Yvonne Fredericks-Pearson

Yvonne Fredericks was born to a Kalina family^[1] around 1955 in Abrams Creek, located in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region. She was the third of five children. Her father, Fred Fredericks, was a teacher^[2] and President of the Guyana Organization of Indigenous People (GOIP).^[3] As her family was unable to pay school fees, Fredericks left school at the age of 15, and was sent to work in a shop in Wismar. She wanted to become a mechanic, but could not afford the training course. Instead, she joined a library, and eventually enrolled at an institute for adult education.^[2]

In 1978, Fredericks' mother sent for her to rejoin the family for a move to the Essequibo coast. After the move, Fredericks was hired as a driver for Mary Williams, the Regional Vice Chairman. Williams was also the Toshao of Mainstay/Whyaka village (at the time, an unpaid position) some distance inland; on these trips to the village, Fredericks met Lascel Pearson. They soon married, and had five sons. In the 1980s, Lascel was elected Toshao.^[2]

In 1994, Pearson was elected Toshao of Mainstay/Whyaka. She would ride a bicycle to Anna Regina on a regular basis to take classes at the UG Institute of Distance and Continuing Education.^[4][2] To attract tourists to the village, she lobbied the Ministry of Local Government to open a resort at the village's lake. Pearson's negotiations with the central government and a private company led to the 2002 establishment of an organic pineapple processing facility, which employed over 60 villagers. In 2005, she supported the Mainstay/Whyaka Women's Development Group in starting an aquaculture project.^[2] She was elected as Chair of the National Toshaos Council in 2009. Due to new term limits instituted by the 2006 Amerindian Act, Pearson was required to step down as Toshao in 2012.^[5][6]

Pearson joined the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in 2010,^[1] and served as an advisor to the Minister of Amerindian Affairs until 2015.^[7]