caribbean taino and guyana indigenous · pdf fileby jorge baracutei estevez, leader of the...

Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc.on-line Magazine

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Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

Aug. 30-SEPT 302017Vol 7Issue 9&10

CARIBBEAN TAINO AND GUYANA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

CACIQUE CROWNA SYMBOL OFBROTHERHOOD



IN THIS ISSUEPAGE 3: Congratulations HiltonPAGE 4-5: At the MuseumPAGE 6-10: The Cacique CrownPAGE 11-13:: The Karao GroupPAGE 14-15: The Art GalleryPAGE 16-26: The Art of the seasonPAGE 27: Challenges for GCAPAGE 28-29: Kwe Kwe Nite PAGE 30-31: Awards Ceremony PAGE 32-33: A You Tube ChannelPAGE 34-35: Doris Harper-Wills PAGE 36-37: Diaspora Engagement PAGE 40-46: Symposium & Lit HangPAGE 48-50: Caribbean Natural

Disasters

EditorDr. Lear Matthews

Cover DesignClaire Goring & Ashton Franklin

Copy Editors-Edgar Henry, Lear Matthews

Layout and Design by Claire A. Goring & Ashton Franklin

Contributors:Dr. Vibert CambridgeDr. Rose October-EdunDr. Lear Matthews

Jorge Estevez, Ronald LammyCarlyle Harry

Photography:Dr. Vibert CambridgeDr. Patricia Cambridge

Malcolm HallAndrew Rosee, Tangerine Clarke

National Toshaos CouncilMichael Mc Garrell Abby Matthias

Dr. Rose October-Edun

GCA Media TeamAve Brewster-Haynes (Chairperson), Juliet Emanuel, Edgar Henry,Lear Matthews, Claire A. Goring,

Ashton Franklin,Margaret Lawrence Gail A. Nunes,

Francis Quamina Farrier.

Please join our Facebook group, Website: www.guyfolkfest.org

GCA Secretariat -1368 E.89 Street,Brooklyn, NY 11236Tel: 800-774-5762

Guyana Cultural Association ofNew York Inc. on-line Magazine

2 EDITORIAL Greetings all!

As the Guyana Cultural Association continues to promote Guyaneseculture, we trust that you had a productive summer, anticipating afall season of tranquility, peace and good will.

All of this despite the unprecedented inclement weather conditions thatwreaked havoc on our families, friends and neighbors in the Caribbean,Central America and Southern United States, and the horrific, numbing vio-lence in Las Vegas. And, notwithstanding the potentially volatile interplayof irrational grand standing, vexing, questionable gun laws, and the perilsof man-made weaponry of infinite destruction, we seek to persevere, tryingto avoid being in a constant traumatized state of existence. The grim realityis that we need profiles in courage. Aesthetic and cultural identity needs,provided by the arts and heritage connections could be sources of comfortand coping now more than ever – GCA encourages you to embrace them!

Indeed the hurricanes, flooding and trail of destruction remind us to respectthe force of nature. Even the technology we so confidently boast cannotinsulate us from the natural world or as the fatalistic may see it: “It’s all inGod’s hand”. To those who recently lost love ones to natural or man-madetragedy, our sincerest condolences. To the survivors, we wish you speedyand complete recovery. Let us contribute whatever we can, individually orthrough our various organizations, to the reunification, healing andrebuilding process.

In this August-September edition, perhaps ambitiously, we seek to covermuch ground. The 2017 season of cultural activities demonstrate a conflu-ence of heritage education, youth involvement, unwavering support andgenuine collective effort. We bring you reports on the various events inwhich we celebrate the heritage of the indigenous people of Guyana. Thistheme resonated in all events including the Summer Heritage Workshop;Awards ceremony; the symposium and Literary Hang featuring the work ofpast and contemporary researchers and artists; the Kwe Kwe night and theFamily Fun Day all highlighted in this issue. The unprecedented participa-tion of a group of Amerindians, who travelled from Guyana, was a specialtreat. The articles are enhanced by vivid artistry and wonderful photo-graphic images, depicting the intricacies of various aspects of Guyanese cul-ture, unheralded heroes and talents of participants. The season was aresounding success.

Continuing to institute the theme, We Bridgin’, we include a challenge theCaribbean Diaspora to respond to the material and mental health needs ofhurricane survivors; present some reflections on the Diaspora EngagementConference and showcase our own Hilton Hemerding, recipient of the 2017Arrow of Achievement Award in Guyana.

Enjoy the read!

Dr. Lear MatthewsAugust-September Editor

3CONGRATULATIONS

HiltonHemerding A.A.

FROM THE GUYANA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK, INC.AND THE STUDENTS OF THE

GCA SUMMER HERITAGE WORKSHOP SERIES

Musician, Composer, Entertainer

RECIPIENT OF THE GOLDEN ARROW OF ACHIEVEMENT

Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line MagazineGuyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

5Hon. Vice PresidentSydney Allicock,Minister of IndigenousPeoples’ Affairs:

The Guyana Cultural Association ofNew York, Inc. was honored to havethe Honorable Vice PresidentSydney Allicock, Minister ofIndigenous People’s Affairs attendtwo of the signature events of our2017 Folk Festival season.

Vice President Allicock addressedthe Awards Ceremony and receivedon George Simon’s behalf, GCA’s2017 Lifetime Achievement Award.Vice President Allicock alsoaddressed the audience attendingGCA’s inaugural Dr. Desrey Caesar-Fox Memorial Lecture.

Through the American IndianCommunity House and JorgeEstevez, we arranged a tour of theNational Museum of the AmericanIndian in Manhattan, NY for VicePresident Sydney Allicock.

These photographs by Drs. Patriciaand Vibert Cambridge document hisvisit to the museum.

Amazonia exhibit: Sifter from Guyana.

Photograph by Dr. Patricia Cambridge.

Fishing tools and technologies. Photograph by Dr. Vibert Cambridge.

Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Affairs metwith the Singh family who were also visiting the

National Museum of the American Indian. L to R: NigelSingh, Debbie Singh, Nicole Singh, and Dillon Singh.

Photograph by Dr. Vibert Cambridge.

Vice President Allicock took several photographsfrom the ceramic collection.


Viewing a display in the “Native Fashion Now” exhibit.


4

AT THE

NATIONAL MUSEUMOF THE AMERICANINDIAN - NEW YORK

By Dr. Vibert Cambridge, A.A.

Jorge Esteves and Vice President Sydney Allicock beforethe start of the museum tour.

Photograph by Dr. Patricia Cambridge.

Amazonia exhibit: Wai Waipakára (double basket).

Photograph by Dr. Patricia Cambridge.Examining a Buffalo hide Apsáalooke warrior’s exploit robe, ca. 1850.


Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples'Affairs exploring a wall that connects the indigenous

peoples of the Americas. Photograph by Dr. Vibert Cambridge.

For more information on the NationalMuseum of the American Indian, pleasevisit: http://nmai.si.edu/visit/newyork/


6 CELEBRATING OUR INDIGENOUS HERITAGE

THE ART OF FEATHER WORKCACHUCHABANA

FEATHER HEADDRESSES OF THE TAINO PEOPLES

By Jorge Baracutei Estevez, leader of the Sangre Taino Cultural Group

Headdresses are worn by native peoples all around the world. They are beautiful, decorative andsymbolic of Identity, status and many other things. Among the most beautiful and elaborateheaddresses are those made by the Indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere. The

Indigenous peoples of the Americas are collectively called Native Americans, American Indian,Amerindians, Indigenous, American Aboriginals, First Nations, Mestizos, Latino, etc.

GCA 2017 Awards Lifetime Achievement and Exemplary awardees honored with Cacique Crowns

Made from feathers, animal skins, reeds,grasses and a plethora of other materials,headdresses in some Native Cultures can onlybe worn by men. In most however, both menand women may wear them. Certain head-dress may be worn by both sexes while othersare gender specific. In addition, each featherhas a different value, such as the tail feathersare more valuable than the wing feathers,except for the tail feather and in particularthe birds Pointer and primary feathers. Insome times it is said that each feather has“DUA” which is spiritual energy. Headdressmade from basketry or basket like materialsare almost always worn by spiritual people.

Some headdress, in particular those made offeathers must be earned as is the case of theAmerican Plains Indians War bonnet, wherean individual must earn each and every Eaglefeather in battle in order to earn the right towear that particular type of headdress. InSouth America, most tribes require that men,women and children wear headdresses. Thusowning and wearing a headdress is a respon-sibility of the individual. Feathers are gath-ered by hunting, collecting dropped feathers,and by trade.

In some tribes a single individual may pos-sess up to 32 difference headdress through-out his or her life. Some headdress are forweddings, naming ceremonies, etc

I began making headdress 5 years ago. I wasreluctant to use or wear them until I under-stood their exact meaning. For the Taino peo-ple, who are in a state of re-emergence today,they are symbols of resistance and identity.In general, headdress symbolize love, honor,respect and beauty. They are connections tothe spirit world as well as the physical world.

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9THEGUYANA CACIQUECROWN

In Guyana, the Cacique’s crown is at theapex of our Coat of arms. It has prideof place in a symbol of Guyanesenationhood--its roots, its resolve and itsaspirations.The recent Toshaos Conference inGeorgetown, Guyana (August 2017) wasan occasion in which a variety of crownswere evident. Here are photographsfrom the occasion, previously posted bythe National Toshaos Council andMichael Mc Garrell on Facebook.

Photographs by National Toshaos Council and MichaelMc Garrel and previously posted on Facebook.




Photograph by Dr. Patricia Cambridge

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THEY CAMEAND INSPIREDBy Dr. Vibert Cambridge, A.A.

In response to our 2017 “Call forParticipation,” Texas-basedGuyanese Abby Matthias sent a pro-posal for the Karao Group fromKaraudanau. The group, with membersranging in age between 6 and 60,was founded in 2005 with the aim ofraising awareness about Wapishanaheritage and the need to preservethe land, river, and forests.We agreed wholeheartedly. Whathappened was a fascinating story ofcooperation among many peopleand agencies and in Guyana and theUnited States.

Hahom! - thank you!


It was a special honor to receive a crown from the Karao Group. The honor was bestowed at the Dr. Desrey Caesar-Fox Memorial Lecture.

10 Dr. Vibert Cambridge receivingcrown from Mr. Ambrose,

Karao Group. Photograph by Dr. Patricia Cambridge

Vibert Cambridge acknowledgingcrown from Mr. Ambrose,

Karao Group. Photograph by Dr. Patricia Cambridge

12 13A majority of the group needed travel documents. Manyneeded birth certificates. Most required passports andall required visas to enter the United States. InGeorgetown, Anna Iles, volunteered as our liaison withGuyana’s Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs(MOIPA). MOIPA facilitated all the needed arrange-ments with the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry ofForeign Affairs.

The group’s travel to the USA was made possible withgenerous support from Capt. Jerry Gouveia andDynamic Airlines. The eleven members arrived in NewYork on August 28, 2017 for a 10 -day stay.

During their visit, the group participated in every eventheld during the 2017 Folk Festival season—the AwardsCeremony, the Dr. Desrey Caesar-Fox MemorialLecture, Kwe Kwe Night, Symposium and LiteraryHang, and Family Fun Day. In addition, the NativeAmerican community in New York hosted a special wel-come for their “cousins from Guyana” at the AmericanIndian Community House in Manhattan, NY.Arrangements were also made for the Karao Group toattend the annual Shinnecock Pow Wow in theHamptons. The Guyanese community showed theirappreciation in several ways, including serving as hostfamilies and seeking photo opportunities.

We, the members of GCA wish to express our specialthanks to Ms. Laurinda Clementson, our founding-pres-ident Malcolm Hall, and his brother Terry Hall for allthey did to make the group’s visit a satisfying one. Wealso extend our thanks for the school supplies that weredonated by the community for the children ofKaraudanau.

These photographs tell the story of Karao Group—out-standing ambassadors from Guyana—who came andinspired us. As “Slingshot” Drepaul would say, “Nuff hugs!”

Meet and Greet held by United Confederation of Taino People at AICH

Arrival, JFK AirportPhotograph by Dr. Rose October-Edun

GCA Awards CeremonyPhotograph by Dr. Vibert Cambridge

The Celebrity KidsPhotograph by Dr. Vibert Cambridge

At the Shennecock Pow WowPhotograph by Malcolm Hall

First Subway Ride, in NYPhotograph by Malcolm Hall

Haing fun at Brooklyn ZooPhotograph by Abby Mathias

Mr. Ambrose and Beatrice delivering schoolsupplies donatedPhotograph by Beatrice Ambrose

Meet and Greet AICHPhotograph by Malcolm Hall

Performance with Sangre Taino Group, FamilyDayPhotograph by Dr. Vibert Cambridge

Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

1514ART GALLERYBy Dr. Vibert C. Cambridge, A.A.

George Simon. “The spiritual connection between man and nature # 2.” Oil on canvas. 6ftx4ft. Photograph provided by George Simon.

Art continues to have a special place in theGuyanese experience. Across the 20thcentury, Guyanese artists demonstrated

self-confidence, skill, and innovation. Thisboldness continues at home and in the diaspora.

