truly promote my culture and it feels good inside of what I do and the fact is people can take a piece of my product with them,” she said. (First published on September 10, 2023 in the Chronicle Pepperpot)

ezuelans whom she also accommodates, and she would ensure they have meals, and they do get a salary for their work as well.

Willis explained that the

women are very skilled, and their method of craft is unique.

“They brought fresh ideas and talent, and I had no problem taking them in to work, and they provide excellent customer service as well as

She has been practicing for all long as she can remember, and she grew up watching her family hand down the tradition through generations and she is hopeful she can do the same in her family.

Willis revealed that her mother is 92 years old and lives with her and she would constantly lean on her for

Leome Willis

Some of the hand-made products of Leome Willis (Japeth Savory photos)

Amerindian culture should be cherished

By Dillon Goring

IN today’s society, many aspects of Amerindian culture, including their dialect, rituals, practices, and language are still being practised.

The Pepperpot Magazine spoke with Kaphon Hastings, an advocate among the Amerindian Peoples, who spoke particularly about the importance of the perseveration of the Akawaio dialect, cultural practices, and rituals.

Hastings believes that Amerindians must truly embrace their culture. “We are not at the point where we need to be, culturally, and the onus is on our people to get to that place,” he said, adding: “I am trying to revisit parts of my culture, through academic means or cultural means, or maybe through having more deliberate conversations with community leaders, especially my community leaders, but on a large scale, we are rediscovering what was lost.”

Hastings hails from an Amerindian community in the Upper Mazaruni, in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni). He describes himself as the go-to person when it comes to Amerindian culture.

According to him, the Amerindian communities must continue to place a strong emphasis on their language, and have a great knowledge of who they are as a people. For most Amerindians, their language speaks greatly to their personality,

and they need to see themselves for who they are as a people.

AKAWAIO RITUALISTIC PRACTICES

During September, which is referred to as the dry season, there is the traditional practice of poisoning where the ponds and creeks will start to dry up.

“You have a lot of poisoning activities being done; it used to be a lot more than now, but you still have some that happen, even this year.

Nevertheless, it is one of the main things that Akawaios do around this time,” Hastings said.

According to the young naturalist, plants play a major role in Amerindian culture; it is embedded in their ritualistic practice.

“Here now, they use tubers, but when compared to other Amerindian groups like the Arawaks, you might have a slight difference, because the Arawaks mostly use leaves, which has a similar effect on fishes. But the practices are the same, and since agriculture plays a major role in their lives, the Akawaios look at plant behaviour,” Hastings told Pepperpot.

Another practice that is prevalent at this time of year

is the spawning of sardines. This is a practice where Akawaios look at the level of the creeks, and take opportunities for their investments. But for those who are ritualistic, he noted that the tradition is still practiced among the older Amerindians, where the use of the traditional plants is observed.

All aspects of Amerindian culture considered, Hastings said that as a part of the culture, much emphasis should be placed on not only preserving Amerindian culture, but also finding ways to make them recognised in modern times.

(First published on September 17, 2023 in the Chronicle Pepperpot)

Kaphon Hastings is an advocate for the preservation of Amerindian culture

Preserving the Amerindian Culture

a particular manner. If not, it can result in producing spoils. If too many gaps are closed, then the cassava can be properly extracted.

But as she explained, the process of making cassava bread is quite tedious and intricate to produce a great product, maybe according to her, this process happened thousands of years ago and has been brought to where it is today.

She believes that there must be an effort by all indigenous people to look

back at our traditions and practices and a greater appreciation by young Amerindians to see what was before and modernise it while at the same time keeping the traditions or the old-time method but have an intensity to move forward to create much more than their ancestors and forefathers who set the pace. (First published on September 24, 2023 in the Chronicle Pepperpot)

By Dillon Goring

AS we continue to celebrate Amerindian Heritage Month, today we focus on one Amerindian woman who represented Guyana on the international scene in making some indigenous delicacies just recently at a conference overseas.

Monique Sarius hails from the Amerindian village of Orealla Mission, an Indigenous community in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), on the Corentyne River.

Sarius recently sat down with the Pepperpot Magazine to talk about her involvement in making one of the Amerindian delicacies, cassava bread with a group of Amerindians from Orealla.

“So, some of the work that I have done is on cultural preservation, and this is for cultural and traditional knowledge. I have done this work in my home community of Orealla, and I have been focusing on mainly four skills: cassava bread making, cassareep making, fishing, matapee making, but we also diversify to sifter making,” Sarius told Pepperpot.

She explained that a workshop was done on working with dalebana leaves, which are used for roofing of Amerindian huts, benabs, etc.

She noted that the leaves for the Umana Yana roofing were used by the Wai–Wai, but the ones used in Orealla are quite different in pattern.

Monique shared that even though there are similarities among the Amerindian cultures and peoples, there are also differences as well. She outlined that she has worked on this project that was funded by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport with two other persons.

What occurs in a traditional Indigenous Community?

Monique shared that knowledge and the knowhow of skills are not nec -

essarily taught by the older generation of people who are of indigenous descent, but how one learns is by working alongside the older Amerindian people.

“You learn by doing, so when they are making the cassava bread, for example, you help. When it is harvested from the farm, everyone will sit around in a circle. It is usually your grandmother who teaches you this. So, you will sit with her with a knife and you will scrape the outer layer of the cassava. You cannot peel it off because if you do that, it will be too smooth. If it is too smooth, as you are grating the cassava now, it will be too slippery, so you have to go through the process,” Monique said.

Monique explained that the juice is extracted after it is grated. The juice is used to make cassava water, as some call it, but back home in Orealla, it is known as kahailee or Tuma, which is what it is known as in the capital city.

In the workshop, Monique disclosed that all the participants made their cassava bread for the first time.

She noted that the young ones had a greater appreciation for making these things, so they shouldn’t take their culture for granted and if they want to enjoy a simple meal of cassava bread with fish, it calls for hard work.

She believes that the process of making these delicacies can be improved while still maintaining the traditional way.

“I would not say that we should keep it this way all the time, we do need the traditional way, while we look for alternative ways of making our jobs easier and faster, then it might be better for us, you can utilise the remaining time to do other things,“ she said.

The Making of the Matapee

Monique shared that for this process, the straw has to be split and weaved in

Making cassava bread

Monique Sarius

Uniting thro

ugh sports

This year’s Annual Heritage Games kicked off on Wednesday at the Everest Cricket Ground. During the five-day event, some 792 athletes from the 10 administrative regions will be contesting in various sport disciplines including aquatics, track and field, archery, cricket and the highly anticipated football tournament. The football finals on October 1, is the last activity for the games and will also bring the curtains down on this year ’s Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations. These Shaniece Bamfield and DPI photos capture scenes from the opening day