Piaiman Cures 
Shake rattle
Smoke cigar
Drink tobacco juice
Tie a hammock
For the sick one
Bring green boughs to hand.
Empty house
Lock door
Put the fire out
Total darkness, all is still, nothing moves
about.
Shake rattle
Chant song
Hear the distant roars
Coming closer
Here they come
Now blood-curdling howls
Piai calls
Kenaima hears
Evil ones come in
Shout, whisper, roar, growl-terrifying din.
Winged things
All shapes
Coming through the roof
Question, answer
Different voices
Piai must know the one
Come, go
All kinds
Creatures-even human
Wax, wane-bump, thump, held by piaimen.
Circle rattle
Ever faster
Crystal fire
Sparks fly
Fight fire with fire
Blow smoke
Suck poison
Pull out spirit darts
Long night, piai cures, Kenaima now
departs.
-Stephanie Correia
Chant to Earth Mother-1
Spirit fighter, sacred rattle-
Fashioned by me from a perfect calabash-
Four mouths to face in all directions,
A crown of brilliant feathers, carrier of crystal fire
To fight the evil ones. I, only, hold the power
To shake the rattle, chant the song
To use the instruments ancestors left me
To guard, protect and heal the people of my tribe.
Ages ago it seems since first I learnt this lore
Understanding secrets, spirit growing ever stronger,
Bitter years of fasting, self-denial-a child when I
began
To walk this testing road, for I am piaiman.
And now true testing time has come
Feathered, fierce-eyed, painted warriors await
My word for a successful hunt.
For first I must go down to underworld
To parley with Earth Mother for the souls of animals
Now gather round, my people help me,
Bear me up with song and dance and ritual
As I embark upon my perilous journey.
Drink the ‘karl, beat the drum, move in sinuous
rhythms
Rattle shaking ever faster, tobacco juice, my long
cigar;
Ancient incantations rising, falling, chanting
endlessly.
Earth shackles break, as I rise up my spirit now set
free.
I ride weightlessly upon enchanted bird.
Come guardian helpers lead me through,
Come hawk and eagle, snake and lizard,
Jaguar, alligator, shield me round.
Up steep mountains, through deep lakes,
Down long rivers winding dangerously.
Through treacherous swamps and fetid forests
The demon ones are kept at bay
Until at last deep in the underworld
I face Earth Mother with my plea.
Majestic, threatening, there she stands
Her animals enfolded in her outstretched hands.
-Stephanie Correia
In September, Guyana celebrated Amerindian heritage month. The University of Guyana, through its Amerindian Research Unit, marked the observance with a programme highlighting research, study and ancient history. Georgetown experienced the return of its annual week of exhibitions, stage performances, food and revelry for which people brought their products from several Amerindian communities in interior locations.
