Micobie – Heritage Village 2012
A GINA Feature -- Source - GINA
Maicopik is a small lizard that is prevalent in Region 8, and is also the original name of an Amerindian village now called Micobie. Apparently those two names are not the names given to the village before it was given its current name.
When the Prime Minister of Canada Mr. Pierre Trudeau visited Tumatumari, where he met with the residents of the village’s three elders Mr. Isaac Williams, Mrs Agnes Williams and Mr. Roberts, they explained the nature of the original name for the village which was also called Cassava Hill and New Foundout.
Visitors climbing the hill to Micobie village
It was at a subsequent village meeting that it was unanimously agreed that the village should be given its rightful name –Maicopik, however the Official Gazette has the spelling as Micobie, hence the name by which the village is now referred.
Micobie is situated approximately two miles down river of the famous Tumatumari Falls in the Potaro River. It is accessible by road via the Linden /Mabura and Bartica /Potaro roads or by aircraft to Mahdia then by road. It takes approximately ten hours by road.
Villagers of Micobie, Region Eight attend this Christian
Church
Each year, during Amerindian Heritage month – September, an Amerindian community is selected as the heritage village where the residents are given the opportunity to share their way of life, traditions, cultures and achievements with the rest of Guyana.
Historical overture
Ovid Williams (a Patamuna) who wrote Micobie’s history noted that the village comprises predominantly Patamuna people, the ‘so called’ relatives of the Akawaios who share many similarities including language, diet, marriage rites and the practice of herbal medicine.
Micobie has been in existence since in the 1800s when the now National Heritage (Denham Bridge) was being constructed. Initially, the workers on the bridge and pork-knockers, patronised the small community by purchasing their cassava bread and as a result it was given the name “Cassava Hill”.
Micobie’s health hut
The satellite village of Micobie is El Paso, located on the right bank of the Potaro River below the Tumatumari Falls.
In the 1960s when captains were being elected to govern the community, one Mr. Bennett of Arawak descent was elected, and he changed the name from Cassava Hill to New Foundout.
Through the next village captain Mr. Braithwaite, also of Arawak descent, Micobie, though it had was very small at that time, forged a relationship with the Guyana National Service (GNS) and the Guyana Youth Corps, stationed at Tumatumari, as ranks there purchased the village’s ground provisions and cassava bread.
The Micobie Guest House
In the 1800s a family broke away from a community that was settled at Kangaruma in the area now called Princeville, a satellite village of Campbelltown in the vicinity of Mahdia. It was customary that farming and hunting grounds were the key forces in seeking ‘new lands’ for more comfortable livelihood, since in that era, there were hardly any form of income generating activities in comparison to present day.
Customs
Until the late 1970s the elder of the Village, Mr. Isaac Williams, affectionately called Uncle Isaac, was one of the remaining Piaimen of Region 8, until he met his demise. A Piaiman is one that relies on his exclusive and in-depth traditional training in ‘high science’ to cure his patients.
A section of Micobie
The legend of the Tumatumari Falls has however eclipsed the history of Micopik, by its very nature of being a warning signal. Tuma is a popular meal of the Amerindian and consists of boiled meat with some hot peppers. When a family snares game it is usually shared among the villagers and for the morning meal, the host family would shout Tuma Tuma, inviting the neighbours.
Legend has it that at some times in the night (moonless nights) the Falls would howl an eerie sound resembling the words Tuma Tuma. This was usually interpreted by the villagers as a bad omen and indeed there were natural disasters that followed such a howl or someone drowned in the falls or river. It is said that, that is how originally the Falls got its name Tumatumari.
A large benab built by Micobie residents
The Aleluya religion (Indigenous religion) was practiced in Micobie until the Anglican Church was introduced.
Population
Micobie now has an approximate population of three hundred and sixty persons. There is a primary school and students qualifying for secondary education would attend the nearby Mahdia Secondary School.
Economy
Because of its mineral and forest resources, Micobie had attracted a lot of private investors, but no infrastructure and skills were left when they moved on. The residents themselves are now engaged in small scale mining and of course their traditional farming.
Through presidential grants, Micobie benefited from a complete solar panel unit, a poultry production project and a rest house in the community.
Governance
Governed by a Toshao Julie Johnson, the grand-daughter of Mr. Isaac Williams and six Councillors, Micobie’s guidelines for effective governance are outlined in the 2006 Amerindian Act.
In 2006, after lengthy consultations and accompanied with procedural bottlenecks, Micobie was awarded its Land Title by the Government for 24 square miles of land.
For a village that has a humble beginning, it is now the task of the New Council, the descendants of “Uncle Isaac” to assiduously work towards the betterment of Micobie.
