From August 6 to August 13, three members of the VSG youth (Biza Akienboto, from Botopasi, Samunda Jabini from Nieuw Aurora, Ketura Adjako, from Kajapati), two Saamaka women representatives (Celestina, Alma), captain Stiefen Petrusi, from New Aurora and Hugo Jabini, a Saamaka leader, travelled to Colombia to meet peers from Bolivia and Colombia. This reunion of Saamaka people, indigenous communities from Bolivia and Colombia and other local community representatives was named Gaan Kuutu. The event was organized by Tropenbos International, together with Tropenbos Colombia, Tropenbos Suriname, and the Bolivian Institute of Forest Research (IBIF), as part of the Working Landscape programme and the Forests for a Just Future – Green Livelihoods Alliance funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

One of the main outputs of this Gaan Kuutu for the Saamakans was, not only the exchange of experiences among all present in Colombia, but also, the outline of a road map to structure Saamaka territorial governance.  Furthermore, after the exchange, Saamaka representatives in Colombia, had the opportunity to have a cultural exchange with afro-descendent from San Basilio del Palenque.   The last day of their stay, the group of Saamakans attended the Gaan Kuutu, visited the Observatorio de Territorios Etnicos y Colectivos (OTEC), from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, to learn about the land titling processes of afro-descendent communities in Colombia. Such a meeting with the University, resulted in the visit of OTEC to the Upper Suriname river, in November 16-19 2022, to attend the VSG planning workshop  [SR1] . OTEC participation in the planning workshop resulted in the idea that OTEC would support VSG land rights process in 2023.

 [SR1]Link to this news