For the first time in history, the Oelemarie river and its surroundings have been fully mapped by the Wayana Indigenous Peoples. This was accomplished under the coordination of the Mulokot Foundation.
From March 2nd to 10th, a team consisting of Mulokot employees, external consultant Giorgio Awankaroe, and villagers from the villages Apetina and Kawemhakan embarked on an expedition to the Oelemarie in the southeast of Suriname, through the Lawa River which merges into the Litani.
From 2020 to 2022, Mulokot conducted a series of expeditions to the Litani/Lawa, Litani/Tumac Humak Mountains & Path to Brazil, and the Palumeu/Kasikasima areas. This was done to demarcate and map the Wayana territory. In August 2022, the organization presented the map of the Wayana territory to the community. The area covers a total area of 24,865 square kilometers and represents approximately 15% of Suriname.
The second phase of the mapping project is the “Bio-cultural Monitoring System (BMS),” which documents traditional knowledge of ancestors and oral traditions. Sacred areas, hunting grounds, and historical settlements are being mapped, thereby preserving ancestral knowledge.
For 2024, depending on the water levels, expeditions are planned for June and July. These will focus on the Pimpakreek, Rosevelt Peak, and the Magnet Rocks. These areas are located near Apetina.
