French Guiana (France): Indigenous peoples

Last modified: 2021-07-10 by ivan sache
Keywords: indigenous peoples |
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Flag of the indigenous peoples in French Guiana - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 11 February 2017

• Presentation of the indigenous peoples in French Guiana
• Flag of the indigenous peoples in French Guiana
• Nono'l Dupo Wa

See also:

• French Guiana

Presentation of the indigenous peoples in French Guiana

There are about 9,000 indigenous inhabitants in French Guiana (about 5% of the total population), divided into six ethnic groups:
- Kali'na (3,000), from the Cariban language family;
- Wayana (1,000), from the Cariban language family;
- Teko / Emerillon (3,000), from the Tupi-Guarani language family;
- Wayãpi (500), from the Tupi-Guarani language family;
- Palikur / Paykweneh (600), from the Arawak language family;
- Lokono / Arawak (300), from the Arawak language family.

The indigenous peoples are represented and have their rights promoted by two main organizations:
- FOAG (Fédération des Organisations Amérindiennes de Guyane / Federation of Amerindian Organizations of Guiana), established in 1981 as AAGF (Association des Amérindiens de Guyane française /Association of Amerindians from French Guiana) and renamed in 1992;
- ONAG (Organisation des Nations Autochtones de Guyane / Organization of the Autochthonous Nations of Guiana), established in 2010 as a splinter from the FOAG.
Since 2016, however, the two organisations have been more and more working together.

Olivier Touzeau, 11 February 2017

Flag of the indigenous peoples in French Guiana

A flag representing the six indigenous peoples of French Guiana is used in various demonstrations and events organized by the ONAG and the FOAG (photo, official poster).
Rather complex in its design, the flag, in proportions 3:4, displays the names of the six nations, with one color for each linguistic group (green for Cariban, purple for Tupi-Guarani, and yellow for Arawak) and the two nations of each linguistic group on the opposite side of the flag. The central circle with a compass rose in the middle features one emblem for each nation.

Olivier Touzeau, 11 February 2017

Nono'l Dupo Wa

Flag of Nono'l Dupo Wa, two versions - Images by Olivier Touzeau, 26 February 2017

Bellevue, located 10 km west of Iracoubo, is the most important of the Galibi villages of Iracoubo established along National Road No. 1 (the coastal road). Bellevue got its name ("Nice view") from its location on a small hill overlooking the road.
According to its official registration logged on 24 November 2017 and published on 9 December 2017 in the French official gazette (text), the aims of Association Nono'l Dupo Wa are:
- to organize the Bellevue Yanu market, including exhibition and sales of the culinary, traditional and agricultural knowledge;
- to foster socio-cultural and educative exchanges inside and outside the village;
- to foster the village's economical development;
- to organize sport and culture events.

The flag of Nono'l Dupo Wa is red, or white, ith the association's emblem in the center.

Valentin Poposki, Olivier Touzeau & Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021