Language revival, youth empowerment top 2026 agenda – Amerindian Affairs Minister

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Sarah Browne- Shadeek has said cultural preservation and language revival will be among the ministry’s key priorities for 2026, as efforts intensify to safeguard Indigenous identity amid Guyana’s rapid development.
Speaking on the Starting Point podcast, Browne- Shadeek said while economic and educational opportunities are expanding across the country, equal attention must be given to preserving Indigenous heritage.
“I’m really excited to be a part of the implementation of the projects for empowering women, culture, language revival,” the minister said, adding that she is “big on culture.”
The minister noted that cultural identity remains central to Indigenous communities and warned that knowledge not passed on risks being permanently lost.
“I would have said before that if I should, or when I die, if I don’t teach anybody something that I know, it dies with me,” she stated. “And, you know, we’re lost.”
Browne- Shadeek said her commitment to cultural preservation is deeply personal, rooted in her upbringing in a traditional Indigenous household.
“My very first house, my parents built, it was a troolie house,” she recalled. “In my grandparents’ house, I enjoyed learning handicraft, learning to make crafts, farming, and listening to stories.”
She described evenings without electricity, when elders would share traditional stories.
“At that time, we had no electricity… we would be under maybe a flambeau. And they would tell us stories about the kanaima, about the watamuma, about cassava muma,” she said.
Those experiences, she explained, shaped her identity and continue to influence her approach to leadership.
“It feels like when I am [in Parliament], there’s always a piece of home with me,” Browne- Shadeek said, referring to her practice of wearing Indigenous jewellery and traditional pieces during public appearances.
The minister said symbolism plays an important role in representation and cultural pride, particularly for younger generations.
“It’s important when we teach our young people, our young children, a part of who we are,” she said.
Browne-Shadeek indicated that while previous PPP administrations focused heavily on structural and legislative milestones, including the strengthening of the ministry and land titling initiatives under former ministers such as Carolyn Rodrigues and Pauline Sukhai, her tenure will place stronger emphasis on youth empowerment and cultural continuity.
“I think that most of the heavy lifting would have already been done,” she said, expressing gratitude to former ministers who laid the institutional foundation. “But I still have to make my name, leave my legacy.”
That legacy, she suggested, will be tied to ensuring Indigenous youth remain connected to their cultural roots while positioning themselves to benefit from expanding national opportunities.
“I’d like to see us move in terms of our young people being empowered, making up, taking opportunities, and also where we would have lost our culture, that we ensure that we keep it alive, because this is important to us,” Browne- Shadeek said.
Guyana’s rapid economic transformation in recent years has brought increased infrastructure, education access, and digital connectivity to hinterland communities. Further details on specific programmes and budget allocations for language revival and cultural initiatives are expected to be rolled out during the 2026 fiscal year.