We created our online Art Gallery as a space tointroduce Guyanese artists to digital Guyana.We visualize a series of exhibitions featuringworks by Guyanese and non-Guyanese artistswho have worked in Guyana. We look forwardto collaborating with artists, independent cura-tors, and international institutions such asGuyana’s National Art Gallery, E. R. BurrowesSchool of Art, and the Division of Creative Artsat the University of Guyana in the curation ofthese exhibitions.

For this exhibition, we are sharing 14 paintingsby George Simon that were exhibited in the2017 Indigenous Heritage Month Art Exhibition

held in September at the National Art Gallery,Castellani House, Georgetown, Guyana.

These 14 paintings showcase his skills as apainter and his preference for oil on canvas andpaper to celebrate the color and textures ofAmazonia. This collection reaffirms his ongo-ing commitment of “drawing attention to theindigenous people and how they have lived withthe environment in mind.” For George Simon,“the environment is not just bland, but is full oflife and has deep meaning.”

You are invited to visit our ArtGallery and an exhibition ofGeorge Simon’s work. http://guyfolkfest.org/george-simon/

George Simon is the recipient of GCA’s 2017Lifetime Award in recognition of his substan-tial contributions to Guyanese art and arche-ology. He received Guyana’s Golden Arrowof Achievement in 1988 and the Anthony N.Sabga Caribbean Award of Excellence in2012.

He was born in Pukari Village (formerly St.Cuthbert’s Mission) in 1947. When he was12, he and his adoptive father moved toEssex, England. In 1978, he graduated fromthe University of Portsmouth with an honorsdegree in art. He returned to Guyana in thesame year and since them has been a power-ful catalytic force in Guyanese art.

George Simon was a teacher at the E. R.Burrowes School of Art and the University of

Guyana. During the early 1980s, he mademass games art uniquely Guyanese. He led ateam of Guyanese artists who earned theadmiration of the Koreans who were advisingthe Government of Guyana on mass games.But George Simon’s body of work goesbeyond mass games art. His work introducesus to the “cosmos of the Lokono,” and helpsus to decode our timehri inheritance.

In 2009, George Simon, along with the lateNeil Whitehead and Michael Heckenberger,started excavations of terra preta mounds inthe Berbice intermediate savannahs.Radiocarbon testing of ceramic and organicmaterials from four sites indicate human set-tlement of more than 3,000 ago.

George Simon’s work has graced importantnational buildings such as the NationalMuseum and the Umana Yana. As aGuyanese of Lokono (Arawak) heritage, hehas used his canvas to share the rich heritageof Guyana’s indigenous people—their cos-mology, color palate, and aspirations. In sodoing, he has contributed to national integra-tion.

George Simon is a leader who encouragesand promotes young and emerging indige-nous artists. His founding of the Lokono ArtsGroup and organizing the “Moving Circle” artexhibitions are examples of this work. Since1995, the Moving Circle art exhibition hasbeen the principal event to showcase the artof indigenous artists.

INTRODUCING

GEORGESIMON A.A.

THE GEORGE SIMON EXHIBITION


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16 THE 9TH CARIBBEAN SUMMERHERITAGE WORKSHOP SERIES

THE ART OF OUR SEASONBy Dr. Vibert C. Cambridge, A.A.

The invitation to the Closing Ceremony of GCA’s 9thannual Summer Heritage Workshop Series featured

art work created by the “Children of 2017.”

STAGE SET

A VILLAGE SCENE IN THE INTERIOR OF GUYANA:Designed for closing ceremomy of the GCA Summer HeritageWorkshop Series. Background scenery painted by Colin Warde, formerly of theBurrowes School of Arts, Stage set by Clive Prowell, assisted by“Children of 2017.”


1918

Chang W. Lee’s photograph illustrated an article in The New York Times(August 11, 2017) about the negative impact of proposed reductions in legalimmigration on family reunification among immigrant families in the UnitedStates. These potential restrictions will have significant implications for theGuyanese diaspora in New York. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/11/nyregion/in-little-guyana-proposed-cuts-to-family-

immigration-weigh-heavily.html?smid=fb-share

Lee’s photograph from the closing session of the9th season of Guyana Cultural Association ofNew York, Inc. (GCA)’s Caribbean HeritageSummer Workshop presents a moment in theperformance of Matapee Dance from the dancemodule of the series. The photograph encouragesus to look at the costumes—the aprons and thecolorful headdresses. It also introduces a set.The photograph speaks to the place of art in ourseason.

The closing session represented the weavingtogether of the outcomes from the four modulesof the workshop series—music, art and craft,dance, and drama. The music; the set, the cos-tume, the matapee dance, the dramatic pieceCreation Stories, along with the jewelry created inthe arts and crafts module, were about a team ofGuyanese designers working with the communityto create a space where young Caribbean childrencould learn about our indigenous heritage andmake and share art inspired by that heritage.

The three designers were GCA’s Youth DirectorClive Powell, and two 2017 interns-- RyanBerkley, and Clinton Duncan. All three designersbrought with them extensive experience inGuyana. Clive Prowell, who specializes in danceand costume design, was the founder of theClassique Dance Company. He has received sev-eral awards among the, the Best DanceProduction/Dance Company at the 2012 WestIndian Music Award Ceremony. Clinton Duncanis a 2017 graduate with a Bachelor’s degree inLaw from the University of Guyana. Duncan isactively engaged in performing arts as a play-wright, costume designer, and stage manager.Ryan Berkley is graduate of Guyana’s E. R.Burrowes School of Art, specializing in textiledesign and fashion design. Berkley was Guyana’sDesigner of the Year 2011. His collections havebeen shown in Antigua, Trinidad, French Guiana,and Suriname.

Clive Prowell

Clinton Duncan

Ryan Burkeley


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GUYANA FOLK FESTIVAL 2017“Celebrating OurIndigenous Heritage”

KWE KWE NITEFRI. SEPT. 1, 2017: 8.00 P.M.

ST. STEPHEN’S AUDITORIUM2806 Newkirk Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226$20. ENTRANCE

MORE AT THE DOOR FOR DRINKS

FAMILY FUN DAY SUN. SEPT. 3, 2017OLD BOYS HS GROUND

736 RUTLAND RD., BROOKLYN 11203ADULTS $10. SENIORS & KIDS FREE

GATES OPEN AT NOONis activity is not sponsored or endorsed by the New York City

Department of Education or the City of New York

DR. DESREY CAESAR-FOX MEMORIAL LECTURE

THURSDAY. AUG. 31, 2017:7.00,p.m.

Special Native American Indian Welcome from 6.00 p.m. Guest Speaker: Dr. Walter Edwards

SYMPOSIUM & LITERARY HANGSAT.URDAY SEPT. 2, 2017

9.00 A.M. - 8.30 P.M.ENUE FOR BOTH EVENTS

GUYANA ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER2806 NEWKIRK AVE. BROOKLYN, NY 11226 DONATION: $20.00 FOR BOTH DAYS

718 209 5207FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

https://www.facebook.com/groups/GuyanaCulturalAssociation1/VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.guyfolkfest.org

FIRST EVER GUYANA / USAGuyanese Indigenous Peoples & Native Americans

Pow WowSTARTS AT 3.00 P.M.

