Sipaliwini District

Last updated
Sipaliwini
District
Boys in a canoe on the Gran Rio river.jpg
Boys in a canoe on the Gran Rio river
Sipaliwini in Suriname (+claims) (hatched).svg
Sipaliwini district in Suriname.
Coordinates: 3°47′N56°02′W / 3.783°N 56.033°W / 3.783; -56.033
Country Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname
Area
 • Total130,567 km2 (50,412 sq mi)
Population
 (2012 census) [1]
 • Total37,065
 • Density0.28/km2 (0.74/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-3

Sipaliwini is the largest district of Suriname, located in the south. Sipaliwini is the only district that does not have a regional capital, as it is directly administered by the national government in Paramaribo. [2] Sipaliwini District includes disputed areas, with the southwestern region controlled and administered by Guyana, whereas the southeastern region is controlled by French Guiana.

Contents

History

Sipaliwini was created in 1983 [2] and has a population of 37,065 and an area of 130,567 km2 (50,412 sq mi). [1] The district is nearly 4 times as large as the other 9 districts of Suriname combined; however, most of Sipaliwini is almost completely covered by rainforest. [3] To create the district, the Nickerie District was reduced from around 65,000 km2 (25,000 sq mi) to 5,000 km2 (1,900 sq mi). [4] Sipaliwini is the tribal area inhabited by Maroons and indigenous people. [1] Various peace treaties starting in 1686 had recognised autonomy for the tribes over their own area; however, a specific delineation of the tribal area had been lacking. The name is of Indigenous origin, referring to the Sipaliwini River, and means "river of stones or rocks". [5]

It is thought by archaeologists that hunter-gatherers lived in what is today Sipaliwini district during the Paleolithic period. [2] The region was largely left alone during the colonial period, as the Dutch that controlled Suriname were fearful of the Portuguese in Brazil, and it was not until the 20th century that development projects began.

As of 2004, there are 41 schools in the areas. An increase in schools is planned, because some children have to travel long distances by foot or boat to neighbouring villages. [3] As of 2004, there are 24 clinics in the district. [3] Medical care is provided by Medische Zending. [6] In the 1950s, Operation Grasshopper established many tiny airstrips in the district in order to make the territory accessible. [7]

Sipaliwini district had seen occasional fighting in the late 1960s between Guyanese and Surinamese troops over border disputes in the south-west Tigri Area of the Coeroeni resort. [8]

Nature

Rapids in the Tapanahony River Wild! (17546877903).jpg
Rapids in the Tapanahony River

Sipaliwini consists of large areas of tropical rain forests, mountains, and savannas. In 1998, the Central Suriname Nature Reserve was created by Conservation International and the government of Suriname from the fusion of three existing nature reserves: Ralleighvallen, Tafelberg and Eilerts de Haangebergte. [9] It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 for its pristine tropical rainforest ecosystem. It is known for its rapids and bird species, including the Guiana Cock of the Rock ( Rupicola rupicola ). [10] Over 5,000 different plants have been identified, and large mammals like the jaguar, giant armadillo, and eight species of primates. [11] A research station is located at the foot of Voltzberg and the area is tourist attraction. [10]

Knopaiamoi, one of the Tumuk Humak Mountains NMvW - Knopaiamoi (TM-10049611).jpg
Knopaiamoi, one of the Tumuk Humak Mountains

The Sipaliwini Savanna Nature Reserve has been established in 1972, and is 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi) of savannah, and the second largest in Suriname. The reserve is near pristine and offers a wide variety in flora and fauna. [12]

The Tumuk Humak Mountains are located in the southeastern part of the district, along the border with French Guiana. [13]

Administration

Until 2011, Sipaliwini was administered by one district commissioner residing in Paramaribo. In the years since, district commissioners have been appointed for each separate resort. [3]

Resorts

Resorts of Sipaliwini Sipaliwini Resorts.png
Resorts of Sipaliwini

Sipaliwini is divided into 7 resorts (ressorten):

DistrictDistrict Commissioner [14] Serving sinceMain tribes
Boven Coppename Walter Bonjaski  [ nl ]2020 [15] Kwinti and Tiriyó [16]
Boven Saramacca Erwin Linga  [ nl ]2020 [15] Matawai [3]
Boven Suriname Frits Dinge  [ nl ]2020 [15] Saamaka [3]
Coeroeni Merilu Sapa  [ nl ]2020 [15] Tiriyó [17]
Kabalebo Josta Lewis  [ nl ]2020 [15] Arawak and Warao [3]
Paramacca Osei Jabini  [ nl ]2020 [15] Paramacca [18]
Tapanahony Henk Deel  [ nl ]2021 [19] Ndyuka [3]

