Love in Action: Family Cottage, Arima, Trinidad

The Family Cottage in Arima, Trinidad has met the challenges at each stage of the children they have adopted and sheltered.   The summary of the last 17 years is a good lead in to the Slideshare presentation linked below.  Heartwarming to feel the love and caring in the home environment. 

 

Homeless abandoned children, women with small children needing shelter:  over the years Auntie Leris and husband Garvin have met the challenges to fill the need.  Auntie Leris, some 18 years ago, was in hospital with her daughter when she discovered a number of little children homeless and living at the hospital.  She decided to take five of them home, not knowing how she would manage.   We became involved with the Orphanage 16 years ago when we were first in Tobago having a hair cut.  Procia, the hairdresser said, ‘You want to do something in this country, go visit the orphanage!’  There we met Auntie Leris, herself a registered nurse with her group of little children.  The little ones that the Rotary Club of Truro sponsored to go to preschool are now graduated from high school.                                                                                                                                                                           

The slide show follows the ‘orphanage’ from that first visit when they were living in Tobago.  Crisis hit when the landlord ended their lease.  Where could they go?  They needed lots of room!  Despite the small size of his family home, they decided to move to Garvin’s family home in Arima, Trinidad.  Boys slept in another location due to lack of space.  An addition was needed.  Pictures show the addition at various stages.  Our Rotary Club, working through the Rotary Club of Piarco bought building materials for the kitchen. 

 

Auntie Leris always has surprises for us each time we visit.  When the children were turning to be teenagers, they opened a takeout restaurant nearby to give the teenagers purpose, job experience and to create an income for the Family Cottage.

 

Then, two years ago as the teens were older, Auntie began taking in Mothers with their babies who were in crisis. One thing Auntie firmly believes in is keeping Mothers together with their babies.  Again, the teens had purpose, to help care for them!  Pictures show how the home has expanded to meet the needs at each stage.

 
Dec 2016, more changes.  The babies are now toddlers so they have set up a Nursery School!   Two of the girls, recently graduated from High School and are presently running a nursery program.  Tuition is free at UWI.  They will take the Early Childhood program if this is what they would like.   In temporarily sheltering mothers and small children in crisis, they were sheltering orphans needing a home!  Leris and Garvin have officially adopted another five little ones.  Good they are still young with lots of energy!  This is like a second big family!  So, the infants of 15 months ago are now 2 year olds, hence the need for preschool. 

 

When it came to choosing a category that the Slideshare would fit under, the only one that seemed appropriate was ‘spiritual’.  Love in action!

http://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/family-cottage-arima-trinidad

Entrepreneurial Startups Grow to Reach the Community in Trinidad

Kathyann Beharry is a hearing person who volunteered at the Agape Center. As a result the basic jewelry training plus materials provided for start-up business, Kathy Ann has developed her own business.  In visiting her (March 2015), Lydia was most interested to discover how her business has developed and branched to allow her to become a community trainer working throughout Trinidad to help women come together to learn crafts and compete to win the yearly country competition for ''best community'. 

Probably the most important things that happen in these classes are the community spirit that develops plus the sharing of common problems that the women face. Each participant must compete 16 crafts in the 10 week session!  It is interesting to hear Kathyann describe how women emerge from low self confidence to better their individual life situation, just as she has over the years of being able to lift her family by developing her jewelry business and now teaching 'community classes'.    

Kathyann provides the ideas, mainly derived from ‘Pinterest’ on line.  So, how would this family have access to computer?  Well, a number of things had to happen.   Kathyann’s family as a result of income from her jewelry business was able to get electricity.  This made a big change in their lives as all homework had to be done before five prior to getting electric lights.  Then son Kyle, as with all students entering High School in Trinidad/Tobago, was given a Lenovo Think Pad computer by the government.  As well, a friend gave Kathyann an older IPad and the family (because of additional income) was able to get internet to their house). 

