Espérance, French Guiana

Espérance (Kalina: Wilamila[2]) is a village of Kalina Amerindians[3] in the commune of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. The village is located about 12 kilometres south of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni on the road to Saint-Jean-du-Maroni.[4]

Espérance
Wilamila
Village
Espérance is located in French Guiana
Espérance
Espérance
Location in French Guiana
Coordinates: 5.43194°N 54.05169°W / 5.43194; -54.05169
CountryFrance
Overseas regionFrench Guiana
ArrondissementSaint-Laurent-du-Maroni
CommuneSaint-Laurent-du-Maroni
Government
 • YopotoClaire-Suzanne Poulin[1]

Overview

About 200 Kalinas used to live on Île Portal, an island in the Maroni River. The island on which they lived was bought[5] by SCI de Provence.[6] In 1981, they were removed from the island and resettled in Espérance.[3]

Espérance has a school.[7] The village can be accessed by an unpaved road. Two companies are located near the village, and their heavy trucks make the road impassable. In 2006, the main road to Saint-Jean-du-Maroni was blocked by the villagers.[8] In 2020, Claire-Suzanne Poulin was elected Yopoto (village chief). Poulin aims to open a heritage school in the village where the Kalina language and traditions are taught.[9]

References
  1. "Vaccination : mieux comprendre et répondre aux peurs des patients". Blad (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  2. "Interview de Christine Alima, Présidente de l'Organisation des Femmes Autochtones de Guyane". Radioka (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  3. Odile Renault-Lescuie (1985). "La question amérindien en Guyane française" (PDF). Ethies (in French). Vol. 1. p. 20. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  4. "Saint-Laurent du Maroni". Americas-fr (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  5. P. F. Grenand and P. Menget (1985). "La question amérindien en Guyane française" (PDF). Ethies (in French). Vol. 1. p. 55. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  6. "Conseil d'Etat, 10 / 9 SSR, du 16 février 2000, 147948, mentionné aux tables du recueil Lebon". Légifrance (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021. Legal document from 2000 which states that SCI de Provence owns the whole island
  7. "Ecole élémentaire Espérance (97320, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni)". Journal des Femmes (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  8. "Village Espérance : le ras-le-bol des habitants". 97320.com (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  9. "Espérance célèbre l'anniversaire de l'investiture de Claire-Suzannne Poulin". France Guyane (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2021.


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