Makushi Research Unit (MRU)

The MRU resulted from a local community, North Rupununi District Development Board, Iwokrama, and Amerindian Research Unit research initiative in 1995 to study the ethnobiology of the North Rupununi.

The Unit consists of researchers from local communities who carry out research on social, economic, and ecological aspects of life in the North Rupununi. The MRU plays an important role in understanding local knowledge systems and cultural affirmation. It is also a primary force in ensuring local communities in the North Rupununi are informed of research.

The MRU has been recently supported by the Gender Equality Fund of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The Fund provided the MRU with honoraria for participants and field computers to help with communications and dissemination of information from research, discussions, and workshops.

MRU projects have recently expanded to include working with the Ministry of Education to develop Makushi language teaching in schools.