That is not all.  Water comes to their street once a week (if they are lucky) so Monday’s had to be dedicated to wash day because that was water day.  So income from jewelry sales bought water tanks one at a time for water storage.  Water still comes most Mondays so they fill all 7 black tanks hoping that the next Monday the water main will again fill to replenish their supply.  A real bathroom was put in.  Rooms were divided to give family member’s privacy.  The balcony was expended for Kathy Ann’s jewelry making.  Her dream is to have a room that she can dedicate to her jewelry and craft making.  

Children’s educations has always been priority.  Kamisha, now 23, competed the University of Trinidad and Tobago teacher training so tuition for four years, living and travel expenses plus books and supplies had to be paid for.  Clyde, Kathy Ann’s husband,  has a taxi business that pays the basics and not only Kathyann’s business but Kamisha herself takes on marketing of her mother's jewelry creations to help pay educational expenses, including helping her mother with creative displays.  Kamisha now has a contract as a teachers’ assistant to help a 7 year old boy who has never been to school before. 

Kamisha is pleased to see his rapid progress in learning to read.  Kamisha thought her salary was good until she began to realize how expensive it is to keep her fast growing son, Kaydon (7 months of age) in diapers and formula.  Kamisha and Kaydon, Kamisha’s son, share a room in the Baharry household with the crib right beside the bed.  Kathy Ann cares for Kaydon during the day.  Kamish takes over at 3:30 when she gets home from work.

Besides soccer (called football here), Kyle age 15 is interested in  music, largely developed through participation in the Open Bible Church in Siparia.  He played two pieces, a classical and a calypso for us.   He too intends to go to university.

Kathyann is so proud of having a job, being able to use her skills including the discussions that happen during the sessions that help sort out the problems the participants face.  Kathyann is paid by the hour.  Each session is three hours.  It takes some time for the pay check to come through but everyone knows how nice it is to have a pay-check to look forward to!

Now, to look at the development of Kathyann’s own business.  Kathyann Originals.  Something that has helped Kathyann with design work are the jewelry pieces that the Colchester Community Workshop has donated over time.  Kathy Ann has a special drawer in her plastic organizer where she saves designs from CCWS that she wants to study and replicate. 

I was really impressed with the quality of findings she uses; the best of wire, earring hangers, clamps for finishing and clasps.  She designs her own jigs to make designs she finds on the Internet, especially on Pincrest.   I love her way of storing all her ideas under folders on her Ipad.   I smiled when Kathy Ann told me that Ian (the jewelry maker from the Agape Deaf) tells Kathy Ann in sign language, ‘Don’t handle the findings until you wash your hands’.   The Agape Deaf still meet at the Agape Center each Sunday for church, just up the driveway from Kathyann’s.  Kathyann keeps in close touch with the deaf by cell phone and texting.  In last five years, several of the deaf have married, some have had babies (one deaf child, one hearing child in two different families both with two deaf parents).

Have a look at the slideshow to see how a little help has gone a long ways to help many people.

http://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/rotary-helps-in-entrepreneurial-development-in-deaf-community-in-trinidad

Meet Kathyann:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E1v6w7gkkk

How Helping Small Business Persons In Trinidad/Tobago Has Helped Families: Jacqueline

Observing the development of an individual, a family, a business over 15 years has indeed been an inspiration.  Jacqueline was first introduced to us as a nervous but enthusiastic person with product over her arm to sell.  Discovering her situation:  five children, husband who worked for THA (Tobago House of Assembly) living in very humble circumstances (no running water, no electricity, no transport, land not tenured) was humbling.  We talked about possibilities.  Bingy, Jacqueline’s husband collected seeds from the rainforest and shells from the shore.  With these, they made simple jewelry.  They also tie dyed shirts and did some hand painting of t-shirts.  One night, we went to a hotel where a pan band played.  We set up a table near the band but the music was loud and people did not venture near.  The next week we returned and set up in the parking lot near the entrance.  Jacqueline began selling that night and has stopped since! 

