Ethnoecology, Resource Use, Conservation And Development In A ...

Makushi, although I met Wapishana people there who have married in from other
villages.
Shulinab and its satellite settlements, including Baitoon, are situated close to
Saruwa'o creek and next to the main Dadanawa-Lethem road. The fairly small
Wapishana village of Parikwarawaunau is situated several miles away, also close to
Saruwa'o. People of these villages farm in the gallery forests lining this creek or on
small mountains forming part of the foothills of the Kanukus. Fairly nearby, to the
south, is Potarinau, often referred to as Ambrose, which was the name of its first
toushao. Residents of this village farm in bush islands, which are common in this area
and fairly extensive. Also dependent on bush islands for access to forests are
residents of two villages on the Sawariwau creek, Sawariwau and Katoonarib, which
latter name in fact derives from the Wapishana term for these formations. While each
has its own council, Katoonarib apparently falls within the official boundaries of
Sawariwau reservation, while Sawariwau itself lies outside these (ARU 1992: 4). Also
in this area is the small village of Shiriri, in the heart of the savannahs close to the
mountain of the same name. This village was founded within the last few decades,
and is not officially recognised by central government. The most populous Wapishana
village is Sand Creek, located at the mouth of Sand Creek River (Katuwa'o) where it
meets the Rupununi. Farms are located either in the nearby foothills of the Kanuku
Mountains or in riparian forest along the banks of the Rupununi. Many of these farms
are located at considerable distances from the village, and large numbers are outside
the boundaries of the reservation, the majority of which is savannah land and which
incorporates insufficient forest to meet local needs. Sand Creek also administers the
satellite settlements of Small Sand Creek and Santa Cruz, an Amerindian-owned
ranching settlement whose grazing lease adjoins the reservation to the south. Also
outside the boundaries and without official recognition or land title are several small
and reportedly fairly insular settlements on the Maparri creek in the Kanuku
mountains (see Anselmo and Mackay 1999: 20). To the east of Sand Creek village
lies the village of Rupunau, which consists of four main settlements under the
administration of a single council. This village is not officially recognised and has no
title. These communities, along with Dadanawa and other ranches in the vicinity,
collectively form the South-Central sub-district, one of five major administrative
divisions of Region 9. The indigenous population has organised along the lines
suggested by this political division in the form of the South-Central Indigenous
Peoples Association (SCIPA) which elects a chief of chiefs for the sub-district. It is