Annual Amerindian myths, legends fair opens on September 14

Georgetown: Each year the Walter Roth Museum hosts its annual Amerindian myths, legends and oral traditions of Guyana and an Archaeological Fair and Exhibition in observance of Indigenous heritage month. The fair spans from 13th -16th September, 2016. The opening ceremony will be held on the 13th September, 2016 at 10:00hrs. The activities include cassava bread demonstration, piwari making, tibisire platting, puppetry, dramatic storytelling, and arts and craft display.

In addition, various archaeological exercises would be conducted catering for nursery, primary and secondary schools, as well as the general public. Some of these include archaeological pit testing of a plot in the yard, which is basically an excavation exercise, above ground surveys and ceramic analysis.

This would be the very first time the museum would be hosting an exhibition combined with a fair (Exhifair) with the goal to successfully host the latter by creating an understanding and appreciation for archaeology and to give recognition to significant contributions made by pioneering Guyanese Archaeologists and Anthropologists. This event, being in its 5th year, allows the public to learn about the indigenous culture in an informal setting.

The objectives of the Exhifair are to highlight the contributions made by Guyanese archaeologists, to spark interest in the minds of young people about archaeology and to edify the public in this discipline since the field of archaeology is underexplored by Guyanese.

In commemoration of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, this year’s theme is “Archaeological Discoveries 1966-2016”, the museum will accommodate different agencies such as Volunteer Support Platform – Department of Youth and the Amerindian Research Unit-University of Guyana to lend their expertise, and enthusiasm to the Exhifair. Given that it would be Indigenous Heritage Month aspects of indigenous life will be portrayed using craft work, food and demonstrations in the setting of a miniature indigenous village.