About Us

The Amerindian Act No. 6 of 2006, which is the principal legislation that governs the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana established the National Toshaos Council.

About

Our History

The Amerindian Act No. 6 of 2006, which is the principal legislation that governs the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana established the National Toshaos Council (NTC); a body corporate comprising all elected Toshaos.

Under the umbrella of the NTC, a 20-member Executive Committee is elected, and this body is made up of representatives of the 10 Administration regions of Guyana. These executive members then select a Core Committee comprising of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and other office bearers. The Toshaos and the NTC Executive Members are elected for a three-year term, and members are also eligible to contest a second term.

The National Toshaos Council (NTC) is mandated to represent Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples.

Our Functions

To prepare strategies and plans for reducing poverty and improving access to health and education in Villages.

To prepare strategies and plans for the protection, conservation and sustainable management of Village lands and natural resources.

To promote good governance in Villages including investigating matters as requested by Villages and making recommendations.

To promote the recognition and use of the Amerindian language.

To coordinate and integrate the activities of Villages on a national basis.

To share, document and record the experiences of villages.

To plan strategies for the Social and Economic Development of villages.

Coordinate and integrate the activities of Villages on a national basis.

OUR VISION

A well-established and dynamic organization, comprising of all Toshaos, who diligently pursues, promotes and protects the spiritual, cultural, economic, environmental and traditional rights and well- being of all indigenous Peoples of Guyana through the promotion of good governance.

OUR MISSION

Committed to representing all Indigenous Peoples and developing strategies and plans to aid in all forms of development of our people, participatory decision- making processes while supporting the Nation’s Commitment to the Indigenous Peoples and our rights under Guyana’s Constitution.

NTC's Organisational Chart

The Amerindian Act

The Amerindian Act is a 2006 law in Guyana that establishes the legal framework for recognizing and protecting Indigenous (Amerindian) communities, their lands, and their governance systems. It secures communal land ownership, enables villages to obtain and manage land titles, and grants authority to elected Village Councils and Toshaos to oversee local decision-making and development. The Act also supports the management of natural resources within village lands, promotes the preservation of Indigenous culture, and ensures that communities have a formal role in decisions affecting their territories, making it a cornerstone of Indigenous rights and self-governance in Guyana.

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