St. Ignatius, Guyana
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St. Ignatius | |
|---|---|
Amerindian village | |
  St. Ignatius | |
| Coordinates: 3°21′18″N 59°47′58″W / 3.3549°N 59.7995°W | |
| Country | Guyana |
| Region | Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo |
| Named after | Ignatius of Loyola |
| Government | |
| • Toshao | Yusa Xavier (2012) |
| Population (2012) | |
• Total | 1,276 |
St. Ignatius is an Amerindian village in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region of Guyana, near the regional capital Lethem and the border of Brazil. It was originally a mission founded by Jesuit priests to serve the Amerindians in the Rupununi savannah.
Kumu and Quarrie are satellite villages of St. Ignatius.[1]
History
Jesuit Priest Cuthbert Cary-Elwes established a mission in 1909 to cater to the Amerindians of the Rupununi. The spot chosen was Ariwa (a Makushi word for a particular type of fish) and located on the right bank of the Takutu River River, near the Kanuku Mountains. The missionaries dedicated the mission to the founder of the Jesuits.[1]
Today St. Ignatius village is one of the largest Amerindian communities in the central Rupununi.[1] "Self-help" is a part of the village culture, meaning to resolve issues without outside assistance.[3]
In 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a guarded gate was constructed on the road to regulate traffic to the Takutu River, which had been used for illegal border-crossing from Brazil.[4]
