Amazonia's Mythical and Legendary Creatures in the Eagle Clan Lokono-Arawak Oral Tradition of Guyana

By Damon Corrie

Included are real-life oral tradition accounts drawn from the author's personal involvement in tribal life, and his personal interactions with tribal elders (all mentioned by name) who contributed some of these examples included in this book.

The author is a reliable source for the information provided, as he himself is a 4th generation maternal descendant heir to the hereditary Chieftaincy of the Eagle Clan Lokono-Arawaks of Guyana, and the reader is treated to a brief history lesson (in a pertinent back story to the Giant Harpy Eagle myth/legend example given) as to his Clans own origins; dating back to the time of Columbus.

This is a valuable resource for academics, the spiritually inclined/curious, as well as parents and older children alike.

For academics, there is a great lack of authentic materials about the Lokono-Arawaks that is actually written by them, usually, we only have the writings of a non-indigenous author's second or third-hand accounts, observations, or assumptions - available for perusal about this ancient tribe of people.

For the spiritually inclined/curious, it is very interesting to learn of an indigenous cosmovision that is totally different from that espoused by most established dominant organized religions known to mankind, and I daresay some insights the author presents are well worth deeper consideration and meditative pondering upon.

For parents and children, it makes for additional reading material that children (in an age where reading is in unfortunate decline) will find exciting to read, in a magical yet scientific and 'consciousness-expanding' kind of way.

Some readers may appreciate how the author weaves proven scientific discoveries of similar creatures into several mythical/legendary examples, inviting the reader to not only do online independent research to verify what he is saying but planting logical theoretical possibilities explaining how one relates to – or could support the existence of – the other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Damon Corrie
• Release date: Oct 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393892816

Damon Corrie

Damon, like his 3 older siblings, was born on the Caribbean island of Barbados. His mother Audrey named Damon after the American author Damon Runyon, and from a very young age Damon exhibited a passion and love for writing; however, like most aspiring authors Damon found it impossible to share his manuscripts with a broader audience (until he discovered draft2digital), so for over 3 decades his many works in many genres gathered dust on his bookshelf of unfulfilled dreams.   Damon is a 4th generation descendant of the last traditional Hereditary Shaman Chief Amorothe Haubariria (Flying Harpy Eagle) of the Bariria Korobahado Lokono (Eagle Clan Arawaks) of Guyana, South America, Moreover, the grave of Damon's great grandmother is the only known burial site of a member of Lokono-Arawak nobility in the entire Caribbean - and with a tombstone written in both the English and Lokono-Arawak language, it has become a tourist attraction in the Westbury Cemetery in the capital city of Bridgetown Barbados.    Damon has the gift of premonition dreams and being able to see and communicate with deceased loved ones, and since he married back into the tribe at the age of 19 in 1992, Damon has become the most radical indigenous activists the Caribbean has produced in living memory, and his real-life escapades and supernatural experiences feature in his writings. Damon was a member of the Caribbean Caucus on the Indigenous Peoples working group of the Organization of American States (OAS) from 2000 to 2016, and helped create the Declaration of The Americas on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and he has been a registered participant of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) since 2007 (where he also co-mentors international students and writes for the Tribal Link Foundation), as well as being an autodidact journalist with news articles published in 4 continents, and a writer for the Last Real Indians indigenous media website.   Damon (46) and his wife Shirling (44) have 4 living children, sons Hatuey Francis (26) and Tecumseh Shawandase (23), and daughters Sabantho Aderi (20) and Laliwa Hadali, and all live in Barbados.    Damon can be followed in Instagram @eagleclanarawaks  

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Arranged into 4 short chapters (covering Surface beings, Water beings, Underground beings, and Spiritual beings), with illustrations for the ten physical entities described.

Included are real-life oral tradition accounts drawn from the author's personal involvement in tribal life, and his personal interactions with tribal elders (all mentioned by name) who contributed some of these examples included in this book.

The author is a reliable source for the information provided, as he himself is a 4th generation maternal descendant heir to the hereditary Chieftaincy of the Eagle Clan Lokono-Arawaks of Guyana, and the reader is treated to a brief history lesson (in a pertinent back story to the Giant Harpy Eagle myth/legend example given) as to his Clans own origins; dating back to the time of Columbus.

Having the Lokono-Arawak names first (with the English description after) is a refreshing change from the norm, as most of these entities are only known by the names given them in other languages, and in some cases are totally unknown altogether.

This is a valuable resource for academics, the spiritually inclined/curious, as well as parents and children alike.

For academics, there is a great lack of authentic materials about the Lokono-Arawaks that is actually written by them, usually, we only have the writings of a non-indigenous author’s second or third-hand accounts, observations, or assumptions - available for perusal about this ancient tribe of people.

For the spiritually inclined/curious, it is very interesting to learn of an indigenous cosmovision that is totally different from that espoused by most established dominant organized religions known to mankind, and I daresay some insights the author presents are well worth deeper consideration and meditative pondering upon.

For parents and children, it makes for additional reading material that children (in an age where reading is in unfortunate decline) will find exciting to read, in a magical yet scientific and ‘consciousness-expanding’ kind of way. 

Some readers may appreciate how the author weaves proven scientific discoveries of similar creatures into several mythical/legendary examples, inviting the reader to not only do online independent research to verify what he is saying but planting logical theoretical possibilities explaining how one relates to – or could support the existence of – the other.

CHAPTER 1 – SURFACE BEINGS

Dai-Dai (Hairy Giant)

Ekekuli Firo-Waabo (Cannibal Giant)

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Firo-Waabo Haubaria (Giant Harpy Eagle)

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Firo-Waabo Kamudi (Giant Boa)

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Kanaima (Evil Shape-shifting Sorcerer)

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Shoko Kurukuyaha (Little Tribe of People)

DAI-DAI (Hairy Giant)

The Loknono-Arawaks call this creature Dai-Dai (pronounced like the English word ‘Die-Die’) but other tribes in Guyana call it ‘Tai-Tai’ (pronounced like the English word ‘Tie-Tie’).

It is the same creature that is common in the folklore and legends of indigenous peoples all over the world. In the USA and Canada it called ‘Bigfoot’ or ‘Sasquatch’ or the ‘Skunk-Ape’, in the Himalayas the ‘Yeti’, in Australia the ‘Yowie’, and the ‘Yeren’ in China, etc.

The color of its fur may vary, from country to country and perhaps from season to season, but in all cases the common descriptions