Aranaputa is an Amerindian village in the

Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Upper Takutu-Upper Esequibo (Region 9) is a Regions of Guyana, region of Guyana. Venezuela claims the territory as part of Bolívar (state) in Guayana Esequiba, Esequiban Guyana. It borders the region of Potaro-Siparuni to the north, the region ...

(Region 9),

Guyana Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...

. It is located in the

Pacaraima Mountains The Pacaraima or Pakaraima Mountains ( pt, Serra de Pacaraima, es, Sierra de Pacaraima) are a mountain range primarily in southwestern Guyana, and into northern Brazil and eastern Venezuela. Geography The range extends from west to east for over ...

. The name Aranaputa comes from the Makushi word for 'burnt up', due to various instances of fire in the village. The 2012 census population is 353. In addition to English,

Wapishana The Wapishana or Wapichan (or Wapisiana, Wapitxana, Vapidiana, Wapixana) are an indigenous group found in the Roraima area of northern Brazil and southern Guyana. Location Currently the Wapishana are located in the State of Roraima, Brazil, nort ...

, and

Macushi language Macushi is an indigenous language of the Carib family spoken in Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela. It is also referred to as ''Makushi'', ''Makusi'', ''Macuxi'', ''Macusi,'' ''Macussi,'' ''Teweya'' or ''Teueia''. It is the most populous of the Cariba ...

are also commonly spoken languages. It has a nursery and a primary school, but secondary schooling is done in Annai Secondary situated at Bina Hill in Kwatamang. Healthcare is provided by a public health centre. Major economic activities include peanut production, livestock rearing, and tourism. It has a satellite village, Kuribu. Chairman of their Community Development Council is Aiden Jacobus.

History

Amerindians have historically resided in the area, however settlement was often temporary. In 1958, the government demarcated plots of land and leased it out to coastlanders, while designating another area as an Amerindian reservation. By 1940, the village had 4 coastland families, 3 of

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

origin and 1

Afro-Guyanese Afro-Guyanese are generally descended from the enslaved people brought to Guyana from the coast of West Africa to work on sugar plantations during the era of the Atlantic slave trade. Coming from a wide array of backgrounds and enduring conditio ...

. Ranching and growing tobacco were their main economic trades.

References

{{Settlements in Guyana Populated places in Guyana Populated places in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Indigenous villages in Guyana