STAGE SHOW - 4.30 P.M.• Ninja Band • Adrian Dutchin

• Fanoko Singers • T&T Roxborough Cultural Group• GCA Kwe Kwe Ensemble • Comedian Chow Pow

• Shelly G • Other exciting presentations

GATES OPEN AT NOON CHILDREN’S VILLAGE STARTS AT 1.00 P.M. POW WOW STARTS AT 3.00 P.M.GATES CLOSE AT 6.00 P.M.

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What was created in these workshops was showcasedthroughout the Folk Festival season. The matapeedance was presented at Awards Ceremony onWednesday, August 2017. The set created animpressive backdrop for the inaugural Dr. DesreyCaesar-Fox Memorial Lecture (Thursday, August31), Kwe-Kwe Night (Friday, September 1), andthe Symposium and Literary Hang (Saturday,September 2). Elements of the set were presenton the main stage at Family Fun Day on Sunday,September 3, 2017.

The 9th Caribbean Heritage Workshops were presentedby the Guyana Arts and Cultural Center (GA&CC)through its Arts in the Community program. ClaireGoring, GCA’s cultural director, is the executivedirector of GA&CC. Each year, Claire Goringbrings a distinctive visual flavor to the FolkFestival season. This year, she integrated GeorgeSimon’s “Spiritual connection between man andnature # 2” and its color palette to create the sea-son’s impressive graphic art and complementaryactivities.

George Simon.“Spiritual connectionbetween man and

nature # 2” (oil on canvas, 2017).

Graphic ArtsGeorge’s color palette and visualizationinformed our visual identity in 2017.

This is evident in Claire Goring’s graphicart for our social media announcements,invitations, and printed hand cards.


22 23


Claire Goring. Awards Ceremony invitation.Photograph by Penny Bascom

The distinguished women of GCA atAwards Ceremony, 2017. Photograph by Dr. Patricia Cambridge.

Dr. Rose October-Edun wears the earringsand necklaces created by the designers and“Children of 2017.”


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The art created by 9th season of SWS was also present atFamily Fun Day and at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the

West Indian Labor Day Celebrations on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway.

Members of the Impressions Dance Theater and GCA SummerHeritage Workshop Interns on Eastern Parkway, Labor Day 2017.

Photograph by Tangerine Clarke. Photo first published in Caribbean Life, September 7, 2017.

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To think about it, we had a robust expression of arts and craftsin 2017 as we celebrated our indigenous heritage.

We promised, and we delivered.

The Directorate of the Guyana CulturalAssociation ought to be extremely proud ofthe compliments that the organization has

received from the public, via regular and socialmedia, as well as direct means, touting the suc-cessful execution of its annual summer activities.When I learnt that the Leadership of GCA haddecided to “feature the heritage of Guyana’sIndigenous Peoples”, I silently wondered how theAssociation was going to ‘pull it off’. But startingthe season with its six-week Youth SummerWorkshop Series, I realized that there was morethan enough research material/data, as well ashousing patterns, foods, socio-cultural practices,utensils, artifacts and other heritage items, whichdefine the selected group, Amerindians, to beexhibited and promoted.

In this regard, a number of challenges emerge.Considering the volume and variety of informa-tion on the topic to be shared, the GCA leadersmay wish to consider sponsoring a Part 2 of thisproject next year. Secondly, through its 2017theme, ‘We Bridgin”, it is perhaps incumbentupon the organization to devise a strategy to effec-tively disseminate the information that wasshared during the summer, extending it beyondthe Guyanese Diaspora to the Caribbean and glob-al publics. Since “precaution is better than cure”,one should understand why at my age and stage ofmy life I would have avoided the (matrimonial-related) Friday night Que Que. However, from the

video recordings, as well as the commentaries Iread and heard, the nocturnal event was a beautyto behold. Similar compliments emanated fromthose who attended the Awards Ceremony and theFamily Fun Day.

Similar compliments emanated from the AwardsCeremony and Family Fun Day. Nevertheless, Ifelt more comfortable l isten to Dr. WalterEdwards deliver the inaugural Desrey Caesar-FoxLecture on the evening of Thursday, August 31st. Ihad only heard about Desrey Caesar-Fox - en pas-sant. Fortunately, my long-time colleague,Mildred Hunte took pride in giving a lengthydescription about her contributions.

A third challenge is for the GCA Leadership towork collaboratively with Authorities in Guyanaand elsewhere to highlight the biographies andcontribution of our forerunners. The final chal-lenge, I would propose is to enlighten others ofthe Historical, Archaeological and technological(including research) programs/projects whichhave been and are being perused and undertakenabout our indigenous peoples, especially sinceresearch is always “researchable”.

It must be noted that the Saturday segment of theAnnual Symposium and Literary Hang/BookMart, produced a wide variety of updates, valuableinformation and knowledge. This, however, mayhave posed a great challenge for the Association inits efforts to comprehensively disseminate thisvast and diverse information in a way that facili-tates “BRIDGIN’’.

It is never easy or safe to single out individuals forPraise. Therefore, let me conclude by offering fullcompliments to Dr. Vibert Cambridge and theExecutive/Support Team. Indeed this is not anarmchair contribution for me. If approached, I ammore than willing to help the GCA to meet thesuggested challenges.GCA – You did your bestYou deserve some rest.After a successful summer,And armed with a cultural Center,Please pass on the cultureAnd thus cement the future.

Challenges forthe GuyanaCulturalAssociation ofNew YorkBy Carlyle Harry


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Kwe Kwe Nite 2017By Dr. Rose October-Edun

PARTICIPATION OF KARAO CULTURAL GROUP A RARE TREAT

FOR KWE KWE PATRONS

Generally, Labor Day Friday is consideredKweh Kweh Nite. This year, September 1,was no different, as members of Guyana

Cultural Association (GCA), sponsors, specialinvited guests, and patrons gathered at St.Stephen’s Lutheran Church auditorium to partakein this signature event of GCA. There were manyhighlights of this event.

The first was the presence of our GuyaneseIndigenous Peoples 11-member Karao Group thatvisited us from South Rupununi, Guyana. Thisgroup performed two songs and dances. Thepatrons were spellbound during the group’s per-formances, as this surreal experience was noted ashistorical. This was the first time IndigenousPeoples visited the US from Guyana, and provideda unique experience for those in attendance.

