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2nd August 2011
Tribes and Land Rights

Imagine living somewhere for hundreds of years only to be told the land isn’t yours and that someone else might be in charge from now on.  This is what is happening for hundreds of indigenous people in the South American country of Suriname.    

First things first, what does ‘indigenous’ mean exactly?  When we talk about indigenous or native people, plants or species it means that they are from a specific location and have been for a long time.  For example the oak tree is native to the British Isles, it is an indigenous species that found its way here naturally and is characteristic of the area.  It seems strange, then, that indigenous tribes in Suriname are being told that they do not own their land when they are the only people that have lived there for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years!  

The complication is that the developed world has grown up around these ancient rainforests.  These areas have never been owned by anybody - most land nowadays is owned, filed and has its own paperwork in offices!  So when it comes to managing this new land there is a bit of a struggle.  Governments and companies, often from outside of the country, would like to make some money from precious materials found under the rainforest, or would like to cut down all the trees to sell the wood, or sometimes they want to preserve the area as best they can.  But not having the ‘rights’ to the land means that the tribal people who have called this their home for hundreds of years have no say in what happens.  

The country of Suriname lies in the north of South America and is part of the Guiana Shield - a very important geological formation that is just a bit old at 1.7 billion years of age!  The area is said to be home to the largest untouched and ancient rainforests in the world.  In the jungles you can find jaguars, anteaters, giant armadillos, spider monkeys, flamingos and toucans - just to name a few!

Indigenous groups that live in Suriname include the Trio, Wayana, Carib, and the Akuriyo.  These people live in the rainforest and grown their own food as well finding it in the jungle and rivers.  They are careful with how they treat the forest and have generations of experience and knowledge which is extremely valuable.

As humans we all have the right to live, to sleep and to eat!  Some of these things can be difficult without land rights, and luckily the tribes of Suriname have people on their side who are helping them fight for the right to have a say in what happens to their home lands.  But what about the earth?  Should the earth have rights too?  

If you want to find out more about rainforests, rainforest peoples and earth rights then see our Download Area online and look for our latest edition of Conservation Education ‘Rainforests’.  Here are some helpful factsheets and websites for more information:

Rainforests
Rainforest Animals
Rainforest Tribes

Mongabay - an selection website for more information rainforests, environment and wildlife.

Also, keep your eye out for Lumi!



Photograph by Eric Molina

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