Villages

View of the Upper Suriname River just northeast of Nieuw Aurora, Sipaliwini Suriname River Nieuw Aurora Sipaliwini (32723202623).jpg
View of the Upper Suriname River just northeast of Nieuw Aurora, Sipaliwini
Traveling by dugout canoe from Atjoni to Gunsi on the Upper-Suriname river Upper-Suriname river (33496725576).jpg
Traveling by dugout canoe from Atjoni to Gunsi on the Upper-Suriname river

.

The district contains 156 villages. [3] All of them except for Stoelmanseiland, Villa Brazil, and Antonio do Brinco are tribal.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commewijne District</span> District of Suriname

Commewijne is a district of Suriname, located on the right bank of the Suriname River. Commewijne's capital city is Nieuw Amsterdam. Tamanredjo is another major town, while Meerzorg is the most populated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brokopondo District</span> District of Suriname

Brokopondo is a district of Suriname. Its capital city is Brokopondo; other towns include Brownsweg and Kwakoegron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coronie District</span> District of Suriname

Coronie is a district of Suriname, situated on the coast. Coronie's capital city is Totness. The district border the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the Surinamese district of Saramacca to the east, the Surinamese district of Sipaliwini to the south and the Surinamese district of Nickerie to the west. The district is served by the Totness Airstrip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marowijne District</span> District of Suriname

Marowijne is a district of Suriname, located on the north-east coast. Marowijne's capital city is Albina, with other towns including Moengo and Wanhatti. The district borders the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, the Surinamese district of Sipaliwini to the south, and the Surinamese districts of Commewijne and Para to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickerie District</span> District of Suriname

Nickerie is a district of Suriname, on the north-west coast. Nickerie's capital city is Nieuw-Nickerie. Another town is Wageningen. The district borders the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the Surinamese district of Coronie to the east, the Surinamese district of Sipaliwini to the south and the region of East Berbice-Corentyne in Guyana to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saramacca District</span> District of Suriname

Saramacca is a district of Suriname, in the north. Saramacca's capital city is Groningen, with other towns and cities including Batavia, Kampong Baroe, Uitkijk, Maho and Boskamp. Saramacca has a population of 17,480 and an area of 3,636 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiriyó people</span> Cariban ethnic group of Brazil, Suriname and Guyana

The Tiriyó are an Amerindian ethnic group native to parts of northern Brazil, Suriname, and Guyana. In 2014, there were approximately 3,640 Tiriyó in the three countries. They live in several major villages and a number of minor villages in the border zone between Brazil and Suriname. They speak the Tiriyó language, a member of the Cariban language family and refer to themselves as tarëno, etymologically 'people from here' or 'local people'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramaccan people</span> Maroon ethnic group of northeast Suriname

The Paramaccan or Paramaka are a Maroon tribe living in the forested interior of Suriname, mainly in the Paramacca resort, and the western border area of French Guiana. The Paramaccan signed a peace treaty in 1872 granting the tribe autonomy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nieuw Nickerie</span> Resort and City in Nickerie, Suriname

Nieuw Nickerie is the third largest city in Suriname with a population estimated at 12,818. It is the capital city of the Nickerie district, and the terminus of the East-West Link.

Sipaliwini Savanna, also called Sipaliwini, is a Tiriyó village on the Sipaliwini River in the Sipaliwini District of Suriname. The village lies next to the Sipaliwini Airstrip. The nearest village in Suriname is Alalapadu which is located 60 kilometres north on a map, but due to the twists and turns of the river, the town of Kwamalasamutu which lies 83 kilometres west is easier to reach. The Brazilian village of Missão can be reached by an unpaved path.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tapanahony</span> Resort in Sipaliwini District, Suriname

Tapanahoni is a resort in Suriname, located in the Sipaliwini District. Its population at the 2012 census was 13,808. Tapanahoni is a part of Sipaliwini which has no capital, but is directly governed from Paramaribo. Tapanahony is an enormous resort which encompasses a quarter of the country of Suriname. The most important town is Diitabiki which is the residence of the granman of the Ndyuka people since 1950, and the location of the oracle.