Watching her emerge has been amazing.  No electricity.  We helped her write the letters required to secure the land where they had lived for many years.  Once that was done, they were able to apply for electricity.  That required buying a pole.  $800 Canadian if I remember correctly.  The Rotary Club of Truro said they would pay for this.  This allowed the children to study in the evening, to not have to light the kerosene lamp, dangerous for the children to do!  Jewelry sales were increasing.  Jacqueline was careful to invest in materials while taking a percentage of her earnings to help with household expenses.  Jacqueline and Bingy were resourceful!  When Turtle Beach said they could come to the hotel to display their jewelry, they told them they would have to bring their own table.  They went to the dump, found two old ironing boards and built a folding table.  Next, they built a car from used parts!      Then a pump and tanks for water.  Her dream to have a table where everyone could sit down together has been realized.  They slowly added a kitchen, a washing machine that could think but always putting children and their education first.

One year, when visiting, we helped Jacqueline do a write up to acquaint another hotel with her product line with a request for her to come to the Grand Courland to set up a table.  Demand has grown.  She has a busy schedule: Turtle Beach Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sandy Point Beach Resort, Grand Courland, the Hilton, Castara plus she has opened a shop at ‘Sunday School’ in Bocco (a popular Sunday Evening spot where they have a pan band, barbeque and goat races at Easter!) 

Visiting her family was an experience.  Their home is a hive of activity.  Their little grandson, age 7, greets us and says, ‘Here to see Jacqueline?  Come this way!’  What a dynamic family.  It was Joshua’s 25^th Birthday.  The music is cranked and they have been to Scarborough to buy a cake.  Bingy has made a big pot of soup (stew) and everyone is taking a big container for lunch! 

Near the road is a shelter where their son, a mechanic, has a shop.  The yard is filled with cars under active repair.  The next son up is planning on going to Denmark next year to take Architecture.  Although his tuition will be covered, money is being saved for furthering his education.  The youngest son is finishing high school.  A room has been added on for Jamie, the younger daughter who is in her fifth year of teaching Grade 1!  Jamelia, the oldest daughter is in England studying International Finance and Trade.  She has had a number of scholarships but Jacqueline and Bingy have helped her complete her CA in Barbados.  The youngest has just completed paramedic training for ambulance work in Trinidad.  Last week he took his chauffeurs’ license needed to make application for working on the ambulance. 

The whole family reflects Jacqueline’s bright spirit, creativity and motivation.  An unusual situation has been most helpful for the family.   Jacqueline was born in England and came to Trinidad when she was three months old.  She had no problem receiving her British passport.  With encouragement from her many friends whom she has met over the years through her business, she decided to take a trip to England.  The trip was wonderful.  She says she was treated like a queen!  Bingy, meantime, did his best to cover all the resorts!  Now, the problem arose when Jacqueline came back to Trinidad/Tobago.  Where is your passport for Trinidad/Tobago immigration wanted to know.  None?  So you are a British citizen.  ‘But I have been married 27 years and have had 5 children here and have lived all my life here.’  They finally stamped her passport ‘VISITOR’!  Since, she has been working on getting a passport for Trinidad/Tobago.  Her father, whom she has never known, was Trinidadian.  That would be helpful but all lineage is traced through the mother so she now has to find her father’s mother’s records but the building that housed them burned, destroying the records.  Knowing Jacqueline, she will find a way to solve this problem but meantime the problem is serving to help her children.  Tuition for education in Britain and Denmark is free for British citizens and because Jacqueline was born in Britain, two of her children to this point have and will be benefitting from her British citizenship. 

As Jacqueline sits briefly recounting this, she shakes her head and says, ‘We came from very humble beginnings.’  What a success story!  Should any of you come to Tobago, be sure to look for Jacqueline.  She is a person whom you will never forget. 

http://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/update-jacqueline

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Rotary Supplies Lift An Amerindian Community At Dadanawa Ranch In Guyana

Living on one of the most isolated ranches in the world, the Wapisiana workers have long crafted leather needs for their 150 horses and 3700 cattle using only their knives and home-made tools.  You can imagine their excitement when leather tools arrived from the Rotary Club of Truro to work with the leather tanned on the ranch.  Vaqueros (cowboys) patiently combined traditional skills with the new tools to create belts, key chains, bookmarks, knife holders and wallets.  

