small in size and usually do not reflect the full territories of Amerindian Peoples. We might want to apply for
extensions if that is the case, so we can have our objections on the record and show we have taken all steps
possible under national law. But this can be a very slow process and some Amerindians do not find it helpful;
and
2) Documenting the nature of our customary laws, uses and properties. Few non-Indigenous people
understand how subtle and complex our laws and tenures are. We can help them to understand by:
•
Publishing our own studies. In 2009, the Lokono People of West Suriname produced a 180-page report
describing how they have traditionally used and occupied their territories. Local researchers interviewed
many different members of the community to gather information, elders took the team on village walks,
and stories or legends about the history of the area and the Lokono People were written down;
•
Using information from other studies and records that show or talk about our use of the territory. This is
sometimes called “archival research.” Sources of this information might be books about our country or
region, old maps by the Government of Guyana, and even documents or maps from colonial times, when
the British ruled Guyana;
•
Mapping is one of the best ways to demonstrate the extent of our territorial rights. We can create our
own map to demarcate our territories and to demonstrate to outsiders our customary land and resource
rights! Figure 1 below shows a map created by the Baka and Bantu Peoples in Cameroon and shares
important lessons on Indigenous mapping;
•
We can take some of these steps on our own. For others, we
might need technical support, funding and help from experts.
There are people who can help, but it can take time to find
them, so starting to look earlier is best.
2.2a Lessons from Indigenous mapping
Participatory mapping has been widely used by Indigenous Peoples,
including in parts of Guyana. In 1995, the Akawaio and Arekuna People
in the Upper Mazaruni began mapping their territories with the help of
the APA, the Forest Peoples Programme, and others. They decided to
do this to demonstrate how they have owned and used their territories
and resources for generations. For nine months, they used a technology
called Global Positioning System (GPS) to map the boundaries of their
territories, to show where their people lived then and in the past, and to
map natural resources and cultural sites.14
GPS is now relatively cheap, quick and simple to use. It is also the most
accurate because when you stand in a spot, like a cultural site, with a
small machine, it gives you the site’s exact map coordinates. If we can’t
access GPS right away, we can start with hand-drawn community maps,
or draw on maps the APA has already created. If someone from our
community can access the Internet we can use free computer programs,
such as one called Google Earth, to print basic maps that we can add to
together as a community. An example of a GPS map is shown below.
Among the most important lessons for Indigenous mappers are:
•
Make sure that the maps are made with the full awareness and
agreement, and under the control of, the communities involved;
Who to involve in mapping
•
•
•
•
Make sure that all generations
are involved. Elders are often
the most knowledgeable
about sites of historical and
cultural importance;
Involve both men and
women in mapping. Men and
women tend to use lands and
resources differently – both
systems are important and
both need protection;
Where two or more ethnic
groups use the same area,
involve all in the mapping.
Each has rights. Asserting the
rights of only one group is
likely to lead to conflict and
can weaken the claims of each
of them; and
Involve neighbouring
communities in mapping
boundaries that run alongside
our lands. If boundaries are
disputed later by neighbours,
land claims are likewise
weakened.
14 See Griffiths, 2002.
12
Free, Prior and Informed Consent