The relationship that existed between the Dutch and the Indigenous groups in Guiana.

Dutch risk reduction team advice on upgrade drainage system in Georgetown, Guyana

Relationships are important in every sphere of life, some relationships are beneficially to all parties involve while some are one sided and discriminatory to the privileges of others, this blog will analyze the relationship that existed between the Dutch and the indigenous groups in Guiana, to ascertain its true meaning and purpose, and to see in what ways did the Indigenous groups relationship benefited them and if it did in what ways and how it benefited the Dutch.

The Dutch came to Guiana during the latter part of the 16^th Century the population of the Indigenous people were said to be of a large number but apart from their numbers it is the general notion and agreement by historians that the Dutch did not seek to influence or enforce there believes system to change any of the system structure or functions of the indigenous people but rather to trade with them. Golinga,Cornelis, The Dutch in the Caribbean and in the Guiana 1680-1791,,Van Goring and Comp ., 1985 p. 432

Trade

The Dutch traded with the Indigenous people who were also sources in providing there food so as to ensure their survival, the Dutch established a friendly relationship and traded Europian things. The Indigenous people traded, things such as was critical for European export e.g. Dye, canoes, crab oil, timber planks etc. the indigenous people received in returned Knives ,razors glass, mirror rum etc. in some case this was a trade or barter system that was fare since both parties were getting the things in exchange that they needed. There was no trade without agreement hence the Dutch was very careful to ensure that the Indigenous people were satisfied with the portions they traded.  Benjamin,Anna, ‘ A preliminary look at the free Ameridians and the Dutch Plantation System in Guyana during the Seventeenth and Eighteennth Centuries’ , p 2

Defending the Dutch

Over a notable period of time before and even during the admiration of Lauren Storm Van Gravesande the Dutch depended on the friendly Indigenous people for protection and defense against there enemies, hence the involvement of the indigenous people in the daily activity and partnership with the Dutch, the Indians would have felt more comfortable to defend what they benefited from than what they did not. Lauren Storm Van Gravesande wrote several time on may occasion to inform the Dutch headquarters of how the relationship between the two nations have benefited the Dutch in accessing security and protections among many other things.

The Indians knowledge or the terrain worked to the advantage of the Dutch when it came to recapturing slaves, they quelled uprising on the colony being the greater population and native people of the land, during the Revolt in Berbice in 1763 cribs came out in their numbers to fight according to the General Storm, as he emphasis the importance of their relationship with the Indians and explained the pivotal and key role that they played. In the words of the then General Storm “so long as we have the good fortune to stand well with the indians and I shall always continue to try to do so… we will need have no fear”.

Menezes,Mary Noel, ‘ British Policy toward the Amerindians in British Guiana 1803-1873’, the carribian Press.2011. p 1.   

Relationship and gifts

Gifts are sometime use as a way of saying thank you or to say how appreciative someone is for what someone else has done for them in addition it is also used as bribe from one to another to get what the giver wants to get done. What was the main idea behind the gifts that were given by the Dutch to the Indians cannot be firmly and factually laid down as the main reason but historian seem to have agreed on the notion that the gifts given was for procuring the support of the Indians for the other years ahead. In some cases the gifts given were not even the gifts wanted hence the question, to whose benefit?

It was however not the business of the Dutch to demand the support of the Indians but more rather to lure or seek their assistance in the events that they as usual feel that they could not defend themselves an area that the Dutch was weak in and needed much support. Some gifts that were given were namely; gun powder, mirror, fishing hooks, lead, knifes, comb and leather among many others, some of which were not entirely being received with “gratefulness” and “thanksgiving”. Menezes,Sr . Mary (ed), The Amerindian in Guyana 1803-73: a documented History, p. xviii