CESO volunteer  Allan Sorflaten prepared a business plan for the 5000 square kilometer Dadanawa Ranch located in Guyana,South America, Rotarian Lydia conducted a one week workshop in safe food handling for the Wapisiana kitchen and serving staff and followed up with a two week workshop in leather crafting. The participants then presented 'Miss Lydia' with a crafted belt of their own creation.When approaching the Rotary Club of Truro for funds with which to purchase leather working tools for the Dadanawa Ranch, Lydia really had no idea how appropriate the request was.  We knew that on site there was a Tannery so there must be leather?

At the Tannery, Traditional Methods of Tanning are Used.

Lydia worked with Ranch Business Development Manager Yolanda Vasconcellos in advance/on line to assess needs and also with Tandy Leather in Dartmouth to draft an order that would be appropriate.  Basic tools were selected:  a wooden mallet, a swivel knife,basic stamping edging tools,appropriate stamps including a cowboy, horse rider, cattle skull and dragon fly as well as two sets of letters plus rivets, key rings and belt buckles.  An awl, leather punch, leather cutter and edger were included.  The Leather Workshop was set and to our surprise, 17 interested people showed up! Their biggest question was:  'Are you taking the tools back to Canada with you?' 

Cyril Is Dadanawa's Tanner.  He made his hat from leather he tanned!

Leather crafting has been an art passed from Father to Son on the Ranch for years.  Practical needs have been met in past for all aspects of ranching:  belts, knife sheaths, bull whips, horse saddles and ridingchapsbut interest in the new tools was high because the basic tools they have worked with have been mainly their knives,and rasps.

Prior to the first workshop, they selected hides, some thicker for belts (cow), some soft and thinner (calf and deer).  Oswald, Ranch Foreman, was willing to cut belt lengths for our workshop.  First he briefly soaked the end of the leather hide he was going to cut in water.  Where he lives there is no running water so fetching water was his first task.  I found his approach so interesting.  He works on a self-made table in his yard so has no hesitation about securing the heavy leather hide by driving a nail into the wood!  Next he measured the belt buckle he had chosen from what we brought (their favorites have been from Louis’ Second Hand store in Truro), set his divider to the right width, marked the belt width on the leather; then, taking his knife from his leather holder on his belt he sharpened the already sharp knife with the rasp, also on his belt in a leather holder!  He skillfully proceeded to cut the belt perfectly straight full length of the hide.  Precut belt lengths are very expensive through Tandy Leather, as are the good size buckles.  Next Oswald took his hand carved wooden tool to put an edge on the belt.

Oswald, wearing the belt and cutlass holder he made, preparing to cut leather belt strips.

Oswald shapes the and grooves the edge using a tool he carved from tropical wood.

Before leaving home, we downloaded two ‘how to’ videos from Tandy Leather, where the tools were purchased.  As an introduction, they watched the videos intently and were keen to proceed. We brought leather items we have collected over the years to give ideas:  several styles of key chains, a bookmark, coasters, a hair clip and a little pouch.  Elder Conrad said they had never had ideas like these to work with.  They immediately went to work to cut these things out of their leather.  The video had shown them how to stamp so creations began to emerge. 

The basic leather making kit from Tandy Leather included several leather patterns.  All patterns are to remain intact and patterns were traced and cut from recycled file folders we brought with us for that purpose. 

One of the vaqueros bravely attempted wallet making.  He carefully traced and cut out the four pattern pieces first from paper, then from calf’s skin.  All pieces has to be hole-punched.  You wouldn’t believe this aggressive vaquero would have such patience.  All edges had to be laced together after stamping a delicate pattern.  Then he made a second one!