Another highlight was the presence of Anthony“Shaka” Sparman and partner Joy LaMaison.They showcased their intricate techniques ofBallroom Dancing, an integral part of Guyana Artsand Cultural Center’s (GA&CC) dance program.As nicely captured by GCA’s president, Dr. VibertCambridge, “Kweh Kweh is what happens thenight before the wedding; and Ballroom Dancingis what is done after the wedding and during thereception”.

In one of the two staged Kweh Kweh sessions,there was an absence of the fathers. This meantthe mothers played active roles in teaching thebride- and groom-to-be about the finer things inlife. To say the least, this was both enjoyable andhilarious, as the two “mothers” who are real lifesisters, challenged each in showing parenthood ona different level.

To cap off the evening, the Kweh KwehEnsemble’s freestyle music provided patrons theopportunity to showcase their dancing skills to amixture of instruments - the drums, saxophone,keyboard, and shak shak. All had a great time! Inessence, the Kweh Kweh committee would like toespecially thank our sponsor, MichaelYensen/Yensen Enterprises, and everyone elsewho contributed to the success of 2017 KwehKweh.

3130 2017 GCA AWARDS

WE ARE CONNECTEDThis is an exceptional year for the GCA Awards. Thehonorees as individuals, and as a collective, have madean impressive impact in their respective fields withdefinitive features of being Guyanese. This articleresource does not allow me to describe them all. Theyare all representative of excellent work, not talk. Insome cases, there accomplishments are almost incom-parable elements of our Guyanese reality.

Let us consider recipients who had definitive roles inconfirming our historical presence and how our ances-tors communicated amongst themselves. The seminalwork and accomplishments that define us come underclassifications of archeology, visual artistry, and lin-guistics. Journalism and authorship have describedthe contemporary environment in which our indige-nous folk live today.

On-going research into the early habitations and thepreservation of the explorations and their revelationsare continuous. The collaborative work provides abridge from colonial ignorance and falsehood to scien-tific confirmation of the truthfulness of our presencethrough our ancestors.

Our indigenous heritage has revealed pronouncedtraits of creativity, distinctiveness, and excellence.These characteristics have been displayed in the activi-ties and successes of Awardees in the fields of educa-tion, medical care, community service and as culturalenablers. We see foundational, connecting humanactivity that enriches Guyanese lives.

The increasing attention we are paying to our indige-nous heritage, and claiming it, is creating a greaterawareness of our place in a worldwide experience. Theelements of commonness with our Guyanese conditionscould, should, encourage greater effort to remove thefragmentations in our homeland. We are not aloneand we are connected.

As we consider the present and look to the future wecan be quite hopeful with the indicators from our 2017Youth Awardees. They demonstrate superior scholas-tic achievements; emerging performing and literarytalent; youth leadership; and cultural community ser-vice.

All together our 2017 Awardees exemplify what is bestabout being Guyanese.

By Ronald H. Lammy

OUR 2017 AWARDEES EXEMPLIFY WHAT IS BEST ABOUT BEING GUYANESE

Lifetime Achievement Honoree GeorgeSimon receiving his award and CaciqueCrown from the Hon. Vice President andMinister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs,

Sydney Allicock in Guyana



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A YOUTUBECHANNELhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9MGGQuReDH5j_zhcpH5Ar6pNX_WJVs9J

by Dr. Vibert C. Cambridge, A.A.

CELEBRATINGOUR INDIGENOUSHERITAGE

Photograph provided by Yaphet Jackman.

As an organization committed to using participa-tory approaches to heritage preservation and theencouragement of creativity, we are constantlyexploring communication platforms for engagingthe intergenerational global Guyanese communitywe serve.

The materials generated at recent GCA events,such as Masquerade Lives and the ongoing “WeBridgin …” and “Arts in the Community” pro-grams, have encouraged efforts to develop web-based portals related to Guyana’s heritage.

We were aware of Yaphet Jackman’s work, espe-cially his interest in Guyanese heritage and youthengagement. We first met him in 2012 when hisvideography in Margaret Lawrence’s short filmTradition attracted critical attention. In 2014, hevolunteered at GCA’s Caribbean Heritage SummerWorkshops in Brooklyn, en route to OhioUniversity’s School of Film to pursue a Master’s inFine Arts degree.

Preliminary online research revealed that therewere many videos about Guyana’s indigenous peo-ples and their heritage. Some of these videos, suchas the 1911 film The Makusi, go back to the age ofsilent film. Others are more recent and includevideos about the social, economic, and cultural lifeof Guyana’s indigenous peoples. Aggregating thisinformation would be a valuable contribution toour understanding of the Guyanese experience.

For Folk Festival 2017, Yaphet Jackman collected108 videos to launch the YouTube channel“Celebrating Our Indigenous Heritage.” To accessthe channel, please visit:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9MGGQuReDH5j_zhcpH5Ar6pNX_WJVs9J

The YouTube Channel, like the Guyana DigitalTent, is an important contribution to GCA’s ongo-ing efforts to document, package and share mate-rials that allow us to better understand the rich-ness the Guyanese experience.(http://guyanadigitaltent.wixsite.com/2016) .

Immediately after the launch of the YouTubechannel on August 26, 2017, I asked Yaphet fourquestions about the experience and sought hisguidance regarding the future. Here are hisresponses:

What has this project meant to you?

It gave me a great opportunity to learn more about

the indigenous people of Guyana. It has also shonea light on the vast amount of information that isreadily accessible about our first peoples. I deemthis project an enlightening initiative that has nowsparked my curiosity and also allowed me to widenmy research base on the heritage and culture ofGuyana.

How would you describe it?

It is a foundational step towards knowledge andinformation dissemination to our younger genera-tion about our first peoples. It is a great reminderand an apt tool for any educational purposes usingnew and social media.

What can we learn as we move forward?

I believe this project suggests there should be amore expanded and concerted effort to educateGuyanese about their heritage and to show theinterconnectivity that exists in our histories as apeople. I also believe it suggests that such infor-mation be collected, curated and categorized tofurther expand on the accessible informationabout our peoples.

Where can this initiative go?

I believe this project can be expanded as an onlineand offline database of information aboutAmerindian history and the progress ofAmerindians in our ever-changing landscape. Theinformation collected and categorized can contin-ue to serve as salient reference points forresearchers, historians and interested students, aswell as a reminder to the Amerindian peoples oftheir own cultural development, history, and aspi-rations.

Yaphet is the digital archivist for Folk Festival2017. The content he creates, along with theYouTube channel and other materials, will beavailable at the “Our Indigenous Heritage” portalon GCA’s website.

Yaphet Jackman has a B.A. degree in CommunicationStudies (University of Guyana) and a MFA in Film(School of Film, Ohio University). Yaphet's exper-tise is aligned with GCA’s mission to preserve, pro-mote, and propagate Guyana’s multi-ethnic her-itage and encourage Guyanese creativity. The mis-sion of his production company, Bent Street Films,“is to preserve Guyanese heritage, culture and his-torical content through new media and film.”


