http://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/letters/07/26/the-amerindian-act-is-in-need-of-amendment/ Guyana News, Sports, Businesss and Entertainment Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:33:14 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 http://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/letters/07/26/the-amerindian-act-is-in-need-of-amendment/comment-page-1/#comment-15207 Guy Marco Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:38:28 +0000 http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=17598#comment-15207 Wasn't it the duty of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to educate the Indiginous Peoples the intend of the propose Amerindian Act before it was implemented? What is the purpose of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry/Minister? Is it just a museum of the Indigenopus People? Does it stand for the rights of the Indigenous Peoples Or side with whatever government says? I guess if the former is done it would be banned. I remember there was a limited so-called consultation period given to the villages when the draft was thrown at them. If there is now a "plain English" being done for them to clearly understand the Act - why wasn't this done in the beginning? Why was that rush about? Even it took a decade and get it right it would have been better. What difference did it make? We the Aboriginal Peoples of Americas have lived from time immemorial without any ACT but in a organized groups and with high respect to our land. For imformation sake - our villages were always lead by a Village Council (Elders Council) who managed their respective groups. The Council was lead by a TOUSHOUWA (Toushou/Captain)/Chief. Our very first Chief known in Yupukari Village and its surrounding villages was John Bull ( Juan Bulley in Macushi). One of my brothers is married to a descendant ( Loretta Samuels-Marco) of him at Katoka Village. John Bull's son in law - Francis - became our TOUSHOUWA after he passed away. The current 'Toushouwa ' /Toushou/Captain - Desmond Michael - of Katoka Village is a descendant of Mogo Francis. Our Village Council might not have been in written form but we always have a Village Council in every group of the Amerindians and should be respected. Wasn’t it the duty of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to educate the Indiginous Peoples the intend of the propose Amerindian Act before it was implemented?
What is the purpose of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry/Minister? Is it just a museum of the Indigenopus People? Does it stand for the rights of the Indigenous Peoples Or side with whatever government says? I guess if the former is done it would be banned.
I remember there was a limited so-called consultation period given to the villages when the draft was thrown at them.
If there is now a “plain English” being done for them to clearly understand the Act – why wasn’t this done in the beginning? Why was that rush about? Even it took a decade and get it right it would have been better.
What difference did it make?
We the Aboriginal Peoples of Americas have lived from time immemorial without any ACT but in a organized groups and with high respect to our land.
For imformation sake – our villages were always lead by a Village Council (Elders Council) who managed their respective groups. The Council was lead by a TOUSHOUWA (Toushou/Captain)/Chief.
Our very first Chief known in Yupukari Village and its surrounding villages was John Bull ( Juan Bulley in Macushi). One of my brothers is married to a descendant ( Loretta Samuels-Marco) of him at Katoka Village.
John Bull’s son in law – Francis – became our TOUSHOUWA after he passed away. The current ‘Toushouwa ‘ /Toushou/Captain – Desmond Michael – of Katoka Village is a descendant of Mogo Francis.
Our Village Council might not have been in written form but we always have a Village Council in every group of the Amerindians and should be respected.

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