A Historical Narrative of Traditional Lands around the Newmont Sabajo Project Baseline Study for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the Sabajo Expansion of the Merian Gold Mine in Suriname Marie-Josee Artist & Florence Rijsdijk Commissioned by Newmont Suriname A Historical Narrative of Traditional Lands around the Newmont Sabajo Project Baseline for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the Sabajo Expansion of the Merian Gold Mine in Suriname Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this report are strictly those from the interviewed representatives of the communities. The findings and conclusions or recommendations are based on the information gathered from desktop study and interviews. The authors are not responsible for the opinions expressed by interviewees. Marie-Josee Artist & Florence Rijsdijk Commissioned by Newmont Suriname HISTORICAL NARRATIVE OF THE TRADITONAL LANDS AROUND THE NEWMONT SABAJO PROJECT CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................................................................... I ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................................................... II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................III 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. OBJECTIVES, STRATEGY AND MAIN TASKS OF STUDY ........................................................................................... 1 1.2. METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.3. STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT AND PROJECT-STAFFING ......................................................................................... 9 2. INTERNATIONAL LAW ON DETERMINATION, OCCUPATION AND USE OF TRADITIONAL LAND .............. 10 2.1. LAND, TERRITORY AND RESOURCES .............................................................................................................. 10 2.2. INDIGENOUS AND TRIBAL PEOPLES RIGHTS .................................................................................................... 11 2.3. COLLECTIVE RIGHTS .................................................................................................................................. 12 2.4. RELEVANCE TO DETERMINING LAND RIGHTS ................................................................................................... 12 3. HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE AND TERRITORY ............................................................................................. 14 3.1. WRITTEN HISTORY OF MAROONS ................................................................................................................ 14 3.1.2. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 17 3.2. THE NDYUKA FROM THE COMMEWIJNE RIVER AREA ........................................................................................ 17 3.2.1. Written history .......................................................................................................................... 19 3.2.2. Oral history ............................................................................................................................... 19 3.2.3. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 29 3.3. THE SAAMAKA COMMUNITIES FROM THE AFOBAKA ROAD AREA ........................................................................ 30 3.3.1. Written and oral history ........................................................................................................... 30 3.3.2. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 31 3.4. THE PAAMAKA COMMUNITIES .................................................................................................................... 31 3.4.1. Written and oral history ........................................................................................................... 31 3.4.2. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 32 4. TRADITIONAL LAND USE AREA .............................................................................................................. 33 4.1. THE KAWINA PEOPLE ................................................................................................................................ 33 4.1.1. Traditional land ........................................................................................................................ 33 4.1.2. Land-use conflicts and conflict resolution ................................................................................ 36 4.1.3. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 38 4.2. THE SAAMAKA/SAAKIIKI PEOPLE ................................................................................................................. 39 4.2.1. Traditional Land ....................................................................................................................... 39 4.2.2. Land-use conflicts ..................................................................................................................... 40 4.2.3. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 41 4.3. THE PAAMAKA PEOPLE .............................................................................................................................. 41 4.3.1. Traditional land ........................................................................................................................ 41 4.3.2. Land-use conflicts ..................................................................................................................... 42 4.3.3. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 43 5. TRADITIONAL SOCIAL STRUCTURES & CUSTOMS AND MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD ..................................... 44 March 2018 HISTORICAL NARRATIVE OF THE TRADITONAL LANDS AROUND THE NEWMONT SABAJO PROJECT CONTENTS 5.1. KINSHIP AND LINEAGE SYSTEM .................................................................................................................... 44 5.2. SOCIAL LIFE AND CUSTOMS ......................................................................................................................... 46 5.3. TRADITIONAL LIVELIHOOD ACTIVITIES............................................................................................................ 47 5.4. INTANGIBLE HERITAGE .............................................................................................................................. 48 5.5. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................................... 52 6. GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES, DECISION MAKING AND LAW................................................................... 53 6.1. TRADITIONAL GOVERNING SYSTEM AND LEADERSHIP ........................................................................................ 53 6.2. CHANGES IN GOVERNING SYSTEM, LEGITIMACY AND CONDUCT .......................................................................... 54 6.3. THE ROLE OF WOMEN ............................................................................................................................... 56 6.4. DECISION-MAKING AND NEGOTIATION .......................................................................................................... 57 6.4.1. Decisions about land use .......................................................................................................... 57 6.4.2. Distribution of benefits ............................................................................................................. 59 6.5. COMMUNICATION .................................................................................................................................... 60 6.6. CONCLUSION ON TRADITIONAL PROTOCOLS ................................................................................................... 60 7. DISCUSSION OVER COMPANY LAND USE AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY .............................................. 61 7.1. ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY ........................................................................................................................... 61 7.2. CAPACITY OF THE TRIBE TO ENGAGE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COMPANY ......................................................... 61 7.3. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................................... 63 8. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................ 64 ANNEXES ......................................................................................................................................................