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Doris Harper-Wills performing an extract from the story "How the Warraus Came" in her book Tales of Iere.Photograph by Dr. Vibert Cambridge

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CELEBRATING OURINDIGENOUS HERITAGEDorisHarper-Wills“How the Warraus Came”By Valerie Codette

The topic, ‘Celebrating Indigenous Heritage’raised awareness of our Amerindians. Music,dance and storytelling are ways they use to nar-rate their culture. As Native American MatoakaLittle Eagle was speaking to the GCA literaryaudience, she sometimes spoke in her own lan-guage - ya ma ha hoo - (devils), and solicitedaudience participation. With blinders on, werepeated her words. Indeed, the exercise wasquite amusing. But more delight lay in storewhen Doris Harper-Wills took the stage and nar-rated her indigenous Amerindian stories.Audience participation was nil. ‘Dunce’ sheadmonished. Laughter ensued. It was shameful,we had fallen short.

ssshhhhHHH- Listen to Doris Harper-Wills- shehas much to say. Imagine children and adults wholive in London - including policemen and politi-cians swathed in costumes - imbibing her storiesabout the Warrau, the Arawaks and the Caribs,while we, as Guyanese, know nothing about theirhistory in her book, “The Wings of Iere”. We nowstand ready to retrieve these fascinating stories.Sixty plus years ago, these tales never appeared inbooks. How terribly deprived were the children ofGuyana?

The Warrau Legend: In the beginning, no onelived on earth. Everyone lived either on the land orthe sky. In Legend of the Raincloud, birds flew in

the blue of the sky, fish swam in the sea of the sky,and snakes crawled in the clouds of the sky. Oneday Raincloud overheard a conversation betweenthe Stars Hesperus and Venus, and the Sun andMoon. They were all famous: the Sun illuminatedthe land, the Moon manipulated the tides,Hesperus created the evening sky, and Venusadorned the morning sky. Raincloud wonderedwhy she could not be as famous as they were.Would the people on earth ever look up to her?She wept and wept until she turned grey. A dreamfollowed about her friends who lived in the landbeneath her. In the dream, she was given thanksfor her contribution. Her tears had wet the landand caused millions of trees to grow, forests toappear, and rivers to overflow. In addition, farm-ers gave thanks for the rain as their crops flour-

ished. And every year Raincloud’s people celebratea successful harvest at Mashramani time. Theysing with joy: All Praises to Raincloud for giving usrain/ all praises to Raincloud for watering ourgrains.

Legend of the Lake - Makonaima, the Great Spiritwas very happy with humans who lived happilyamong hummingbirds. When humans died hechanged their souls to hummingbirds with won-derful names: ruby-throated, white breasted, blue-coated, black- chinned, purple crested and bronze-tinged. Makainoma was very proud of his extraor-dinarily special hummingbirds. He fixed theirwings with strings to strum … and with strings that

sing and hum:

Amerindian Air (Song):

Amerindians we/ come from the sky andsea/ Amerindians we./Carib, Arawak, Arecuna, and Akawaio/come from the sea and sky/ Wapisianaand Wai Wai. Wapisiana and Wai Wai / come from thesea and sky/ Warrau and Atorai.Patamona, Arawak and Macusi/ comefrom the sky and sea / Amerindians we.

Hummingbird- Ruby Throated White-breasted Blue Coated Black-chinned

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36 The DiasporaEngagementConference: Some reflections

By Dr. Lear Matthews

The First Diaspora Engagement Conferencewith the theme: Dreaming DiasporaEngagement, Doing Diaspora

Engagement, was held in Guyana at the RamadaGeorgetown Princess Hotel July 23 – 28, 2017.Among the participants were members of the GCAexecutive board and media team and other Diasporaorganizations.. The following is a brief report andsome reflections.

Sponsored by the University of Guyana, the keyobjectives were listed as: Building a partnership withthe Pan-Caribbean Diaspora; solicit proposals andideas in capacity building on Diaspora engagement;provide an opportunity for researchers, scholars,community advocates interacting and sharing majorconcerns, while discussing matters relating to theirrespective communities. The Planning Committeecomprised of participants from Guyana and theDiaspora, and the conference attracted over 243 per-sons from the homeland, other Caribbean countries,the U.S., Nigeria, Mexico, Ghana and the UnitedKingdom.

It is important to note that tertiary educational insti-tutions such as the University of Guyana have amandate to provide relevant research and service tosupport sustainable development. By organizing thisconference U.G. has demonstrated an understandingof the need for multi-sector collaboration creating anopportunity for open dialogue to unravel the barriersand tensions among stakeholders (i.e. government,Diaspora, local communities). In my view, therewere two underlying premises of the conference: (1)The assumption that the Diaspora wants to beengaged and (2) The Diaspora is potentially a valuedcontributor to sustainable development.

The opening ceremony was impressive, with the wel-coming remarks by UG Vice Chancellor, ProfessorIvelaw Griffith and the keynote address by Guyana’sPresident, David Granger. The papers presentedwere engaging and reflected the conference themewell. Two significant sub-themes emerged through-out the conference: the need to involve the youthmore, and the apparent continuous ethnic divide.The wide range of topics advocated economic invest-ment and giving the Diaspora a “Voice”.Presentations included: the need to address the gen-eration gap; the role and challenges of HometownAssociations; opportunities for investment; prepar-ing migrating Guyanese families for acculturation inNorth America; lessons from other Diasporasincluding Mexico and India; the realities of Guyanabecoming a petroleum exporter and the role of theDiaspora; Case studies on the experience of

Guyanese residing in Canada and the U.S. and theCaribbean; and Diaspora engagement models fromJamaica and other nations.

Apart from the on-site presentations, video inter-views included Ms. Gina Miller, investment managerand philanthropist based in England, and formerBritish Parliamentarian, Baroness Valerie Amos.Guyanese-born member of the British Parliament,David Lammy in his presentation emphasized theneed for programs to bring young people to Guyana.

Notably, the Minister of Foreign Affairs did notattend, but Head of that Ministry’s Diaspora Unit,Michael Brotherson; Minister of State JosephHarmon; representatives from IOM (InternationalOrganization of Migration);the Minister ofEducation, and Opposition parliamentarian GailTeixeira shared their views on Diaspora engage-ment. There were many promising recommenda-tions, including the need for more ‘grassroots’ par-ticipation, and an increased Diaspora role in highschool retention strategies.

Tours to selected areas of the interior provided arare opportunity for Diaspora attendees to experi-ence the lush beauty of our dear land. The confer-ence ended with a cultural extravaganza.Performances by internationally acclaimed musi-cian, composer and conductor, Keith Waite, DaveMartin of Tradewinds fame, East Indian dancers,African drumming and a Chinese Dance troupe werewell received.