Kwamalasamutu, also Kwamalasamoetoe, is a Tiriyó Amerindian village in the Sipaliwini District of Suriname, and home to the granman of the northern Trios. Kwamalasamutu is the biggest village of the Tiriyó tribe and is located near the disputed border with Guyana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Resorts of Suriname</span> Second-level administrative division in Suriname

The ten districts of Suriname are divided into 63 resorts. Within the capital city of Paramaribo, a resort entails a neighbourhood; in other cases it is more akin to a municipality, consisting of a central place with a few settlements around it. The resorts in the Sipaliwini District are especially large, since the interior of Suriname is sparsely inhabited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coeroeni</span> Resort in Sipaliwini District, Suriname

Coeroeni is a resort in Suriname, located in the Sipaliwini District. Its population at the 2012 census was 1,046. The resort is mainly inhabited by indigenous people of the Tiriyó tribe. Kwamalasamutu is the main village of the resort and home to the granman Asongo Alalaparu.

Medische Zending Primary Health Care Suriname, commonly known as Medische Zending or MZ is a Surinamese charitable organization offering primary healthcare to remote villages in the interior of Suriname.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pamacca</span> Resort in the Sipaliwini District of Suriname

Paramacca is a resort in Suriname, located in the Sipaliwini District. The population is estimated between 1,500 and 2,000 people. In 1983, the Sipaliwini District was created, and the eastern part became the resort of Tapanahony. The Paramacca resort is the northern part of Tapanahony, and mainly inhabited by the Paramaccan people, the border of the resorts is the island of Bofoo Tabiki in the Marowijne River.

Kuruni is a village in the Coeroeni resort in the Sipaliwini District of Suriname. The village is inhabited by indigenous people of the Tiriyó tribe. The inhabitants are of the subgroup Aramayana or the Bee people.

The Sipaliwini Savanna is a protected area and nature reserve in Suriname. The reserve is located to the south of the Sipaliwini River in the far south of the country. The reserve measures 100,000 hectares, and has been a protected area since 1972. The majority of the reserve consists of a savannah which in turn is a continuation of the Brazilian Tumucumaque Mountains National Park. The reserve is in pristine condition with almost no human habitation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio do Brinco</span> Village in Sipaliwini District, Suriname

Antonio do Brinco, also Albina 2, is a garimpeiros village in the Tapanahony resort of the Sipaliwini District of Suriname. The village is located on the Lawa River, and is next to Peruano, and opposite Maripasoula in French Guiana. The village is named after Antonio with the earring who constructed the first commercial building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asongo Alalaparu</span> Surinamese traditional leader

Asongo Alalaparu, also Ashongo Alalaparoe, was a Granman of the indigenous Tiriyó people in Suriname.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Resorts in Suriname Census 2012" (PDF). Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Distrik Sipaliwini 1". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Structuur Analyse" (PDF). Planning Office Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  4. ↑ "Districtenindeling Suriname - herstel oude grenzen district Nickerie". nickerie.net (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  5. ↑ "IMWO Voorstudie Sipaliwin" (PDF). Decentralisatie (in Dutch). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  6. ↑ Map of MZ healthcare centres
  7. ↑ "Operatie sprinkhaan" (PDF). Landewers (in Dutch). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  8. ↑ "Een halve eeuw Tigri". Star Nieuws via Shoeket (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  9. ↑ "Central Suriname Nature Reserve". Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) Network. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  10. 1 2 Nature Reserve of Suriname Visit Suriname
  11. ↑ "Central Suriname Nature Reserve". Unesco.org. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  12. ↑ "Natuurreservaten Suriname". Reis Graag (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  13. ↑ Renzo Duin (November 2005). "Nieuwe etno-archaelogische vindplaatsen in het grensgebied van Suriname, Frans Guyana en Brazilië" (PDF). OSO via University of Florida. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "DNA en districten". De Nationale Assemblée (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Dc's geïnstalleerd en krijgen standplaats". Sun.sr (in Dutch). 25 August 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  16. ↑ Migge, Bettina; Léglise, Isabelle (2013). Exploring Language in a Multilingual Context: Variation, Interaction and Ideology in Language Documentation. New York: Cambridge University Press.
  17. ↑ "DORPSPLAN KWAMALASAMUTU 2011–2014" (PDF). Institute for Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR) (in Dutch). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Paamaka en Ndyuka leggen grens vast". Regional Development.gov.sr (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  19. ↑ "Dc Deel geïnstalleerd als dc van ressort Tapanahony". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). 19 March 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.