Yupukari
Village Profile
Yupukari Village Profile
Population(Yupukari) Quatata |
548 240 |
Households (Yupukari/fly hill ) Quatata |
68 33 |
Males (Yupukari) Quatata |
280 130 |
Females(Yupukari) Quatata |
268 110 |
Language |
Wapishana, Makushi, Portuguese, English |
Skills |
Carpenters, Brick makers, Boat Captains, Craft makers, Canoe Makers, Instrument Players, Fish preservers, Data Collectors,Masons,Tour guides, embroidery, arrow makers, chain saw operators, |
Religion |
Christians-Anglican and Christian Brethren |
Village Assets |
Aluminum Boat(2), Boat Engine(2), Chainsaw(1), Bush cutter (2), Generator (2),Tractor 4*4, Garden equipment e.g. Forks, shovels, wheelbarrows, |
Employment |
Teachers, Health worker, Rangers, Malaria Personnel, Librarians, Shopkeepers, Cooks |
Economic activities |
Farming, Sewing, Fishing, Hunting, Gathering |
Buildings |
Primary and Nursery Schools, Health Post, Teachers Quarter, Hostel, Church, Market, Village Office and shop, Guest House, Vicarage, Hot meal, Volunteers House, Phone booth, Termite’s workshop. |
Local Organization |
Sewing group, Wildlife Club, Sports Club, Parent Teachers Friends Association(PTFA), Mother’s Union, Prayer Centered Youth Fellowship(PCYF), Village & School Malaria Council, Swimming Club, Football club |
History
History of Yupukari
After interviewing elderly people of Yupukari Village, these are the stories I came out with about the village and the activities people did in the past.
The only hut in Yupukari at that time belonged to a man called John Bull who was the chief (sham-Buru- in Makushi) he was the first person who started living in Yupukari. During that time the place was mainly savannahs as there was no bush. Captain Francis was his son- in- law, he was the captain of balata bleeding. When Old John Bull died he was buried in a place called Katoka-(toga in Makushi.) and after his death Albert Evelyn took over and the chieftain then was a man called Matthew.
The Communities were comprised of Yupukari, Katoka, Simoni, Quatata and Kaicumbay and at that time Yupukari was a mother for those satellite communities. Then Abel Dorrick took over the position to be Toshao in the year 1964, during his time as Toshao he did a lot of work and helped many people before dying in 1983, where the son of Abel, Leonard Dorrick took over on May 6th 1983 and ruled for eleven years. Leonard Dorrick, during his reign noticed that there were no health workers and that it was a perfect opportunity to find some people to be trained, He recommended two persons to be trained as Health workers. Persons who he recommended was a man called Mr. Gilbert Daniels and Mr. Clifton Laurindo, who was trained for three months in Lethem to be a Health worker. Mr. Daniels was appointed to be a health worker in Yupukari while Clifton was elected to be a Toshao after Leonard. Then, Mr. Rudolph Roberts took over the position to be Toshao where he was also the teacher in Yupukari but since he was appointed to be a headmaster in a village called Toushida, he handed over Toshao work to his senior councilor Mr. Donald Barnabas where he run the community for only four months. Since there was no Toshao in the community, They decided to do an election and elected Mr. Kenneth Dorrick brother of Leonard Dorrick. Then Mr. Isaac Rogers who was re-elected two times as a Toshao in 2003 -2009 then from 2009 Junior Rudolph Roberts took over. And then from here to be continued.
According to the people who I interviewed, they said that the Village has develop a lot and is now seeing people living different from the past. Using different equipment to do fishing, hunting, farming, etc.
How the Village got its name:
Part 1.
Many, many years ago there lived an old man name John Bull. One day, he went out fishing to the river when suddenly he heard a noise from beyond. There he saw two tigers fighting. He was standing so quiet to see what was going on. The two tigers started talking with one another asking what their name was. One of them said,” My name is Yupu” and the other said,” My name is Kari.” Before this Village got its name Yupukari, both of them got tired of jumping and saying Yupu, Yupa and Kari, Kari.
After seeing everything what had happened, the old man went home and told a few people what had happened. He said,” We will name our place Yupukari.” After a long time it became a Village. It is a big mission now. This is how we found and formed our Village Yupukari.
Part 2.
