Sand Creek, Guyana

Sand Creek
Suburun Tao
Village
Sand Creek is located in Guyana
Sand Creek
Sand Creek
Location in Guyana
Coordinates: 2°59′43″N 59°31′11″W / 2.9952°N 59.5198°W / 2.9952; -59.5198
Country Guyana
RegionUpper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Government
 • ToshaoLawrence Henry (2012-)[1]
Area
[1]
 • Total
360 km2 (140 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
834

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]

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]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Sand Creek". Ministry of Indigenous Affairs. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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.