The Amerindian nations meet the Europeans

From a painting of Amerindians by W S Hedges c 1836

There are nine nations of Amerindians living in this country today, although they do not represent the sum total of those who have always been here.  They are the Waraus, Arawaks and Caribs, who for the most part are found in coastal areas and the coastal hinterland; the Macushis and Wapishanas, located in the North and South Rupununi Savannahs respectively; the Akawaios in the Mazaruni; the Patamonas in the Pakaraimas; the Arekunas on the border with Venezuela; and the Wai-Wais in the far south of the country.

It is customary to classify Amerindian nations according to the languages they speak. In fact,