Part II: How the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples Turned into a Date to Fight for Human Rights in Suriname

The country is the only one in South America that does not recognize the rights of Indigenous Peoples to their ancestral lands. 

At 6:00 a.m., shortly before sunrise, the smell of pepre watra, a traditional Indigenous broth made with fish or meat, hangs thick in the air at the Palmentuin, a historic garden full of tall royal palms in the heart of Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. The tents in which food, crafts, and other cultural items will be sold later in the day are already set up.

It is August 9th, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Behind the tents, at the edge of the Palmentuin, preparations are underway for a prayer and a cultural bath. The fire is lit to dispel negativity.

Every year, the Amazon Market Foundation Suriname and the Foundation for the Commemoration of the Day of Indigenous Peoples in Suriname organize activities to mark this day, beginning at sunrise.

According to Josien Aloema-Tokoe, Chair of the Amazon Market Foundation Suriname, this is a day of reflection, not of celebration, because Suriname is the only nation in South America that does not recognize the rights of Indigenous Peoples to their ancestral lands. 

“We are being shot and killed. We are being discriminated against. We do not have access to our rights and are not even recognized in Surinamese law,” Aloema stresses. “So we have nothing to celebrate. It is a day of reflection, a day to come together and look at the way forward.”

Human Rights Violations: From Water Contamination to Police Brutality

During the festivities of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, promised that a revised draft law on collective land rights, which has been the subject of negotiations in Parliament last August, would soon be presented to lawmakers for further consideration.

Aloema-Tokoe highlighted the failure of successive governments to implement international rulings, including the Kaliña and Lokono rulings, in which the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ordered the Surinamese government to grant collective land rights to Indigenous Peoples.

Gold mining and wood logging concessions continue to be granted by governments in areas occupied by Indigenous and Maroon peoples, leading to large-scale deforestation, contamination of rivers with severe health consequences for the local population, and displacement of local communities as a result of land grabs.

In the Para district, a two-hour drive away from Palmentuin, Wendeline Sabajo, the chief of the Indigenous village of Matta-Korhopa also reported attempts to grant concessions in their territory without proper consultation. She emphasized the community’s resistance to such actions. The land has been passed down through generations and is home today to approximately 500 Lokono people. 
 
On May 2nd, 2023, anti-government protests in Pikin Saron, an Indigenous village of the Kaliña people, turned into a riot in which police fatally shot two Indigenous men. According to the Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs (VIDS), a forensic investigation found that the police used firearms unnecessarily and that the victims were reportedly shot while lying face down, contradicting police claims. 

Three civil lawsuits have been filed against the state, including claims for compensation for the families of the deceased victims and other injured parties.

New Challenges in a Warming Planet

The Indigenous Peoples of Suriname are heavily dependent on agriculture as a main source of livelihood. In recent years, climate change has led to repeated failed harvests, and traditional wisdom is increasingly suffering from the planetary crisis. 

In Matta-Korhopa, the local population is experiencing the impact of climate change on traditional crops such as cassava and pineapple. 

“This year, we experienced a significant drop in production due to the extreme drought we endured last year. We typically plant around 5,000 pineapple plants annually. From this amount, we usually harvest about half, or around 2,500 pineapples. However, from the last batch of 5,000 plants, we recently harvested only 500”, said Cyrell Sabajo, a member of the village’s traditional authority whose family makes a living from planting and selling ginger, pineapples, and watermelon. 

“It's like our plants have to fight for a breath in the scorching sun. But this has also been an eye-opener for us. The intense heat and drought conditions have made it necessary to explore modern agricultural techniques, including irrigation systems, to sustain farming activities,” said village chief Sabajo. 
 
Indigenous Craftsmanship 

Ovilia Herman from Matta is the proud owner of Tishiry Handcraft which specializes in creating nature-based products from various trees, plants and other organic material. One example is the Mauricius palm fibers, known as "Tishiry" in the Arawak (Lokono) language. Herman named her business after this fiber, reflecting the deep cultural roots of her work.

The Mauricius palm, which grows abundantly in Matta-Korhopa, is integral to her creations. Ovilia transforms these fibers into beautiful dresses, hammocks, necklaces and other jewelry; maintaining the rich cultural heritage of her community. She also makes traditional headpieces, a process which is meticulous and time-consuming, with each headpiece taking two -three full days to craft.

Ovilia notes that while there are some funding opportunities available for small business owners like herself, these funds are often not culturally sensitive. Despite these challenges in accessing funding and resources, Ovilia’s dedication ensures that her cultural craftsmanship, which was passed down from her ancestors to her, remains vibrant and thriving.

Village chief Wendeline Sabajo expressed disappointment with the inadequate support for local entrepreneurs and the lack of culturally sensitive funding programs. She described the bureaucratic hurdles faced by small business owners, including complex application processes for funding that are often beyond their reach. 
 
Despite the obstacles, Ovilia continues to pour her passion into her work, ensuring the preservation of traditional craftsmanship for future generations. To keep these skills alive, she will teach 5th and 6th graders how to create traditional items, hoping to spark interest among Indigenous youth. Her goal is to sustain entrepreneurship in her community and ensure these cultural practices are preserved through future generations.

More On Nia Tero’s Work in Amazonia

Nia Tero is committed to working alongside Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon to strengthen, amplify, and maintain guardianship of their collective territories.

Through long-term partnerships, Nia Tero supports 69 million hectares of thriving forest landscapes, and 36 Indigenous organizations and their trusted allies in Amazonia to exercise their territorial rights while bolstering governance of their communities and asserting their own visions of well-being.

Learn more about Nia Tero’s work in Amazonia.

Read the first article in this two-part series about Indigenous Peoples' rights in Suriname.