Interview: An indigenous view of COP28 with Melena Pollard
Sophia Point neighbours the Amerindian community of River’s View. In December 2023, the village leader or ‘Toshao’, Melena Pollard, travelled to Dubai to represent Guyana’s Amerindians at the climate conference, COP28. We sat down with her to ask a few questions and learn what she had taken from the experience.
River’s View village, Region 10. Photo credit: Sam Airey.
The below article is a transcript of Toshao Pollard’s interview with Centre Director Sam Airey and Education Outreach Officer Miranda Bragan-Turner as she reflected on COP28, the impacts of the climate crisis and the role she believes education can play.
Who are you and what is your role in the community?
My name is Melena Pollard and I am the Toshao of a village in Region 10 called River’s View. Toshao is the name given to the leader of the village. River’s View got its name because it faces three rivers: the Essequibo, the Cuyuni and the Mazaruni. River’s View stretches along the river from Makouria Creek all the way to Badawarin Creek. It is a village that is long. Although we have a land title, most of the residents live outside of the land title [as the houses are on the river bank, these plots are licensable from the government, all land behind the river front belongs to the village]. River’s View has about 1000 residents.
“It’s an experience that has made me more aware of different indigenous peoples around the world and the experiences they have… we can learn from their experiences to make the lives of indigenous peoples in Guyana better.”
Toshao Pollard
Toshao Pollard attending COP28 in December 2023. Photo credit: Melena Pollard.
Why did you feel it was important to attend the annual climate conference, COP28?
COP28 was an experience for me. An experience that enlightened me that issues indigenous peoples face are not only unique to River’s View or to Guyana. In a sense, Guyanese indigenous peoples are far ahead of other indigenous peoples in the world. It saddened me to know that in some parts of the world, indigenous peoples are still fighting for rights such as rights to be heard, and rights to land, so Guyanese indigenous peoples are very fortunate. It showed me that the things we take for granted such as being freely able to meet with our government are just the dreams of other persons in other parts of the world.
“[E]ducation is the only means of moving you from one point to another and with Sophia Point being in River’s View, per se, we can have more persons [...] learning and being encouraged to further their education [...] to go forward and develop themselves.”
How was your time at the event? How do you feel it went?
So, my first experience of COP was really good for me because I got the opportunity to meet with different indigenous peoples, interact with them and to see how our cultures differ and in some cases are similar too. It’s an experience that has made me more aware of different indigenous peoples around the world and the experiences they have, how it [the climate crisis] impacts their lives and how we can learn from their experiences to make the lives of indigenous peoples in Guyana better.
What does climate change mean for the people of River’s View?
Climate change has had an impact on not only the people in River’s View, but also peoples all over the world. Impacts of climate change have led to a difference in how persons would farm, how they would earn their livelihoods. Because when you listen to the farmers, affected by the worst flood we have had in history, in 2021-2022, it has brought to our attention that we cannot continue to live and to farm how we used to. We cannot even continue to fish how we used to. One fisherman reported to me last week that last year has been the worst fishing year in all of his life, and this is someone who depends on fishing for a living. With the height of the water - water is extremely low right now - when you feel the temperature of the water, it is not going to allow you to catch as many fish as the normal temperature would. Climate change has directly affected how persons live and how they can earn a living.
Toshao Pollard attending a meeting at COP28. Photo credit: Melena Pollard.
What are your hopes for the future for the community? How can Sophia Point help?
For me education is the only means of moving you from one point to another and with Sophia Point being in River’s View, per se, we can have more persons actually being a part of Sophia Point and learning and being encouraged to further their education and not just stop at primary or secondary school, to go forward and develop themselves. I know that education, it moves you from poverty. It raises your standard of thinking and your standard of living and for me that would be the best future for River’s View. When I don’t have school drop outs from the age of ten to fourteen but I have persons completing their secondary education and moving on into jobs that better themselves, for me that is my biggest dream, and it’s a dream that I hope can be accomplished. It takes hard work and perseverance. But I have never been afraid of hard work so I am willing to work and give my all to encourage persons to get a good education and further themselves.
River’s View from above. Photo credit: Jean Hercé
