Amplifying Voices of the Diaspora
Empowering Cultural Connection
Letters to Guyana is a diaspora-led preservation project dedicated to honoring the land, history, and diverse cultures of Guyana. As a nation shaped by many migrations and traditions, Guyana is often described as a melting pot. Yet at its heart remains the Amerindian people, whose presence is both original and enduring. Our mission is to respect the layered history of how Guyana came to be while recognizing our shared responsibility to stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities, whether or not we trace direct blood ties. Through storytelling, advocacy, and partnerships, Letters to Guyana seeks to protect what is most vulnerable, preserve what is most sacred, and celebrate the resilience that defines the Guyanese spirit.
Meet the Founder
Sela Wedlaw
As an Afro-Guyanese first-generation American, I often struggled with who I saw in the mirror. Not fitting neatly into what the world imagined a Guyanese person to look like, I found myself unable to articulate my identity — and at times, it felt easier not to claim it at all. I didn’t know if being Guyanese meant race, culture, ethnicity, or just nationality. But when I began exploring my family’s history and learned more of my Amerindian and African roots, I started to understand my reflection. With that understanding came a deep sense of responsibility to protect the culture, land, and people that shaped my family. Not only for my own future children, but for everyone who still looks in the mirror and feels a little uncertain about who they are.