It was great to see the enthusiasm which extended every possible day for the next two weeks. 

Days will be designated for leather work.  The plan is to develop prototypes that can be sold at local fairs and in a 'Crafts Store' at the Ranch.

Vaqueros At Work.  

Key Chain made by Vaquero Thadius

This design was done using the alphabet stamps.

Belt Design:  Note the finished edge.

Guyana: Dadanawa Ranch

Exciting Changes Happening At the Dadanawa Ranch

Rupununi Development Company (RDC) has owned and operated the Dadanawa Ranch for almost 100 years.  As I understand it, the Dadanawa Ranch was in real trouble financially in 2011 when Hand In Hand, a group of insurance companies, bought sufficient shares to have controlling interest in the Ranch.  Big changes are obvious since the Hand In Hand take over that made our three week stay much more comfortable. 

Solar Panel Installed At The Store

Solar Panels:                                                                                                                                                           A new solar panel installed at the ‘Staff House’ where we stayed allowed us to charge our computers and have electric lights if we chose.  The solar panel is connected to two batteries, one powers the lights, the other plugs in the three roomed building.  The battery converters were turned off each night after supper to preserve stored energy.  Early morning, one of Grandpa Conrad’s jobs is to turn the panel to greet the rising sun.  Mid-day, he made the panel horizontal to catch the mid-day sun and later afternoon, he again repositioned the panel to catch the lowering rays of the sun.  We used the solar generated battery power for a TV monitor for seminar work.  The energy saving coil lights were not needed until supper time.  We had lots of power for our needs, even on cloudy days but don’t know how this will work in rainy season.  At the Ranch, most buildings do not as yet have solar power.  Everyone wears headlamps after dark.  We actually chose headlamps to read under our mosquito nets (better lighting and less attractive for insects).   We didn’t find mosquitos a problem because the weather has been so dry for so long and the savannah winds help.

We noticed small solar panels installed in many small Amerindian villages, just large enough to power one to two lights.  This is a recent initiative on the part of government.  We understand the villages have to pay the government back monthly to cover the loan.   Imagine the difference this makes in people’s lives. 

Water:  The Wind Mill

Before Hand In Hand became involved, we understand that the wind mill that had not been operating for some 20 years.  Since Hand in Hand became involved, the windmill has been repaired. The source of water before the repair?  The river!   Grandpa Conrad alters the windmill to optimize the wind for drawing water.  Water is pumped by the windmill to three large black tanks.  Each morning, Grandpa Conrad starts a gas engine pump to move the water to several black tanks located for the main kitchen, staff house, guest houses and store.  One day when we were doing leather work there was a big creek, then a smashing of a board. The wind was blowing.  Everyone froze.  Joy ran to see if the windmill was OK.  Yes, but a small board had broken.  The men assured everyone that the supports for the tanks were heavy supports but winds are very strong and large amounts of water are heavy!  We had excellent water pressure.  Showers tended to be warmer as the day progressed.   We were told that the well was dug deeper when we were there as water was getting very low in the windmill well.  Rainfall over the last three years in the area where the Ranch is located has been critically low.   

The Windmill Repaired

Implementation of Changes

As soon as Allan was chosen for the CESO assignment, we began correspondence with Yolanda Vasconcellos.   The RDC is governed by a Board of Directors.  Yolanda is the liaison between the Board and the Ranch.   Her background is Agriculture and Business Management. It fast became apparent that if Yolanda didn’t know the answer, she would find out.  We now see how she makes things happen.    For example, when flying to Lethem from Georgetown, Yolanda booked a cargo seat for electrical supplies for the ranch.  Every detail must be considered because the Ranch is so remote.  If you don’t have it, it’s a 3 hour trip to Lethem where you might be able to buy it! 

A New Truck and a New Tractor and Heavy Duty Trailer for the Farm



Toyota Heavy Duty Truck

This heavy duty Toyota truck is built for ruggedness and the John Deer Tractor and trailer?  Someone knew what they were buying!

