14 Dec 2023

Sharing Indigenous crafting knowledge and skills

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Throughout Guyana, Indigenous craft practices are on the decline. Research with Indigenous communities in Guyana has shown that following language, craft making has been identified by Indigenous communities as one of the most important indicators of Indigenous knowledge and heritage. As part of our National Geographic Society project on conserving nature and culture through Indigenous crafting in Guyana, we have been running week-long crafting workshops, bringing together Indigenous crafters and youth from across Guyana to share their knowledge, skills and … Read More
1 Feb 2023

Learn more about Indigenous crafting in Guyana

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As part of our Indigenous crafting project in Guyana, we’re releasing today a short stop-motion video that gives a quick overview of the project aims. The focus of the project is craft associated with food, whether that is growing and catching food, harvesting and preparing food, cooking food and of course, eating food! What can you see in the video and how do you think it’s used? Keep tuned as we bring you updates about the project, and introduce you … Read More
26 Jul 2021

Traditional knowledge for global biodiversity and development goals

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On the 12th July 2021, we showcased the results and outputs of the Darwin Initiative project on traditional knowledge in Guyana in an online event ‘Traditional Knowledge for Global Biodiversity and Development Goals‘. The aim of the event was to show how the approaches taken in the project can help in: 1) assessing the extent to which traditional knowledge is included in national policies; 2) assessing the state of traditional knowledge and identify solutions to safeguard it; and 3) facilitating … Read More
1 Jul 2021

Covid-19 impacts on Indigenous food sovereignty, livelihoods and biodiversity, Guyana – the findings

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Our report presenting work from a Darwin Initiative Covid-19 Rapid Response grant that ran from January to March 2021 in the North Rupununi, Guyana is now available. Download it from here. With a long-term aim to enhance Indigenous food sovereignty and agroecological knowledge that sustains livelihoods, culture and biodiversity, we were interested in exploring how Indigenous communities have been impacted by and responded to the Covid-19 pandemic. More specifically, we looked at local livelihoods, leadership, and if/how farming activities changed, … Read More
18 May 2021

Traditional knowledge article series in national newspaper

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As part of the national consultations of the Traditional Knowledge National Action Plan (TKNAP) in Guyana, a series of articles were published weekly over March and April in the national newspaper Guyana Times, highlighting the importance of Indigenous peoples’ knowledge and the specific actions of the TKNAP. Read these articles here:   Article #1:The role of traditional knowledge in conservation: https://guyanatimesgy.com/the-role-of-traditional-knowledge-in-conservation/     Article # 2: A project focused on traditional knowledge in Guyana: https://guyanatimesgy.com/a-project-focused-on-traditional-knowledge-in-guyana/   Article #3: Increasing knowledge and … Read More
8 Mar 2021

Indigenous women: keepers of sacred knowledge

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  Indigenous women are distinct knowledge-holders, as well as agents of change and community cohesion at the local level. In this video we hear from women in the North Rupununi, Guyana about their views and concerns on traditional knowledge in their communities. National governments and international organizations need to pay attention to the gender aspects of traditional knowledge. Women play a vital role in the survival and development of Indigenous communities, sustaining traditional knowledge as a dynamic and living body … Read More
22 Feb 2021

Consultations of the Traditional Knowledge National Action Plan for Guyana begin

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After a long delay due to Covid-19, a national consultation process for a draft Traditional Knowledge National Action Plan (TKNAP) for Guyana began on the 12th February 2021. The consultation with Indigenous communities in Guyana is supported by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MoAA).  A first consultation meeting was held with all the Community Development Officers (CDOs) who support the work of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. They are field-based and have responsibility for clusters of hinterland communities in the … Read More
19 Feb 2021

Ceramics, food and Indigenous identity

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Why does food taste so good cooked in and eaten off clay vessels? Exactly one year ago, I was in the Rupununi, Guyana working with potters from Fly Hill. The aim was to revalorise the crafting process of Indigenous pottery, with the goal to create an economic livelihood and strengthen Indigenous identity. Six Makushi potters were involved: Combrencent Ernest, Latea Hendricks, accompanied by her three-month year old daughter, Timmy Hendricks, Everisto James, Nicodemus Lawrence and Janet Charles.  During our time … Read More
2 Feb 2021

Guyana’s biodiversity global hotspot – the North Rupununi Wetlands

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  To celebrate the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands – World Wetlands Day 2021 we are highlighting one of the world’s least known but incredibly important wetland biodiversity hotspots, the North Rupununi Wetlands. This incredible wetland complex is found in the southern interior of Guyana, South America and contains more than 450 fish species, which in turn supply a food chain to endangered species such as the black caiman, giant river otter, giant river turtle, and recovering populations of the largest … Read More

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