Plans for the establishment of the CaribbeanDiaspora Engagement Center were announced andpersons were invited to serve on the advisory board.The center was launched with a presentation of itsbanner by representatives from the University ofGuyana and the University of the West Indies. AMemorandum of Understanding was signed betweenthe two institutions. This conference reflects animportant step in the process of transnational con-nection. However, based on past experiences, skepti-cism regarding the government’s commitment toDiaspora engagement seems to persist. Although notgiven much attention at the conference, there is arole for the arts and cultural heritage as a vehicle forDiaspora engagement.


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38 CEA 4 9th Annual Conference

April 5-April 7, 2018 | Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront, St, Petersburg, Fl.

And you O my soul where you stand,/Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space,/ Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,/

--Walt Whitman

St. Petersburg is home to the College Engwe invite you to j oin us at our annual meeting to explore the many bridges that connect places, texts, communities, words, and ideas.

For complete information please go to www.cea-web.org.

We would be delighted to have you j oin us in the Sunshine City.

Dr. J uliet Emanuel, Executive Director, CEA.

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A Reflection on the 2017Symposium and Literary Hang

By Dr. Vibert C. Cambridge, A.A.

For me, the 2017 Symposium and Literary Hang willbe remembered as the most comprehensive explo-ration of Guyana’s indigenous heritage ever initiatedby the Guyana Cultural Association of New York in its15 years of organizing symposia.

In addition to the Dr. Desrey Caesar-Fox Memoriallecture, the 2017 Symposium and Literary Hang fea-tured eleven sessions that provided a multi-sensoryexploration of Guyana’s indigenous heritage.

The 2017 Symposium and Literary Hang waslaunched with Dr. Walter Edwards presenting theinaugural Dr. Desrey Caesar-Fox Memorial Lectureon Thursday, August 31, 2017. His lecture, “DesreyCaesar-Fox and the Amerindian Research Project,” isan essential contribution to our understanding ofGuyana’s hinterland development policy in the earlypost-independence years.

The 2017 Symposium and Literary Hang reconvenedon Saturday, September 2, 2017. The day-long eventfeatured story-telling, original research, perfor-mances, and biographies all contributing to the con-temporary conversation on Guyanese identity.Among the presentations were:

• Karao Group. The creation of Karaudanau.

• Victor Davson in conversation with Grace AneizaAli. “How the Warraus Came, Martin Carter’s Poetryand our First People.”

• Matoaka Little Eagle, “Telling the story.

• Dan Cooper, “Alleluia: A highland shamanic revital-ization movement.”

• Louisa Daggers and Dr. Mark Plew. “RecentInvestigations of Prehistoric Shell Mounds inNorthwestern Guyana.”

• Louisa Daggers and Dr. Mark Plew. “Guyana’sArcheological Agenda and the future of CulturalResource Management.”

• Bobby Gonzales. “Acknowledging the Creation.”

• William I. Harris, “A Search for a Matapi Institute ofTechnological Research.”

• Doris Harper-Wills, “Iere”

• “They live within us,” Dr. Carmen Barclay Subryanin conversation with Dr. Juliet Emanuel.

• Hilton Hemerding, “The influence of the hinterlandon me and my music.

Dr. Walter E. Edwards.Photograph by Vibert Cambridge.


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Dr. Juliet Emanuel, Convener, Symposium and Literary Hang. Photo by Vibert Cambridge

Karao Group. Photo by Vibert Cambridge

Victor Davson and Grace Aneiza Ali. Photo by Vibert Cambridge

Matoaka Little Eagle. Photo by Vibert Cambridge

Bobby GonzalezPhoto by Patricia Cambridge


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Hilton Hemerding, A.A. Photograph by Patricia Cambridge

Dr. Carmen Barclay Subryan. Photograph by Patricia Cambridge

Altogether, the Symposium and Literary Hangwas a gathering of citizens, artists, dancers, lyri-cists, musicians, scholars, writers, and culinaryartists. They held conversations about institu-tional histories; archeological, anthropological,and linguistic evidence; and public policy regard-ing Guyana’s indigenous heritage. A special edi-tion of our monthly online magazine Guyana Folkand Culture will be dedicated to the Symposiumand Literary Hang.

We, the members of the Guyana CulturalAssociation of New York, Inc., express our sincerethanks to the presenters at the 2017 Symposiumand Literary Hang. Their contributions to ourongoing exploration of Guyana’s indigenous her-itage are substantial. Your ideas, analyses, andpublic policy recommendations are invaluable toa wider conversation that began at the nationalsymposium during Guyana’s Golden Jubilee in2016. The Golden Jubilee symposium sought tofacilitate cross-disciplinary discussion on fourinter-related questions:

• Who are we?

• What has been our journey?

• What can we become?

• How do we get there?Doris Harper-Wills. Photo by Vibert Cambridge


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Dan Cooper. Photo by Vibert Cambridge

Illustration from Dan Cooper’s presentation. Photo by Vibert Cambridge

Louisa Daggers. Photo by Vibert Cambridge

William I. Harris. Photo by Vibert Cambridge

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NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE CARIBBEANDiaspora Response must include mental health needs By Dr. Lear Matthews

The “Day of Giving” (October 9, 2017) sponsoredby the Caribbean Diaspora Disaster ReliefCoalition is admirable and timely. However, the

Diaspora’s response must include an often neglecteddimension of recovery and mitigation. Owing to theunprecedented intensity of multiple hurricanes in theregion, long term mental health/trauma recovery services,particularly for the vulnerable and traumatized isessential. Analysts refer to trauma as “a sense of pro-found helplessness in the face of overwhelming danger,anxiety, and arousal when confronted with an externalsituation in which there is a high risk of death or injuryto oneself or another”.

Although monetary/material contributions areimportant, social workers, nurses, psychiatrists andcounselors should offer their services, throughDiaspora Hometown Associations, collaborating withHelping Professionals in the Caribbean including theUniversity of the West Indies, to address the mentalhealth needs of survivors.

Crisis intervention immediately following a disaster isalso essential, but an important part of recovery is therestoration of good mental health and long term coun-seling. In assessing behavioral health status, the rela-tionship between trauma and loss must be under-scored. Trauma is viewed as a particular category ofexperiencing loss which can deplete the survivor’s self-esteem and morale, and diminish their will to continueliving.

