Rupertee
Village Profile
Community Profile
Population |
329 |
Males |
159 |
Females |
170 |
Households |
55 |
Peoples |
Makushi |
Skills |
Farming, Hunting, Fishing, brick making, embroidery , masons, chain saw operators, leather crafts, vaquero |
Religion |
Anglican, Christian Brethren |
Village assets |
chainsaw, water pump, brush cutter, water tanks |
Employment |
Teachers, Health Workers, cooks, shopkeeper, |
Economic activities |
Farming, Hunting, Fishing, brick making, embroidery, lumber, |
Buildings |
Nursery School, Health Post, Church, Village market, Multi-purpose building |
Local Organization |
Wildlife club, Parent teachers friends association, Sewing Group, Mothers Union, football club |
History
History of Rupertee
Rupertee settlement began when Roberto Andrew and his family moved there from Aranaputa. First they camped at a place called prouyankiri, at Kwatamang, east of Rupertee. After a year Roberto decided to build his house in Rupertee, where it still stands. In those days the area was named after the prominent mountain, monoiyen. Roberto had come from Brazil originally. He worked as a vaquero with the rancher D’ Aguiar. At that also, many wild buffalo grazed in Rupertee savannah, providing a ready meat supply to the vaquero and their families.
After Roberto, another vaquero named Francisco settled at the mountain corner named woyomiyen, to the north of the village. Over time, other settlers moved in, particularly from the Aranaputa area, since they could not afford to pay the annual lease rates for what had been declared State Land. Other settlers, like the Daniels family, moved from Yakarinta. Later residents banded together to build an Anglican Church so as to cut out the long walk to Annai.
The word ‘Rupertee’ comes from a special type of bamboo called rapoye’ which grows in abundance at the ‘bush mouth’ of Rupertee. This Bamboo was used to make arrow points which would be dipped into the poison, curare.
Resources
Strengths
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Is part of the larger Annai Amerindian Land Title under the present Amerindian Act
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Community members are willing to give of their time in self help activities
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Have an active cultural group
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Have an active women’s group, this group gives out small loans to women for enhanced livelihood
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Active Mother’s Union group in the community
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Has access to Nursery, Primary and Secondary school education- note that Primary and Secondary Education is not available directly in the community
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Conservation site – an area that has the Paurine trees have been set aside as a conservation area so that some natural resources are managed in a sustainable way.
Weakness
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Poor communication – not enough or timely communication on issues that affect community members of the community from the village council to the community and from the leader to the community members.
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Weak leadership in the community – the community needs more leaders who have leadership skills to deal with issues that face community members and to provide direction for the development of the community.
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Poor mobilization of the people for community affairs
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Not enough interest in development of cultural aspects in the community
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Few young people are involved in decisions making processes in the community.
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No Primary School in the community – a primary school is needed for the community as the community has all of its’ students of primary school age attending school in a close by community.
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Limited job opportunities for residents of the community
Opportunities
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Small business enterprises can be developed as the road passes through the community. The community is about to embark on a brick making project to provide some employment to members of the community and also generate some funds for the community
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Training opportunities for youths at institutions such as the Bina Hill Institute
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Transfer of traditional skills in areas such as craft making, embroidery and other areas to young people in the community.
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Opportunities for community members to be trained in the tourism and hospitality business at places such as the Rock view Lodge.
Threats
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Community close to the road where the impacts of the impending road development can be a negative one, this could include young people leaving,
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Competition for resources with other nearby communities
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Farm lands not on titled community land and is far away
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Not enough employment for people in the community
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Development of the road and community not prepared for it.
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Overharvesting of natural resources such and wildlife from the area.
Development Plans
Annual Community Priority Plans
Project |
Objective |
Activity |
Timeline |
Remarks |
Handicraft Centre |
Have a place where craft makers can have their crafts and art on display Have an area where there training can be done |
Select site Acquire bricks and other building materials Put up posts Put up rafters and runners Cut leaves Transport leaves Cut and pack leaves Trash roof Put up clay brick walls Insert window and door frames Lay floor Complete doors and windows |
Presently laying brick walls Building to be complete in 4 weeks
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Clay brick project |
Have a project being done which can generate income for the individual and the community |
Select site Mash mud Form brick and leave to dry Get firewood Fire bricks Cool and pack bricks |
To be done during the dry season |
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Rest House |
Have a place where visitors to the community can stay |
Select site Acquire materials Transport materials Build building
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Primary School |
Have primary school where children from the community can have access to primary education |
Get requisite permission from the relevant authorities to have school in the community
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Drainage and irrigation |
Place drains and dams in areas in the community so that there can be access during the raining season |
Select areas for dams to be build and drains to be dug Dig drains and build dams |
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Wildlife club house |
Have a building where the club members meet and have their activities |
Select site for building Acquire materials for building Lay foundation Build building |
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Nature Trail |
Refurbish the existing nature trail and look at areas that may be extended |
Clear trail and explore other areas of interest where the trail might be further developed |
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Agro-forestry plot |
Further develop the agro-forestry plot |
Drain plot that was selected Plant selected crops
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