ABSTRACT
September 2020 in Guyana marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Amerindian Heritage Month, called “Indigenous Heritage Month” during the recently concluded five-year APNU/AFC administration Indeed, the tendency in colonial and postcolonial Guyana enacted by various governments has been to represent Indigenous Peoples and their heritage as symbols of national pride without the corresponding focus on the Indigenous present and presence, including complex debates regarding development, heritage and culture. Kabakaburi is a good example of how the lack of consistent strategy towards Indigenous development and integration, including at the community level, could affect Indigenous heritage and culture. Amerindian Heritage Month’s appeal depends mainly on its entertainment value, both in the hinterland communities and in Georgetown. However, its success at drawing crowds and attention to a superficial notion of Indigeneity does not correspond with the growing disconnect from heritage and culture that many Indigenous Peoples experience.
