In Surama, students yearn to learn as much and conserve the local wisdom
By Matt Hallett
Imagine lifting off from Georgetown on a flight into the interior and peering out your window only to see green stretching to the horizon in every direction. Consider hiking through the lush Iwokrama Forest to the peak of Turtle Mountain where you watch spider monkeys bound through the trees below.
Close your eyes and picture a sky so full of stars that you almost have to shield your eyes. Think about what it would be like to take a night hike through the savannah and forest habitats of Surama village with your flashlight, only to have thousands of eyes shining back at you. Picture yourself standing on a rock precipice with Kaieteur Falls thundering behind you, wondering if this is the most beautiful thing that you have ever seen.
Students from all over the United States had these experiences and more in August when they travelled to Guyana for a course through Project Dragonfly at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) titled “Guyana: Local Wisdom and Conservation.”
For many students it was the amazing biodiversity that drew them to Guyana; the promise that comes along with visiting the “Land of Giants” – the chance to see rare creatures like the giant river otter, jaguar, anaconda, giant anteater or black caiman.
Students at Iwokrama share what they have learnt being in the villages (Photo by Ricardo Stanoss)
For these students, as with nearly anyone who visits the interior, the natural beauty of Guyana did not disappoint. But it was the cultural heritage, amazing local knowledge and conservation ethic that exist in the Rupununi that have left the greatest impact on these students.
Jill Korach, an instructor from Miami University said, “Guyana offers a unique look at the tropical rainforest seen in few other places worldwide. Here, one has a chance to not only see birds and other species in their native habitat, but even more importantly, visitors are able to experience the interconnectedness of humans in this integrated landscape.
Guyana is a perfect place to show the world the complexities of environmental issues and the ways in which the country is leading the way in sustainable forestry and other practices. I enjoyed every moment of my time in Guyana and hope to be back soon.”
Partnering with the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development and the Surama Village Eco-Lodge, students were granted the opportunity to learn about one of the last frontier forests in the world from the people who know them best.
Students from the project learn the uses of cassava from an indigenous person (Matt Hallett photo)
Lauren Wulker, a science teacher at McNicholas High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, described the people of the Rupununi as “shooting stars of the night sky, brightly lit souls who offered beauty and awe-filled, reflective moments.”
Shelley Kent, an 8th grade teacher from Harrison, Arkansas, was impressed by the openness and hospitality of the people of Rupununi. “Being invited as complete strangers into people’s homes and having the opportunity to watch and listen as they share their lives and cultures with us was truly life changing.”
The Rupununi is made special by equal parts nature and culture, and students in this program were treated to both.
Describing his experience at a cultural presentation at Surama eco lodge, Kyle Sheumaker, an educator from Columbus, Ohio, said, “The evening sky, the Machusi traditions, the rainbows, the parrots, the coconuts – it may have been the first time I was honestly overwhelmed by beauty and happiness. I never wanted to leave that moment.”
Proving the power that a Rupununi experience can have in changing the lives of those who visit, he went on to explain, “I think about the experience everyday still, sometimes to make me feel better, sometimes for inspiration, and sometimes the memories just leak into my thoughts without effort.” The Rupununi provides an interesting host for a course focused on conservation because the region has become an intersection where traditional methods that have been practiced for thousands of years meet technologically advanced methods that are on the cutting edge of science.
The Rupununi supports biodiversity in quantities found nearly nowhere else in the world, and this is not because this landscape was historically devoid of people. Culture and local knowledge are potentially the greatest resource found in the Rupununi, and it is these human resources that help make any visit to the Rupununi a magical experience that one will not soon forget.
Earth Expeditions is a global conservation and education program supporting university courses, degree programs, and collaborative projects in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. (Taken from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