The magnitude of the devastation caused by recenthurricanes and earthquakes in the Caribbean region,Mexico and southern United States has highlighted thevulnerability of both economically advanced andimpoverished nations to natural disasters. The loss oflife, and material resources, and the capacity of sur-vivors to cope are intricately connected to the immedi-ate and long-term response of governments and relieforganizations, including the Diaspora and resilience ofthe affected population. In the aftermath there hasbeen praise for the gallant, humanitarian efforts of firstresponders and neighbors. However, after the camerasare gone, the actions and policies of public officialsregarding appropriate pre- and post disaster planningand response to the overall needs of survivors will bescrutinized as is common in the aftermath of disasters.

The poignancy of the lessons learned in the wake ofthese disasters is clearly noticeable and in someinstances, unprecedented. For example, the thought ofa refugee crisis involving displaced American citizensand the contentious debate about preferential mediacoverage and treatment of certain communities andcountries, based on their link to the U.S., all mark anew reality in assessing the cause and effects of naturaldisasters.

As nations grapple with explanations and possiblesolutions, factors such as geopolitics, socio-economicrealities, race, the influence of the media on public con-sciousness, and skepticism about donating to myriadDisaster Funds, feature prominently in the decisionsabout resource allocation for recovery. What seems tobe absent is the urgency in responding to the inevitablepsychological impact.

The Caribbean region is among the areas of the worldthat have been decimated by natural disasters, includinghurricanes, volcano eruptions, earthquakes, floods andmudslides. The human cost of the resulting devasta-tion, manifested in death, displacement, and untoldsuffering, has caused multifaceted risks to the affectedpopulations. Concomitantly, governments and NGOsare challenged to respond in a timely manner, and areexpected to develop programs that would facilitate there-establishment of individual safety and communityconnectedness. The Caribbean Disaster EmergencyManagement Agency (the FEMA of that region) focus-es on strategies to mitigate problems in the aftermathof escalating natural disasters.

However, a lack of comprehensive and effectiveresponses to these disasters precluded meaningfulrecovery in the past. In particular, there have beeninsufficient and inadequate shelters for survivors,while collaboration between the public and disastermanagement agencies was virtually non-existent.Although economic losses are duly estimated and fatal-ities recorded, the response to traumatized groups andindividuals has not been seriously addressed in recov-ery efforts. Arguing that there is a relationshipbetween economic recovery and emotional well being,analysts suggests that, in assessing the psychologicalneeds of trauma survivors in developing countries,practitioners must acknowledge the significance oflocal economic and social recovery as a prerequisite toimprove emotional well-being.

The Caribbean region’s exposure/vulnerability to variousforms of natural disasters is increasingly evident. The2005 Guyana flood, for instance, which disrupted morethan seventy thousand households, was the nation’sworst natural disaster. Damage to the physical land-scape, infrastructure and economy has been clearly visiblein the aftermath of such disasters. However, the symp-toms and effects of psychological trauma are invariablyimbedded in a plethora of physical and concrete needs,and thus given less attention. Limited resources,including emergency response personnel and lack ofpreparedness for the difficult environmental condi-tions that follow, compound this problem.

50One of the most ambitious disaster response effortsin the Caribbean was the establishment of theCaribbean Disaster Mitigation project. Its goal is todevelop sustainable public/private disaster mitiga-tion mechanisms that measurably lessen the loss oflife, reduce potential damage, and shorten the disas-ter recovery period.

In many developing countries, the recovery processamong the poor is likely to take longer. Further, inthe Caribbean region, “repeated, overwhelminglypowerful assaults by nature tend to reduce victimsto a state of passive, fatalistic acceptance” (EDP,2005).

Acknowledging the need for effective response tothose directly affected by disasters, relief organiza-tions such as the Red Cross include psychologicalsupport services in their recovery plans. TheGrenada Red Cross Society has consulted with localpsychosocial support specialists, and UNICEF dis-patched a psychologist/emergency specialist and apublic health/education specialist to the easternCaribbean in the wake of Hurricane Ivan in 2004.The purpose of that intervention was to “providepsychosocial rehabilitation for children and familiestraumatized by the sudden collapse” of EasternCaribbean societies (UNICEF). In Jamaica, smallpsychological support teams were deployed to pro-vide assistance and counseling to people living inshelters. In Guyana, the establishment of ListeningCenters, and training seminars conducted for socialworkers, though on a small scale, were creditable.

Although well intended and signaled an awarenessof the need for psychological recovery, those effortswere compromised by the lack of resources andinadequate coordinating of services. In planning fordisaster mitigation following Hurricane Ivan in2004, UNICEF (2005) sought to initiate activitiesthat would respond to the psychosocial needs offamilies, specifically children, and the elderly,groups that are often most vulnerable to natural dis-asters. Invariably, those response efforts to themental health needs were made within the contextof broader planned intervention by governmentsand/or humanitarian organizations, which focusprimarily on physical and infrastructural recovery.

The emotional stress related to natural disasters isoften created by destruction of property, physicalinjury, loss of home and/or relatives, financial hard-ship, community displacement and uncertaintyabout the future. Research on trauma and loss fromnatural disasters emphasize the relationshipbetween flood exposure and psychosocial loss, the

sense of being out of control, and the need to recon-nect. However, there is a dearth of studies of thepsychological effects of disasters in the Caribbean.Observers argue that natural disasters in developingcountries negatively affect the mental health of abroad cross-section of the population, as comparedto more developed countries. Although there hasbeen some progress, research on natural disasters indeveloping nations have not reflected the frequentoccurrence of such disasters. Little is known abouthow culture shapes the psychological impact of dis-asters and very little about recovery under harshconditions.

Trauma recovery from natural disasters in develop-ing countries, steeped in western psychologicalapproaches, is often incompatible with the customsand beliefs of the affected local communities.Indeed local economic and social recovery involvingthe participation of survivors can influence psycho-logical recovery. In assessment recovery followingthe 2004 tsunami, it was suggested that “the mostappropriate initial response to trauma resultingfrom natural disasters is a combination of materialaid like housing, food, and employment alongsidevaguely defined community building programs,rather than a focus on specific psychiatric support”.Culturally relevant evidence-based research and cul-turally competent interventions are needed.Attempts to understand the needs of victims andsurvivors, traditional response to loss, their naturalhealing systems and conceptualization of mentalhealth, are essential in any assessment, interventionor comprehensive recovery process. As natural dis-asters in the Caribbean reoccur, expressions of psy-chological distress and the perceived role of helpingprofessionals will determine the extent to which sur-vivors will benefit from or seek out mental healthcounseling. Regardless, the fatalistic leaves it inGod’s hands.

Note:

This humanitarian crisis is likely to increase thenumber of displaced persons from affected non-USterritories seeking to migrate to the United States.Congresswoman Yvette Clarke warned, “We mustbe prepared to welcome them”. The U.S. shouldoffer Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which is aprogram to relocate victims/survivors of naturaldisasters to the U.S.

Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

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caribbean taino and guyana indigenous · pdf fileby jorge baracutei estevez, leader of the...

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