The Long Saamaka Battle for the Forest

Confronted with the threat of international logging companies who were violating Saamaka rights on their territory, in 1996, Hugo Jabini, Captain Wazen Eduards and other Saamaka joined forces to form the Association of Saamaka Traditional Authorities, Wanahti (One Heart). The purpose of this organisation was to fight for the legal recognition and protection of Saamaka traditionally owned land. Finally, the Inter American Commission submitted the case to the Inter American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica. In November 2007, the Court made a landmark decision for indigenous and tribal people throughout the Americas to control natural resource exploitation in their territories. Hugo Jabini will report on their struggle and present-day situation. Hugo Jabini and Captain Wazen Eduards were awarded the Goldman Environmental prize for Latin and South America in 2009. In 2010, Jabini was elected as a member of Suriname parliament to represent his People. Wazen Eduards is the Head Captain of the Saamaka village Pikiseei, which Heinrich Harrer visited in 1966.