Chenapou Village-an Amerindian settlement located some 29 miles up the Potaro River is accessible by an approximate three hours boat ride, well that depends on how fast your boat moves. The village is divided into four zones and is described as the best place to live or have an escape from the everyday hassles of city life.
The name Chenapou is a Patamona word and when translated means Frog Pond and the village would have gotten its name from the variety of frogs that inhibits the pond. One of the most popular one, is what we refer to as the ‘mountain chicken’ and in this village, it is called Chenau.
The village has approximately 524 residents. Like every Amerindian Village, Chenapou has a Village Council that is headed by a Toshao, Vice-Toshao, treasurer and secretary. Councillors are responsible for different zones in the community and are also assigned duties in relation to health, education and the environment as well as other areas.
The main livelihood of the Chenapou residents is subsistence farming. All fertile farming areas are located outside the Village title with cassava, plantain, banana, pumpkin and squash being common crops and most households make local drinks such as cassiri, parakari and fly. In addition, some residents are also involved in mining within their customary lands.
Just over a year ago, the livelihood of the Chenapou became threatened when over twenty residents were arrested and charged for illegal mining within the Kaieteur National Park. However, those charges were dropped after widespread protests from the Amerindian communities along with their allies.
But to date the issue has not been fully dealt with. The Patamona people have long contended that the Kaieteur National Park falls within their customary lands and they should have unprecedented access to it.
Chenapou Village, because of its location, employment opportunities are limited to only two sectors-mining and farming. The women folk often take up farming as a means of providing a ‘back-up’ to the men folk’s earnings. Most of the men work on mining dredges and would usually ply their trade in the Blackwater – Korobrung area since the earnings from mining are much more feasible for maintaining a family.
Despite that threat, the level of comradery and togetherness in the Chenapou is even stronger. Despite the hardships, the people of Chenapou are resilient and would welcome anyone warmly and treat you as though you are family. That is the spirit of Chenapou-where you do not go hungry or uncared for.
You would still see the residents getting up at the crack of dawn to have breakfast together before they go off to work in their farms.
Just for the crisp fresh air or experiencing frog pond or even the boat ride up the Potaro, Chenapou is the ultimate culmination of a great visit to Kaieteur Falls. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
