St. Cuthbert's Mission, Guyana

St. Cuthbert's Mission is an Amerindian village on the Mahaica River in the Demerara-Mahaica region (Region 4) of Guyana. It comprises approximately 200 households.[1][2][3] St. Cuthbert's is regarded by many people in Guyana as the "cultural capital" for Amerindians.[3]

St. Cuthbert's Mission
Amerindian settlement
St. Cuthbert's Mission
Location in Guyana
Coordinates: 6°22′N 58°4′W
CountryGuyana
RegionDemerara-Mahaica (Region 4)
Founded byJoseph Ferguson
Area
 • Total621.60 km2 (240.00 sq mi)
Population
 (2013)
 • Total1,700
 • Density2.7/km2 (7/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-4

History

St Cuthbert's Mission was founded in the late 1800s by Joseph Ferguson, who was also the village's first Kafotay (Chief in the Arawak language). At that time it was named "Pakuri" after the Platonia tree that were then plentiful in the area.[1] The village was renamed St. Cuthbert's Mission when the first Anglican missionaries arrived at the village and founded a Mission there on Saint Cuthbert's Day in 1889.[1][3][4]

In February 2011, St Cuthbert's suffered from a major flood, with levels of accumulated water reaching 311.3 millimetres. The flood resulted in substantial loss of crops and personal property for many villagers.[5] In September 2011, St Cuthbert's hosted celebrations for Amerindian Heritage Month. The celebrations were attended by a number of senior government officials and thousands of visitors from Guyana as well as other countries.[6]

Geography

St Cuthbert's Mission is situated on the left bank of the Mahaica River. It is surrounded by savannah and shrub lands on its East side, and dense vegetation on its west side. The nearest large settlements are the capital city, Georgetown (57 miles away) and Mahaica (65 miles away by river).[3]

Government

St Cuthbert's Mission falls under the jurisdiction of the Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica). However, one quarter of St Cuthbert's titled communal village lands are in Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice), with the other three quarters lying in Region 4.[3]

Like most other Amerindian villages in Guyana (and in accordance with the constitutional Amerindian Act), St Cuthbert's is governed by a Village Council under the leadership of a Toshao (or Chief). Toshaos are elected every three years, and are voted in by the local population in village elections. The council is made up of nine members, including the Toshao and an appointed secretary and treasurer. Village Council meetings are held monthly, on the last Saturday of every month.

Economy

St. Cuthbert's was primarily a logging community, and logging provides one of the source of income for the village. Since the 1990s, a small number of villagers have found work with Omai Gold Mines Ltd.Few villagers also practice subsistence farming.[3]

The Toshao (Chief)is provided with a monthly stipend by the national government.[3]

Culture

Local art and the Lokono Group

In August 1988, the leading Guyanese artist and native of St. Cuthbert's Mission, George Simon, founded a drawing and design workshop in the village. The workshop fostered a number of Lokono artistic talents in the village who have since achieved artistic recognition in their own right, including Oswald ("Ossie") Hussein, Foster Simon, Roland Taylor, Telford Taylor and Lynus Clenkian. These artists - including George Simon - are known collectively as the Lokono Artists Group. In 2002, Simon constructed an Arts Centre to allow local artists to exhibit their work. The Arts Centre was opened in September 2002.[7][8][9]

Notes
  1. McGowan, Mark (31 July 2011). "St. Cuthbert's Mission". Stabroek News. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  2. NCN Staff (6 July 2011). "St Cuthbert's Mission: a blessed community". NCN. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  3. Stabroek Staff (10 July 2004). "St Cuthbert's Mission says it hardly gets any state funds - residents urge regular auditing of council's finances" (Archive Version). Stabroek News. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  4. Anon (30 September 2009). "Traditional Wedding at St. Cuthbert's". Guyana Chronicle. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  5. Stabroek Staff (26 February 2011). "St. Cuthbert's Mission Swamped: Biggest Flood in Years". Stabroek News. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  6. Singh, Chevin (25 September 2011). "St Cuthbert's Hosts Amerindian Heritage Month Celebrations". Guyana Chronicle. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  7. Creighton, Al (22 September 2002). "The Return of George Simon" (Archive copy of original article). Stabroek News. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  8. Marks, Neil (5 June 2011). "Leading Artist and Anthropologist George Simon, A. A. is a Special Person". Kaieteur News. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  9. Hosein, Alim (29 September 2002). "Moving Circle" (Archive copy of original article). Stabroek News. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
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