28 October 2026
How do Indigenous and tribal Peoples in Suriname defend and govern their territories in the absence of legal recognition of their collective and territorial rights? The experiences of the Saamaka, Kali’na and Lokono Peoples demonstrate the importance of sharing lessons and strengthening connections between Peoples and organisations as part of collective efforts to advance the recognition and effective protection of their territorial rights.
Following the Second Meeting of the Yutzu Group, held in May 2026 through a collaboration between TINTA, Vereniging van Saamaka Gemeenschappen (Association of Saamaka Communities – VSG), Vereniging van Inheemse Dorpshoofden in Suriname (Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname – VIDS) and The Tenure Facility, two case studies were developed to document experiences and lessons on how communities organise to defend their territories and what they can learn from one another.
The Saamaka People are an Afro-descendant people whose history is marked by resistance to slavery and the struggle for freedom, autonomy and life in the forest. In the Suriname River basin, their ancestral territory—which covers approximately 1.4 million hectares—sustains their livelihoods, systems of self-governance, knowledge and spirituality.
The case study Saamaka Territory: Forest, Memory and Self-Governance, developed in collaboration with VSG, examines the challenges the Saamaka People face in securing recognition of their collective rights.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ ruling in the case of Saramaka People v. Suriname (2007) established obligations for the State, including the delimitation, demarcation and titling of the collective territory, recognition of the people’s legal personality, and guarantees of Free, Prior and Informed Consent. However, the lack of legal recognition in national legislation means that the ruling remains unimplemented. This gap leaves the territory exposed to external pressures, including mining and logging concessions that threaten the forest, water and local livelihoods.
The Saamaka experience shows that territorial defence requires sustained community organisation. Participatory mapping, legal advocacy, training for young people and women’s participation are all part of this process, alongside alliances that enable communities to share experiences while remaining guided by the priorities defined by the People themselves.
The case of Galibi, the territory of the Kali’na and Lokono Peoples, broadens the understanding of Amazonian territories to include coastal ecosystems, where rivers, the sea, fishing, biodiversity, culture and self-governance are all interconnected. Located in north-eastern Suriname, on the border with French Guiana, Galibi comprises two neighbouring villages, Christiaankondre and Langamankondre, and forms part of the Lower Marowijne, a territory shaped by collective self-demarcation processes and a strong understanding of interconnectedness.
The case study Galibi and the Kali’na and Lokono Indigenous Peoples: Coastal Livelihoods, Indigenous Governance and Territorial Rights in the Lower Marowijne, developed in collaboration with VIDS, examines the challenges these communities face in securing recognition of their territories and participating in decisions that affect them.
The Inter-American Court’s ruling in the case of Kaliña and Lokono Peoples v. Suriname (2015) marked a significant legal advance, ordering collective land titling, recognition of legal personality and effective participation in the management of nature reserves. However, as in the Saamaka case, more than ten years later, the ruling has yet to be implemented by the State, and significant challenges remain in making territorial rights effective.
The experience of Galibi shows that effective conservation must recognise Indigenous Peoples’ territorial rights, knowledge and governance systems. It also highlights the importance of coordination between traditional authorities, local organisations and regional structures such as the Kali’na and Lokono Organisation in Marowijne (KLIM).
Although Indigenous and tribal Peoples in Suriname have their own histories, cultures, governance systems and territorial contexts, their struggles converge around common challenges: the lack of effective recognition of their territorial rights, the need to ensure compliance with international court rulings, and the defence of their territories against different pressures and threats. Sharing lessons from these experiences can help strengthen collective territorial defence processes.
Both case studies offer strategic lessons for the Pan-Amazonian region, including the following: