Amerindian Heritage Month: Billions in Oil, But Is Guyana Investing Enough in Its First Peoples?

As Guyana observes Amerindian Heritage Month, the celebration of Indigenous culture and history also raises a broader question about development, land, resources and the distribution of the country’s growing oil wealth.

Guyana is home to approximately 78,500 Indigenous people, representing about 10.5% of the population, according to the National Toshaos Council (NTC). They belong to nine recognised Indigenous Nations and live in about 212 villages and communities, many of which hold legal land titles covering approximately 15.6% of Guyana’s land area. Most Indigenous communities are concentrated in the hinterland and interior, particularly Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9.

The Government’s Ministry of Amerindian Affairs also identifies nine Indigenous groups, traditionally referred to as tribes. Its descriptions show the remarkable geographical spread of Guyana’s First Peoples.