AS part of events to mark Indigenous Heritage Month, Guyana’s first peoples have yet again brought their culture to the forefront, putting their craft and cuisine on display at the Sophia Exhibition Complex since Thursday.

With today being the final day that these craft and other items will be on display and on sale at the exhibition at Heritage Village, the Guyana Chronicle seized the opportunity to speak to a number of persons operating booths there, to find out how business fared for them.

One such person is MIRANDA BERNARD, who makes her living selling craft despite the long, tedious hours of work it takes to get even one item done. Bernard, who hails from St. Cuthbert’s Mission, says she has, for months, been preparing for the exhibition, so she could show off her skills. “Everything here I made by myself,” she said proudly.

We also caught up with EVELYN FELIX and her grand-daughter PANZY SIMON, both of whom came all the way from Kato, in the North Rupununi, to participate in the event and to ‘catch their hand’, as they, too, made items just for the exhibition. As Felix said, the one thing that everyone involved in craft-making can attest to is that “boring the hole in the beads is very hard work.”

‘THE REAL THING’ is a group of Amerindian women from Macaseema Cabucaburi in Region 2, who, wanting to be independent, thought that by using their culture, they could achieve this independence they craved.

Lynette Adrian holds a bottle of her special ‘Fly’, while her niece, Nadia, shows the huge cassava bread they sell with their wild meat dishes

They, too, have booths at the Village; and according to Marina Calistro, a member, they not only produce and sell craft, food and drink for Heritage Month, but for various events all year round.

While business for this group has not gone as expected, she was confident that “in time it will pick up.”

LORNA DACAMBRA and her daughter DWAANTJE eke out a living by crafting items from the purpleheart, which they both swear is Guyana’s finest wood. “When you make quality things, you get sales,” Lorna said.

The pair, hailing from Ann’s Creek, a community within the Santa Mission Reservation, would usually supply such business places as Guyana Stores Limited with their unique items, especially the ever-popular Bow and Arrow.

“When you living in the interior,” Lorna said, “you don’t really have an income,” hence their having to resort to using raw materials found right in their own back-yard, so to speak.

“Every year, the indigenous people would break out for one month,” said VERONICA CLINTON. “We showcase our culture which, though ancient, still exists.” She hails from Moraikobai in Region 5, where craft-making is an integral part of that community, as they have a communal craft shop where they showcase and sell their wares.

Foster Simon with his cravings

Veronica, and her assistant, Menerva Smith, both agreed that craft-making is a lucrative business. “I would like to see a stationary market set up for income,” Veronica said, adding that the Government should look into the matter.

We also visited with SHERON’S CRAFT, an established business that specialises in making full Amerindian outfits, accessories and all, for adults as well as children. The business is run by Sheron Peters and her daughter, Roselyn Stanton, who themselves both make the items they sell.

And of all the booths in the Village, the one that stands out the most is FOSTER SIMON’S, which specialises in carvings made of wood.

Foster, who is from St. Cuthbert’s Mission, said he’s been in the business 23 years now, and that making carvings is a very time-consuming and tedious process which can take from a week to a month to accomplish.

LYNETTE ADRIAN brought her niece, NADIA, to help showcase the culinary prowess of the people of Moraikobai.

For this, the Adrians brought with them a variety of wild meats to sell, ranging from Bush Cow to Labba to Wild Hog, all served with cassava bread.

They also brought with them the famous ‘Fly’ and ‘Piwari’ drinks to wash the food down.

We also caught up with ONICKA JAIPAUL, who was at the time firing up her grill in preparation for barbecuing alligator. She said that making these Amerindian delicacies and specializing in wild meat dishes is not something she does all year round, but rather particularly for Amerindian Heritage Month.

Now 30, she’s been at it since she was 15, as a way of celebrating her culture.