Indigenous Peoples are the first inhabitants of Guyana, with a history dating back nearly 11,000 years, and continue to play a vital role in protecting the country’s forests, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. Indigenous traditions have significantly shaped Guyanese identity through language, food, craft, farming, and environmental stewardship. Many communities continue to sustain their livelihoods through agriculture, fishing, forestry, craft production, eco-tourism, and other community-based economic activities while preserving their rich cultural knowledge for future generations.