Long, long ago there was a tiger named Ape’kari in Makushi it lived under a big rock and used to eat people. Then one day, one man by the name of Matthew Francis told the pai-man to come and do something about the tiger. The pai-man then came down through the Rupununi River from South Rupununi with his son. They were coming checking all the big rocks to see where this tiger really live. Long after travelling for couple days they found the tiger at the Yupukari main landing. Then the pai-man put on his coat and told his son” I am going to fight the tiger but if you see that I am getting tired and cannot make it, you must take off my coat and fight him” when the pai-man went to fight him the tiger jumped on him making a loud noise saying “Apeeeeeee’kariiiiiii. So when the pai-man got tired his son took off his father’s coat as he told him and began fighting the tiger until they killed the tiger. After killing the tiger they both sat there on the rock and talk to themselves about what they will name the community. His father said “Just like how the tiger made that noise when jumping on me,” he said. They told the old Matthew Francis that they named this community Ape’kari. So they agreed with the name and that is how they named the community as “Ape’kari” in Makushi.
Told by Isaac Rogers.
How Quatata got its Name.
Quatata Village is a small settlement located in the flat land savannah surrounded by creeks, ponds, and jungle. The first family permanently settled in Quatata was Augustine, Dorrick in 1930s. He discovered that one of the islands was a habitat for spider monkeys. And he name the island Quatabai in Makushi meaning the place of spider monkeys. The word Quata is a Makushi word also meaning spider monkey. This is how Quatata got its name
Resources
Strengths of the Village:
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Has the public library—place where the school children, adults go to borrow books, check their mails and also go there to hang out during their leisure time.
-
Village council in place-the village council that is an elected body to discuss matters related to the development of the community on regular bases.
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Is a titled land—under the New Amerindian Act the village has been granted a title
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Has a internet access, public phone booth, HF radio
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Has a lot of water where we get lots of fishes
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Enough forest standing with wild animals, birds, etc
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Has schools, health post, church, guest house
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Equipment/facilicities i.e. outboard engines and boat, chain saw, etc
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Has Community health worker and Malaria personnel
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Clubs helping the Village monitoring the environment
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Tractor 4 *4
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Positioned in North Rupununi, close to NRDDB, Bina Hill, Iwokrama, Karanambu, Rock View
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Village willing to try new things
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Open to Visitors, Volunteers- who are helping to develop the community in terms of education.
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Resilient population, Subsistence lifestyle – people who are easy to catch back with whatever they are down.
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Cultural preservation—strong Makushi speaking youth population
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Adults being trained on information technology.
Weakness in the Village
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Lack of good leadership skills
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Village council is week in looking after the money. Needs training in accountability.
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Lack of communication with the villagers with communities such as Fly Hill and Quatata.
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Lack of cooperation with people from Fly hill and Quatata.
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Persons who have cattle not keeping an eye on their animals
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Inadequate contribution for the development of the village
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Work not done in time with villagers
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Lack of plan, discussion, vision with the villagers to help Village council.
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Limited ( human, economic, physical) resources
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Lack of knowledge and skills of available development pathways
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Lack of job opportunities
Opportunities of the village
-
Wildlife clubs members going for training
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Workshops with NRDDB---. One such activity would be for senior students to attend the Bina Hill Youth Learning Institute where they would prepare for leadership roles and skills for the future.
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Toshao representing at the National level
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More teachers being trained
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Employment—people being employed in Caiman House.
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Outreach workshop/training for librarians, guides
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Lot of visitors in the villagers
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Improving Literacy
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Scientific Studies e.g. Caiman Trapping, Pit traps with wildlife
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Large scale farming/gardening (cassava, crops etc…)
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Marketing – Craft –hammocks, sifter, etc…
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Partnership with outside organizations
Threats
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Insects and acoushi ants destroying plants, especially in the gardens
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Commercial Fishing
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Climate change --- the threat of climate change is real. The indigenous populations are the first to be affected when there is too much sun or rain. With this phenomenon the basic staple diet of the local people becomes insufficient and so hunger and eventual steps in. Gathering for survival also cannot be done and so the way of life of the indigenous people becomes threatened.
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Changes in village’s wide values—because of the threats of climate change, people are selling their crops really high.
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Disagreements – people who are living in Quatata and Fly Hill not agreeing with the plans and activities that villagers of Yupukari came up with and verse versa.
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Lack of discussion planning
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Migration of youths seeking for jobs.
Resources Lists.
“The What”
Farming
The resources that are actively farmed by our great grandparents long ago to now. The list, which includes a section for Poultry, has ground provisions, fruits, and vegetables listed.
CROPS
1. |
Bitter & sweet cassava |
30. |
Bora |
2. |
Corn |
31. |
Ochro |
3. |
Pumpkin |
32. |
Sugar cane |
4. |
Yam |
33. |
Cashew |
5 |
Sweet potato |
34. |
Mango |
6. |
Eddoes |
35. |
Lime |
7. |
Banana |
36. |
Guava |
8. |
Plantain |
37. |
Sour sop |
9. |
Arrow Cane |
38. |
Rice |
10. |
Cotton |
39. |
Jamon |
11. |
Pepper |
40. |
Dashing |
12. |
Water melon |
41. |
Tania |
13. |
Pine apple |
42. |
Tomato |
14 |
Peanut |
43. |
Eschallot |
15. |
Sorrel |
45. |
Boulanger |
16. |
Paw paw |
46. |
Calalu |
17. |
Grape fruit |
47. |
Cabbage |
18. |
Orange |
48. |
Pear |
19. |
Tangerine |
49. |
Barley |
20. |
Coconut |
50. |
Thyme |
21. |
Hiari |
51. |
Cherry |
22. |
Tobacco |
52 |
Dunks |
23. |
Black eye peas |
53 |
Whitey |
|
Poultry |
54 |
Cucumber |
24. |
Chicken |
55 |
Cunani |
25. |
Ducks |
56 |
Car raw |
26. |
Cattle |
|
|
27. |
Horse |
|
|
28. |
Goat |
|
|
29. |
Sheep |
|
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Hunting & Fishing
Fishes and animals what our great grand fathers hunted and fished for:
The group listed several species including tapir, iguana, tiger for game and arapaima, tiger fish and Yakatu for fish.
HUNTING FISHING
1. |
Bush Deer |
24 |
Parrot |
1 |
Lukunani |
24 |
Sun fish |
2. |
Savannah deer |
25 |
Pigeon |
2 |
Arapaima |
25 |
Yarrow |
3 |
Agouti |
26 |
Dove |
3 |
Basha |
26 |
Dari |
4 |
Bush dog |
27 |
Tiger bird |
4 |
Arawana |
27 |
Karta back |
5 |
Tapir |
28 |
Harpy eagle |
5 |
Beira |
28 |
Wabre |
6 |
Capybara |
29 |
Cock of the rock |
6 |
Tiger fish |
29 |
Mata Mata |
7 |
Land turtle |
30 |
Niger coop |
7 |
Qui qui |
30 |
Flounder |
8 |
Armadillo |
31 |
Frog mountain chicken |
8 |
Cat fish |
31 |
Shrimp |
9 |
Duck |
32 |
Quail |
9 |
Yakatu |
32 |
Logo logo |
10 |
Powis |
33 |
Monkey |
10 |
Houri |
33 |
Pencil fish |
11 |
Marudi |
34 |
Spoon bell |
11 |
Haimara |
34 |
Red tail fish |
12 |
Warakabra |
35 |
Sparrow |
12 |
Perai |
35 |
Balloon fish |
13 |
Macaw |
36 |
Tawa tawa |
13 |
Sword fish |
36 |
Alligator |
14 |
Crane |
37 |
Tiger |
14 |
Pacou |
37 |
String ray |
15 |
Maam |
38 |
Water dog |
15 |
Hassar |
38 |
Piab |
16 |
Anakwa |
|
|
16 |
Patwa |
|
|
17 |
Duckling |
|
|
17 |
Dawala |
|
|
18 |
Heron |
|
|
18 |
Kalut |
|
|
19 |
Iguana |
|
|
19 |
Skeet fish |
|
|
20 |
Salipenter |
|
|
20 |
Football sock fish |
|
|
21 |
Totowa |
|
|
21 |
Cassie |
|
|
22 |
Toucan |
|
|
22 |
Crab |
|
|
23 |
Adouri |
|
|
23 |
Turtle |
|
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Gathering
The list below includes: medicinal herbs, fruits, poison, incense and timber.
