“Our ancestors fought for and won their freedom from slavery and established autonomous communities. We fight for and won our right for legal recognition, controlling and managing our territory.”

Saamaka MaroonsSaamaka Maroons - PRProven Resilient
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Hugo Jabini (hyou-go yah-bee-nee)

Member of Surinam’s Parliament 

IMAGE SOURCE: “Wanze Eduards & Hugo Jabini.” Goldman Environmental Prize. 2009. | TEXT SOURCE: “Both ENDS supports Stuart Hugo Jabini.” Blog post. 5 Oct. 2011.

IMAGE SOURCE: “Wanze Eduards & Hugo Jabini.” Goldman Environmental Prize. 2009. | TEXT SOURCE: “Both ENDS supports Stuart Hugo Jabini.” Blog post. 5 Oct. 2011.

QUOTE CONTEXT: “Further steps need to be taken to empower Jabini's community and to convince the Surinam government to implement the court decision in national laws…Jabini is increasing pressure on the government, but he lacks financial support to educate his people about their new rights, and for his campaign.“

QUOTE QUESTION: Who are the ancestors that fought for your freedom and how do you honor their legacy today?

IMAGE CONTEXT: Wanze Eduards and Hugo Jabini (R) travel on the Upper Surinam River to further their work to end illegal logging on Saamaka lands.

IMAGE QUESTION: Who accompanies you in your struggles for justice?

MEDIA LITERACY CONTEXT: The quote is from an interview with a Dutch NGO. The photo is from a philanthropic organization.

MEDIA LITERACY QUESTION: What processes help you to decide which media channels can be allies for your People?

READ ABOUT HUGO JABINI’S WORK ON BEHALF OF SAAMAK SOVEREIGNTY: https://www.goldmanprize.org/recipient/wanze-eduards-hugo-jabini/

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“I know what it is like to lose land. I am from a transmigration village. We cannot let this happen again or there will be no more Saamaka people. We will be like ghosts.”