Sawariwau

Sawariwau

Sawari Wa'o
Sawariwau Sawari Wa'o
Village
	Sawariwau Location in Guyana
	Coordinates: 2°40′24″N 59°39′13″W / 2.6732°N 59.6537°W
Country	Guyana
Region	Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Government
• Toshao	Gregory Thomas
Population (2017)
• Total	521

Sawariwau (Wapishana: Sawari Wa'o^[1]) is a village in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of Guyana. Sawariwau is inhabited by Wapishana Amerindians.^[2] It is located about 70 miles (110 km) south of Lethem in the Rupununi savannah.^[2] The main language spoken in the village is Wapishana.^[3]

History

The name of the village translates to grandfather spirit of fishes. Sawariwau was founded by chief Suubau,^[1] and is one of the oldest Wapishana villages.^[2] Father Cuthbert Cary-Elwes, SJ was the first missionary to arrive in the village, and a church was constructed in 1919.^[4]^[5]

Katoonarib used to be a satellite of Sawariwau, but has become independent.^[6] Sawariwau was in a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (municipality) with Ireng and Lethem,^[7] however the municipality was dissolved in 2012.^[8] The village is again governed by a Toshao (village chief) with 11 councillors.^[2] In 2013, the land was demarcated,^[9] however as of 2017, the demarcation is still in dispute.^[1]

Overview

The economy is based on subsistence farming and cattle ranching. The village has a primary school, a secondary school, a health centre, and a community centre.^[2] Internet connection is provided via free Wi-Fi.^[10] Digicel has installed a communication mast in the village.^[1] The village depends on rain water for drinking. There is no electricity other than private diesel generators and solar panels.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Sawari Wa'o village". Community Lands. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Sawariwau". Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^ Joanna Dhanraj (14 March 2021). "Grassroots group keeping traditional knowledge alive in the South Rupununi". Stabroek News. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^ "Sawariwau Catholic Church celebrates 100 year". Antilles Episcopal Conference. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^ "Fr Cuthbert Cary-Elwes SJ, Missionary among the Amerindians 1909-1923". Stabroek News. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^ "Katoonarib village". Community Lands. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^ "Neighbourhood Democratic Councils". Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^ "NDC at Lethem dissolved". Kaieteur News Online. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^ "Sawariwau land finally demarcated". Stabroek News. 25 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^ "eGovernment ICT Hubs connected to the eGovernment Network". National Datamanagement Authority. Retrieved 16 December 2021.