Materials Gathered
1 |
Balata(milk,tree,fruit) |
20 |
Powis |
2 |
Timber |
21 |
Bamboo |
3 |
Mackru |
22 |
Bird cherries |
4 |
Caramani |
23 |
Genip |
5 |
Ete Leaves & fruits |
24 |
Medicinal herbs |
6 |
Nibi |
25 |
Barks & vines |
7 |
Synconia bark |
26 |
Dalibana |
8 |
Lipper wood |
27 |
Yarola wood |
9 |
Mambourin |
28 |
Kwadruya |
10 |
Arrowa leaves |
29 |
Awara fruits & Shoots |
11 |
Brazilian nuts (Embaimi) |
30 |
Gold |
12 |
Lou fruit and leaves |
31 |
Manicole fruits & leaves |
13 |
Toro leaves & fruits |
32 |
Uyabe |
14 |
Hiari |
33 |
Plum |
15 |
Crab oil |
34 |
Yorong |
16 |
Incense( Moruwa) |
35 |
Locust |
17 |
Coco rite leaves ( Cota) |
36 |
Wild Cashew |
18 |
Rubber tree ( Sheringo) |
37 |
|
19 |
Mypaima |
|
|
SEASONAL CALENDAR
“THE WHEN”
Farming
The land preparation for farms occurs from October through to March: selection, cutting down of trees, cleaning and burning. Planting and harvesting occurs throughout the year.
Hunting & Fishing
Hunting and fishing is done throughout the year in locations influenced by the season.
Gathering
Gathering is activity that engages the village throughout the year. The gathering of materials is determined by need.
Hunting and Fishing Techniques
Our great grandparents fished and hunted a very long time ago by:
Arrow and Bow
Hooks e.g. Kanaro
Trapping
Tracking
Blow-pipe
Fish trap
Kunani ball (poison)
Curarie Poison
Harrarie (vein)
Camarin
Dogs
Spring Rods
Cutlass
Development Plans
General Community Development Plans
Education:
*children need to have access to Secondary School
---Because lot of children who is brilliant to go on higher level of study doesn’t have a chance to go to further their study.
*To have better and more accommodations in Secondary School dorms
---Most children do not have space to stay in the dorms and are staying with relatives or in renting rooms and have to travel to school far distance each day.
* Rehabilitation and extension of school-buildings, teachers building
* Upgrading the skills of teachers through training programmes;
* Bilingual and cross-cultural context reflected in curriculum (Guyanese/Amerindian culture);
*Need more volunteers, trained teachers,
* Learning institute for children and adults – understanding of Amerindian rights
--Public speaking, Leadership skills, accountancy skills
* Have persons trained in servicing the solar system for water and lights
*Skills Learning--- craft making, carpentry, brick making etc.
Health:
*Need better trained health personnel; Medex, Nurse, Midwife, Dentix
*Need a proper Health Care System; hospital
----because patients have to travel far to get their treatments, when there is no transportation and person are very ill.
*Availability of drugs –need more drugs in the health post
* Transportation for Community Health Workers;
* More CHW trained as microscopist;
* upgrading knowledge health-workers;
*HIV/Aids testing centre
----cause people in the village don’t know their status. Doesn’t even care what HIV/aids are.
*Indigenous Doctors
Transportation:
*Tractor- to transport goods from farm and to take the goods out to sell
---because people do farming but don’t have transportation to transport it from farm and to carry it out to sell somewhere.
*Vehicle
---to take students back to secondary schools and bring them home when holiday - To use for emergencies.
*Airstrip
Infrastructure:
*Put up a building for Women’s Sewing Group with more equipments
--- Because there is a Women’s sewing group that is still functioning, has equipment but doesn’t have a proper building for them.
*To have proper roads
*Proper housing scheme
----because houses are built scattered in nature. Villagers should plan to allow for good spacing, aesthetics, and more. There is a growing tendency to use burnt brick to construct the walls of homes and cement to make floors. This is aesthetically good and allows for better hygiene. More windows are also placed on the outer walls to allow for better circulation of air.
*Termites building to be functioning
Water:
*To have adequate supply of portable water for domestic use and gardens
-----because there is not enough water for homes, for kitchens, shower and for gardens.
*Overhead water tanks
----wants it’s high because senior citizens will not have problems running into the well.
---A training programme in the local language should also be done with the school and villagers.
Sports/Recreation
*Need children’s park
--- To relax, play games, meet friends, picnic, etc…
*Proper sports Complex, playground
---for athletic sports for schools, football, cricket and other outdoor games
*Zoo:
--- To have children and adults knowing the names of different kinds of animals
---- have people have a chance to see the animals etc..
