Скачать или смотреть The Voices of our Ancestors - The Closing Event in Matta - Suriname - April 2025

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 – 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲

📍 Matta Koropha - The Closing Event of the Voices of our Ancestors Project

What started as an idea has grown into a powerful and meaningful journey. From November 2024 to April 2025, we proudly participated in the project "Amplifying Rural and Indigenous Youth Voices on Climate Justice in the Caribbean", coordinated by Young People for Action on Climate Change in Jamaica (YPACCJA).

After observing the many challenges Indigenous peoples face in Suriname, a difficult but necessary question arose: Why is this happening – and why does it keep happening, generation after generation? This question became the starting point for a journey in three phases, highlighting the voices of the Lokono community (also known as the Arawaks of Suriname), and the systemic and climate-related struggles they face.

Phase 1 was a social media campaign that shared stories about Lokono culture, their deep connection to nature, traditional practices, and the broader systemic challenges tied to climate change.

Phase 2 focused on capturing and preserving the knowledge and experiences of the Lokono people — from pre- and post-colonial times, to the impacts of climate change and nature's transformation, as well as their language, traditional clothing, spirituality and traditions. This knowledge was turned into a moving documentary.

Phase 3 was a closing event held in Matta village, where community members and participants came together to view the Documentary. The day continued with group discussions on important topics such as climate change and land rights, food security, the future of the Lokono people, and cultural preservation. The event concluded with a delicious traditional pepre watra lunch.

The project was a great success and achieved its goal: to bring visibility to the ongoing struggles and resilience of Indigenous communities — especially the Lokono people. We hope the results of this work will support their centuries-long fight for justice. May justice prevail.

This project was funded by Open Society Foundations and led by Nuravni S. Sallons, regional coordinator of Young People for Action on Climate Change in Jamaica.

Special thanks to: Pamela Kortram, Christio Wijnhard, Alwin R. Ligorie, Piai Daniel Nelson, Piai Francisco Karwofodi, Lilien Sabajo, Captain Wendeline Sabajo, the village of Matta Korhopa, VIDS, the production team, camera crew, and everyone who helped bring this documentary to life.

𝗔𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗻
Young People for Action on Climate Change in Jamaica - May 2025


#Suriname #Lokono #Arawak #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #Nuravni #Sallons