Vehicles Are Thoroughly Checked Each Trip Out!

Allan Looking At the John Deer Tractor and Heavy Duty Trailer

Main Kitchen:  Our meals are prepared in a separate building which has running water and a new gas range. Workers are looking forward to a new kitchen.  Mary and her helpers do such a great job with limited resources.    There is a freezer at a different location.  Ice is sometimes available to keep things cold.  So, all food is prepared fresh daily and served right away.  Bottled water is used for us.  Meat is kept in the freezer and brought over frozen the morning it is going to be used.  This time of year (dry season) serving fresh fruits and vegetables is a challenge.  We had mango, grapefruit and papaya grown locally.  Beef is traded for ferine grown in other villages.  They buy tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage and carrot for daily salad.  Supper is most often soup with fresh rolls or crotons.

New Gas Range in the Kitchen

Meet Mary, the cook who began preparing meals for the vaqueros with her mother when she was 14.  She learned well!  Fresh bread, five loaves at a time.  Traditional dishes are made fresh daily, the main meal of the day is served at lunch time.  Here Mary proudly stands by a noon meal. 

Mary Has Reason To Be Proud Of Her Meal!

Food Safety, Dining Room Service and Meal Planning:

Four afternoon seminars were conducted using materials relevant to the setting.  Days 1 and 2 followed the Foodsafe Canadian program looking at the 10 most common causes of Food Poisoning, Safety Hazards, Optimum temperatures for bacterial growth (danger zone!) which clearly pointed to the need in this situation to be so careful to prepare the food fresh and serve it immediately.  We looked at proper hand washing and dishwashing (hot water 60* with detergent, rinse, third pan with a drop of bleach in the water).  People here are used to washing dishes in cold water!  Flies are a problem!  They use fly stickers.   Hot climate is a problem.  Lack of refrigeration is a big problem.  They do so well to prepare such good meals for us: fresh, great variety, traditional, well balanced and safe!    

 





Some of the Participants in the Food Safety Program

Dadanawa Ranch Church

Church time is a special time on the Ranch.  Each Sunday, everyone gathers on the balcony of the Staff House.  Usually Conrad leads the service with different people from the village assisting. It is a great opportunity for everyone including people from outstations to connect with one another physically and spiritually and for all ages to participate.   It is Darwin’s job to ring the bell.

The service is a mixture of English and their native Wapishana.  Their hymn book has a section in Wapishana.  On regular Sundays they play scripture taped in their native language.  Many of the elders speak Wapishana but do not read it. 

On Feb 22, the Priest who serves the region came for overnight and led the service.  It was very special.  Bougainvillea from the flowering bush was carried in the processional.  Children carried the alter candle holders.  Priest Edwin is from India and is serving the region for the second time.  I was especially pleased to hear him address alcohol abuse as there has been two accidents, one death and a case of alcohol poisoning here in the three weeks since our arrival.

Following the service, they called the people who had worked with leather together for a presentation!  Joy had made a belt for Lydia!   How special!  The Priest joined us for and informal picture.

Join us for a short worship:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=737Pr7KY7jw

To contact the Dadanawa Ranch, email:                                                                                              

       rupununi@hihgy.com 

Trip to Catilernau Outstation:

Catilernau Outstation is some 50 miles from Dadanawa Ranch but is a very vital part of the Ranch.  A beautiful setting with the traditionally built living quarters and corral are centered with a 360 panorama of beauty overlooking a more fertile valley with a creek that despite the dryness of the savannah, still has water.  Our trip in the RDC truck took less than 1 ½ hours.  We were met by Charlie, the manager of Catilernau Outstation and his capable wife, Agatha.  Together they operated the station with very little outside help.  Amazingly, they manage 2000 of the 3700 Dadanawa Ranch cattle at this outstation.

