Espérance, French Guiana Explained

Official Name:Espérance
Native Name:Wilamila
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:French Guiana
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in French Guiana
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:France
Subdivision Type1:Overseas region
Subdivision Name1:French Guiana
Subdivision Type2:Arrondissement
Subdivision Name2:Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
Subdivision Type3:Commune
Subdivision Name3:Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
Leader Title:Yopoto
Leader Name:Claire-Suzanne Poulin[1]
Coordinates:5.4319°N -54.0517°W

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]

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