Indigenous People

Iwokrama Forest is in the Makushi Homeland

The Makushi and other indigenous people have lived in or near the forest for thousands of years. Fortunately, like elsewhere in the Americans, there has been a rebound in local indigenous populations. About 50 years since the British colonial health service feared the Makushi population was close to extinction, they are now the second largest indigenous group in Guyana and the third largest in Brazil; and still growing.

One Village Within the Forest

Fairview (aka Kurupukari) is near the Field Station and is the only community within the Forest's boundary. There are about 21 households and its approximately 110 residents are mostly Makushi.

Communities to the Southwest

The other 13 communities of the North Rupununi District are southwest of the Forest and are home to about 3500 individuals. These communities are Annai Central, Apoteri, Aranaputa, Crash Water, Kwatamang, Kwarmatta, Massara, Rewa, Rupertee, Surama, Toka, Wowetta and Yakarinta.

Toka Village in the

North Rupununi Savannah

About 91% of the population of these villages are Amerindian, representing the Makushi (77%), Wapishana (11%) and Arawak (3%) peoples. The balance of residents are either self-described as "mixed" or of East Indian or African descent.

Communities to the Northwest

The majority of these Amerindian communities are Patamona, with 2 Makushi communities (Itabac and Kanapang). These are located in upland savannah areas, about a week's walk north from the Siparuni River, which is the northwestern boundary of the Iwokrama Forest.

Indigenous Population Figures in Guyana

Indigenous peoples are the fourth largest ethnic group in Guyana with a total population estimated as 50,000 (6.3% of the total population), and 70% live in Guyana's interior. (Other ethnic groups live primarily on the coastal plains.)