Keeping our culture alive The Katiwau (Sand Creek) Cultural Dance Troupe

TIMES INT'L

As a Guyanese living in Toronto for too long now, I don’t get to savour things Guyanese a lot, unless I make it myself. So when the Toronto Independence Day Festival came around June 23 (Still too cold here in Toronto on May 26) this year, I revelled in nationalist pride and wrapped myself in my flag for a day. Little did I know what was in store for me.
A small group of eight children from Katiwau (Sand Creek), South Rupununi, a Wapishana cultural dance troupe, caused a storm of nationalist pride in being Guyanese and in particular, Amerindian pride. cultureculture 1culture 2
From the devotion and dedication of Ms Dorothy Faria and the hard work of her Katiwau Cultural Dance Troupe came an outpouring of pride that has done more than the snow and ice of Canada to make me think it’s time to go home. Not that I haven’t thought of going home before, but this one single event has done more than anything ever has.
These children have put Guyana, Sand Creek, and Amerindian culture on the map and have piqued interest in things Guyanese and in Amerindian culture. They were awe- inspiring with their energy, precision, poise and passion, as they belted out their songs and dances in captivating and explosive performances that stole everyone’s hearts.
They just tugged on everyone’s already pent up pride and quickly turned us all homesick. Of course, there were other Guyanese performers there and other Amerindian dance troupes at home that are deserving of praise, but it was good to know that Amerindian culture survived and their pride was palatable.
Guyanese can be proud that a culture so old and original was the first strand of the fabric that weaves us all together.

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