We were impressed by all aspects of the management of the outstation.  Cattle are brought into the corral twice a month.  The previous day, a message had been sent to the nearby village and conveyed to their grandchildren that visitors would be coming to the outstation the next day.  So, the children brought the message to Charlie late afternoon (there is no way to communicate directly with the outstation).  Right away they saddled their horses and brought in 100 head of cattle to the corral for us! 

The original house burned several years ago.  The two replacement houses were again built with thatched roofs but cooking is done in shelter away from the house.

Until recently, all water for household use had to be carried from the creek.  Hand woven back backs were available for both adults and children to carry water. 

Hand Woven Backpacks to Carry Water

Since the new owners took over, two men were hired to dig a 40 foot well for Catilernau Outstation.  Digging a well is serious business!  The ladder does not reach to the bottom so a rope has to be used to get to the ladder.  The well is beautifully bricked and has a hand operated winch to lower the pail for water. 

 

We were impressed with the cattle.  Healthy, docile showing that they had been handled.  Allan had his eye open for potential bull calves for breeding choices.  A bull took no heed of us and was actively inseminating cows! 

Charlie is full of enthusiasm and Agatha enjoys humour.  We delivered seeds for the garden they are planning.  Rain is needed; the soil is impenetrable and impossible to put a shovel into never mind a pick!  Termites seem to have a secret, their nests are architectural master pieces sporadically peppered throughout the landscape.    

For a person who has a pioneering spirit, loves cattle and horses, doesn’t mind isolation or minimalist living, this would be a great spot to learn the art of Ranch management with a skilled and personable couple.

Dadanawa Ranch: Cattle, Horses, Sleep Outs and Round Ups

Cattle, Horses, Sleep Outs and Round Ups

3700 cattle, 180 horses give or take a few spread over 5000 square kilometers.  So horses and very important to find the cattle!  Horses are smaller than ours.  In the book written about the early history of the Dadanawa Ranch, a story is told of someone purchasing a large number of saddles in North America for the Ranch.  When the saddles arrived, they were much too large for the horses so could not be used. 

The first step in planning for a roundup of cattle is to round up some horses!  Early on we saw the vaqueros ‘breaking in’ a horse in the field, same way we would do at home except that the rider will be on the horse the next day for the round up! The picture is breaking in the horse (you probably can’t see the lead line). 

Vaqueros Breaking a Horse

Vaquero Joy Prepares to Mount Her Horse

 Horses are not shoed.  They seem to get along well fending for themselves on the sparse, dry savannah grasses.  Forced dieting!  So the day is set for the vaqueros to go out, the cook (Joy) prepares for cookout, the saddles are readied complete with lassoes.  They used to take saddle bags for their gear but now the RDC tractor loads the campout gear and travels to the spot where the trails split to different areas where the cattle are grazing. Joy is also a vaquero.  I was able to catch her just before she mounted her saddled horse heading out.  She said the ride back with the cattle once the cattle were rounded up would be at least 15 miles and they would likely arrive around lunch time the next day.  Joy, like other vaqueros, wears flip flops or goes barefoot for riding! 

 

 

 

Vaqueros and Riding Guests Prepare To Go On Round Up

Joy Prepares Cook Up In A Large Pot On An Open Fire for the Vaqueros

Horses and Vaqueros Often Camp Over Here

In wet season, creeks and rivers overflow their banks and the whole scene changes.  Dadanawa Ranch’s main area becomes an island.  Boats have to be used to cross the rivers and creeks.  The only way to get to the ranch is to be met on the other side!   What I can’t get over is the cattle take care of themselves when the rains come but the horses don’t have enough horse sense to get to high ground and have to be rescued or they drown!

Below is a photo of a painting in the store of cattle crossing the river with the vaqueros driving them to cross the river.  What a sight it must be.

Painting of Cattle Crossing The River.

 

These cattle basically survive on their own eating only grass with little to no intervention.  Amazing really.  They know where to find water, even in this very dry time and from there they identify the best (which at best is not good) grazing. 