Communication:
*Radio broadcast—NCN and Paiwomak
---to have a better and clear signal
* HF Radio
---to use when on emergency or to pass message quick to other villages
*Post office
--to send mails
*Telephone and Cell Phone service
—this equipment will be used in times of emergencies or to do other business
*Internet
---to get information, check emails, etc
*News letters, Posters, Pamphlets…
---to know what is going on the village or what is to be done and to come
Electricity:
*Solar system to push power for lights in homes
---because people live in the dark and is sometimes get bit by spiders, snake etc.
Eco-Tourism:
*More guest house
* Sites to be documented
Environment:
*Environmental Awareness in the compound, toilets…
Village need to have garbage bins in the compound and by the important building, so as to keep the environment clean. Also proper toilets need be place in the village and by the important building.
Economic Opportunities
Agriculture
Agriculture is practiced at a subsistence level but some farmers produce more than needed to gain money for purchasing goods needed. It is a common sight to see farmers in their bullock carts travelling to Lethem to sell farine and agriculture products. Recently, the village was granted a tractor by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and this should be used by the villagers for transporting their produce to the growing Lethem market or elsewhere. Currently the village started harvesting the vegetables and greens from the kitchen gardens and the villagers do harvest the fish resources from rivers, lakes and ponds. With a long term approach there should be training in aquaculture and so allow the community members to rear fish in commercial quantities for the market in Lethem. Also with:
*Livestock—increase on cattle and sheep rearing
*Fish farms, Piggery, Poultry
*Cassava Production—Factory of making farine, cassava bread, cassareep etc.
*Agriculture equipment and machine such as Tractor, Mills, and truck should be there for the farmers.
* Proper marketing system put in place both locally and overseas for crops, livestock etc
*Proper access roads to farm lands
*Logging: - cutting lumber, cutting logs
Some villagers do logging as their business. Whilst this is going a project should be done to do an inventory of the forests. This would allow the people to document their resources and so plan for sustainable usage.
Cultural continuity:
*Improve traditional languages –in school, workshops, and library
*Passing on Stories, songs, dances and traditional medicine to the younger ones
Projects that have already been done:
--Kitchen garden project-gardens to every household in the village
-vegetables and greens growing in the garden
-water tanks put up nearer to the houses in east, west, north, south from the main tanks.
Problem is that there is not much manure for gardens and acoushi ants eating the vegetables and greens
--- Importing Boarding Area project.
Projects that are still in process:
-
Caiman monitoring
Other projects to be done:
Natural Resources Management project-
Annual Community development Plans
Project |
Objective |
Activities |
Timeline |
Remarks |
Building a Women Sewing Centre and equipping same |
Building a women sewing centre and equipping with the necessary facilities and equipment to assist with skills training and promoting women as change agents for community development. |
*Write up a proposal for funding to support the project. *Construction of the building. *Training the women in how they should be carrying on their project so as to let the project go successful. How they must use the medium of sewing clothes, sleeping nets of the communities. |
May 2010-May 2011. |
Women in the village have skills of sewing different kinds of clothes. When they work in groups there are opportunities for them to learn and promote healthy changes in the communities and can further share their knowledge with to their children. |
Putting up Wildlife club office. |
For the Villagers, Visitors and the club members to have more interested and get more understanding of the wildlife management and why they are important. |
*Writing a proposal for funding. *Sending two club members to Bina Hill Institute for training in Wildlife Management and Natural resources Management. *Put up the Building. *Place the two members who were trained in Bina Hill Institute in the office along with the Executive Body. *Open office for everyone to visit and learn about Wildlife and what are some of the activities the Club members are doing. |
May- September |
Wildlife Club members will signal in writing to the Regional Administration that they are very interested in participating in doing work in putting up the building and doing the activities in the village. |
Extension of titled Lands to cover the communities of Kaicumbay, Quatata and Fly hill. |
For the Village to be granted extension of titled land under the New Amerindian Act. |
*village consultation to discuss the boundaries with the residents of Fly hill, Quatata and Kaicumbay that will be applied for. Also discussing the same matter with the Villagers of Nappi and Parishara. *Writing letters to the relevant authorities on this matter. *Inviting the Minister of Amerindian Affairs and Regional officers to discuss this and other issues. Continuing lobbing at all forums on this matter. *Seek funds from organizations for support. |
All year |
In the mean time the village rules will be developed. |
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