Sand Creek, Guyana

Last updated
Sand Creek
Suburun Tao
Village
Guyana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Sand Creek
Location in Guyana
Coordinates: 2°59′43″N59°31′11″W / 2.9952°N 59.5198°W / 2.9952; -59.5198
Country Flag of Guyana.svg Guyana
Region Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Government
  ToshaoLawrence Henry (2012-) [1]
Area
[1]
  Total360 km2 (140 sq mi)
Population
 (2021) [1]
  Total834

Sand Creek (Wapishana: Suburun Tao [2] ) is a village in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of Guyana. Sand Creek is inhabited by Wapishana Amerindians. [1] It is located on the Rupununi River. [2] The main language spoken in the village is Wapishana with English as secondary language. [1]

Contents

Overview

The economy of Sand Creek is based on livestock ranching and subsistence farming. The village has a primary and secondary school as well as a health centre. [1]

The village is known for the Sand Creek Rodeo which takes place every Easter Monday. The rodeo started in the 1980s as a pass time for the villagers, but has turned into a professional rodeo attracting visitors from all over the country. [3]

The beaches near the village are used by the yellow-spotted river turtle to lay their eggs. Traditionally both the turtles and eggs were considered a delicacy. [4] The SRDC (South Rupununi District Council) embarked on a wildlife conservation program in Sand Creek. [5] On 11 September 2021, the first turtle festival was held, releasing more than 200 turtles into the wild. The SRDC plans to make the festival an annual event. [4]

In May 2021 the Rupununi River flooded, affecting 114 houses and many hectares of farm land. [6]

Transport

Sand Creek is served by the Sand Creek Airport. [7] The village can be accessed by road from Lethem, however a stream has to be forded. [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sand Creek". Ministry of Indigenous Affairs. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "The unexplored South Rupununi". Visit Rupununi. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  3. "Sand Creek Rodeo – a growing Rupununi attraction". Department of Public Information. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  4. 1 2 Joanna Dhanraj (19 September 2021). "Sand Creek residents embark on new traditions to preserve turtle population". Stabroek News. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  5. Lucien Chauvin. "Amerindian culture and land rights shape conservation in Guyana's Rupununi region". Forests News. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  6. "114 houses in Sand Creek flooded, farmlands under water". News Room Guyana. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  7. "SDC - Facility". GC Map. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  8. "Sand Creek Village – Crossing the Creek". Guyana South America. Retrieved 29 November 2021.