Moraikobai villagers honoured for contributions to Carifesta

Guyana - Certificates were presented to Amerindians from Moraikobai, Region Five who constructed the Amerindian Village at the Sophia Exhibition Complex for Carifesta X.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, the 28 workers, including Eustace Vieira, Sylvan Henry, McKennon Adrian, Taracharan Mathura, Cromwell Andrews, Sean Adrian, Roy Adrian, Morris Dick, Claude Hope, Gary Smith, Vernon Smith, Steve Fredericks, Paul Roberts, Marcano Andrews, Lorri DeSantos, Ivan Henry, Andrew Neruda and Peter Henry were honoured as part of Heritage Day celebrations. Village Day celebrations at Moraikobai also featured a pageant, graduation ceremony and other activities.

The workers had constructed the model houses of all nine Amerindian tribes by using indigenous materials from Moraikobai and other Amerindian communities. In his presentation Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony said he was proud that the group was able to use its talents to create the Amerindian Village as the ministry had aimed to make the festival unforgettable. He noted that Guyana wanted to showcase its people and their culture. “We didn’t want to leave out any segment of our society,” he said.


Source: Stabroek News
http://www.stabroeknews.com/news/moraikobai-villagers-honoured-for-contributions-to-carifesta/

Carifesta X symposium highlights Amerindian artifacts

GUYANA - A symposium on Indigenous Performance Traditions on Monday focused on the collection of Amerindian artifacts in the Austrian Museum of Ethnology which houses some 350 artifacts from Guyana. Most of these artifacts were collected from the Makushi and Wapishiana regions early in the 19th century by Austrian zoologist Johann Natterer. The symposium was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal as part of a symposia panel for Carifesta X, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

See full story at:
http://www.uctp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=178&Itemid=2

All set for Amerindian village replica

GUYANA - The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs on Wednesday made its third visit to Moraikobai, Region Five to check on the progress for the tenth Caribbean Festival of Arts and found that everything is set for the building of a replica of an Amerindian village.

According to a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), Moraikobai is one of many villages chosen to participate in the ten-day event from August 22 and has been tasked with preparing the materials to construct a replica Arawak village at the Sophia Exhibition Centre in Georgetown. The village was selected because of its location, residents’ expertise and accessibility to raw materials.

On Wednesday toshao Colin Andrews took representatives of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry including Clive Patterson, Community Development Officer and David Murell, Public Works Engineer attached to the project, to check on the material being prepared by the residents. After four weeks of preparation the materials were finally ready to be used to build the replica and Andrews said that he was happy about the completion and expressed thanks to the residents who have been working tirelessly to have all the materials prepared and cured. He further gave the assurance that his village is ready to begin constructing the main benab for the replica of the `Amerindian Village’.

Moraikobai residents will also showcase their talents in handicraft, popular Amerindian cuisine and entertainment. They said that this would give them an opportunity to display the beauty of their village and to highlight their skills and talents as well as open new market for their products.

Photo: Some of the materials to be used on the replica of the Amerindian village. (GINA photos)

Source: http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=1728