Guyana

WE, THE GUYANESE PEOPLE,
… proclaim this Constitution in order to:
…
Celebrate our cultural and racial diversity and strengthen our unity by eliminating any and every form of discrimination;
Value the special place in our nation of the Indigenous Peoples and recognize their right as citizens to land and security and to their promulgation of policies for their communities;
… (Preamble)

(1) Subject to the provisions of this article -
(a) no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect; and
(b) no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.
(2) In this article the expression ‘discriminatory’ means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their or their parents’ or guardians’ respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed, age, disability, marital status, sex, gender, language, birth, social class, pregnancy, religion, conscience, belief or culture whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which other persons of the same or another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not afforded to persons of another such description.
…
(6) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision -
…
(c) for the protection, well-being or advancement of the Amerindians of Guyana.
… (Art. 149)

Indigenous peoples shall have the right to the protection, preservation and promulgation of their languages, cultural heritage and way of life. (Art. 149G)

(1) The Indigenous Peoples' Commission shall establish mechanisms to enhance the status of indigenous peoples and to respond to their legitimate demands and needs.
(2) The Indigenous Peoples’ Commission shall consist of persons of the categories referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) , (b) and (c) appointed by the President as follows -
(a) not more than ten members nominated by entities, by a consensual mechanism determined by the National Assembly, after the entities are determined by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly;
(b) three persons, at least one being a woman nominated by the Toushaos Council and two persons including one woman nominated by Amerindian organisations determined by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly; and
(c) a member who shall be a nominee, without the right to vote, chosen by and from each of the following Commissions: the Human Rights Commission, Ethnic Relations Commission, Women and Gender Equality Commission and the Rights of the Child Commission. (Art. 212S)

In addition to the functions specified in article 212J (2) the functions of the Indigenous Peoples' Commission are to
(a) promote and protect the rights of the indigenous peoples;
(b) raise awareness of the contribution of, and problems faced by, indigenous peoples;
(c) promote empowerment of the indigenous peoples, especially with regard to the village council in the local government system and the scope and authority of the Council of Toshaos;
(d) make recommendations on economic and education policies to advance the interest of the indigenous peoples;
(e) make recommendations for the protection, preservation and promulgation of the cultural heritage and language of the indigenous peoples;
(f) promote consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples especially with regard to their participation in national decision-making and other decisions that affect their lives;
(g) recommend and promote training and technical assistance to support initiative by and for indigenous peoples;
(h) educate employers and the public and make recommendations to improve employment practices related to indigenous peoples; and
(i) monitor the need for and recommend where appropriate the establishment of mechanisms to provide counselling for indigenous peoples. (Art. 212T)