Dry Season

 But, when missing from the inventory, it could be one of a number of reasons:  rustling, jaguar kill or wild in the bush (may appear in future), natural mortality, stolen, or otherwise.  One story:  the owner of a ranch adjacent to land that is part of the Dadanawa Ranch near Lethem died; when his daughter came to take over the operation of the ranch, all the cattle had been stolen!  The person telling the story pointed out that the border to Brazil is very close.

So, the next day around 11 we went with the RDC truck to see if we could see the cattle on the trail with the horses driving them in.   Allan was particularly interested to see the vaqueros in action.  We headed out to the area (anywhere in a two plus mile range) at an undefined time.  We looked for tracks, waited about an hour.   No luck so back to the ranch for lunch.  Precisely, as predicted, we could see them in the distance (about 100 of them) stirring up a good dust on the way to the corral.  We used the zoom lense on the camera and could see the vaqueros circling along-side and behind.  The cattle would now rest overnight in the corral and be worked with the next day.



Vaqueros Bring Cattle In To The Corral On Horseback



Oswald Ready To Record Number

Vaquero Closes The Squeeze To Hold Animal Back

Calves Are Separated Out To Ear Tag and Tattoo Older Ones

Joy Watches As Animal Comes Through For Sorting

In the corral, they aim to separate the calves for tattooing (ear), branding when they are old enough (their hide has to be good and thick), castrating bulls (ouch) and recording ID numbers to verify inventory. 

They usually work with the cattle later afternoon when it is a bit cooler (probably 35 instead of 40!).  They need lots of people.  Vaqueros to bring the cattle through the gate, a person to record the ID number of the animal and call as to which pen the animal will be directed into, a person to work the gate to hold the animal for identification (a particular tricky job as these animals have big horns and a mind of their own).    When the call is made and the gate is opened, the three people on the gates for the different pens have to be swift to open and close the right gates!  My goodness!  We were under the shade of a big tree in a specially made box right in the middle of it all.  Incredible action!

There is a lot of research on stress management for cattle.  We brought several excellent videos which Allan showed to the vaqueros, hoping to change the ‘hooping, hollering and scare tactics’ used to handle the cattle now into a low stress, easy handling situation.  The more the cattle are handled, the more they relax.  I will post a short video to bring this all to reality. 

Branding Irons Ready To Heat In The Fire



Preparing To Brand An Older Calf

Branding A Calf

Choosing A Young Bull To Be Castrated
 

These Are A Delicacy In Guyana! 

 

The vaqueros are very much looking forward to competing in the annual Easter rodeo at Lethem.  Prize money is good (over $100 US for each category).  The Dadanawa cattle will be driven to Lethem (that drive will take two plus days).  I understand after all of that the bulls that go will end up at the Lethem abattoir.   The vaqueros were very anxious to put on a little rodeo for us.  Seeing someone threaten their life on the back of a belted bucking bull will never be my entertainment choice!  Those who participate in this are young males, healthy and strong but their entire lives could be altered in one ride.

       

Presentation of Burdizzos

When one retires from beef farming, castration and tattooing equipment have little use.  So, despite the weight of the burdizzos, all was cleaned and shined and packed in Allan’s luggage.  Imagine the humor when our suitcases were lost and in Barbados we had to fill out a form listing any unusual ‘items’ in our luggage!   Guess ‘nut crackers’ would not be the term to fit!  At 7 pounds, they accounted for a good part of our overweight luggage.



Yolanda and Olwald Receiving The Burdizzos from Allan

Following the mini rodeo and corral work, Allan presented the tattooing equipment and burdizzos to the Ranch.  Ranch Foreman, Oswald worked with a veterinarian in the Rupunini travelling from farm to farm and knows burdizzos well.  Oswald and Yolanda are practicing!  Right up until this presentation, all castrations were done using a knife!  A delicacy among the Amerindians they say! Oswald thanked Allan again and again.

Visit Dadanawa Ranch on utube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKEdBKwqD1M