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The first Forest93 Ambassador Trip, to Kwamalasamutu

Five days in the Trio village of Kwamalasamutu in the far south of Suriname, including a boat ride and hike to the petroglyphs of Werehpai.

The group travelling upriver by boat between rocks, under a wide blue sky
When
8 March 2024 – 12 March 2024
Where
Kwamalasamutu and Werehpai, Sipaliwini
Themes

From 8 to 12 March 2024 the first Forest93 Ambassador Trip went to the indigenous village of Kwamalasamutu in the south of Suriname.

Forest93 Ambassadors Lindsey van de Wetering, Christio Wijnhard, Jean-Pierre Veira and SuperSharda visited this Trio community, joined by archaeologist Irene Meulenberg and entrepreneur Oliver Smith. Everyone came to be inspired, each for their own work and interests.

One of the highlights was the visit to the petroglyphs of Werehpai. Because the water was low, it took a 2.5-hour boat ride and another 1.5-hour hike to get there, and the group still had to head back before dusk. It was all worth it, and Irene’s knowledge as an archaeologist made the visit even more interesting.

Every ambassador brought their own passion for culture and nature. Jean-Pierre, a guide and wildlife expert, convinced SuperSharda to join him on a night walk through the forest to look for local wildlife. SuperSharda was especially interested in the village’s long-preserved culture, and talked with the women about their crafts and skills.

All videography by Kris Kromoreso.

Contributors

The ambassadors who worked on this project, and what each of them did.

  • Irene Meulenberg

    Archaeologist

    Joined the trip as archaeologist and shared her knowledge of the Werehpai petroglyphs and the pottery fragments found at the site.

  • Jean-Pierre “JeanPie” Veira

    Wildlife guide

    Guided a night walk through the forest to look for local wildlife.

  • SuperSharda (Sharda Johnn)

    Participant

    Talked with the women of Kwamalasamutu about their preserved culture, their crafts and their skills.

  • Christio Wijnhard

    Writer

    Learned about indigenous heritage from the stories shared by the Tarëno tribe.

  • Lindsey van de Wetering

    Architect

    Documented traditional building styles in the village and made a booklet of this information.

Video

Plays from YouTube
Plays from YouTube

Photos

  • The ambassadors and their companions lined up in front of the small plane that flew them south
  • Visitors and villagers talking outside a thatched building in Kwamalasamutu
  • Woven bags, beadwork and other crafts laid out on a long table
  • The guesthouse in Kwamalasamutu at dusk, a long building on stilts with a deep thatched roof and an open veranda at one end
  • Inside the guesthouse: a timber-walled corridor opening onto a covered veranda under the thatch, with a cupboard carrying Forest93 stickers reading "for us", "for our future" and "for our children"
  • Black-and-white photo of a boatman steering an outboard motor through the rapids
  • The group walking along a sandy trail through tall grass
  • Irene Meulenberg, wearing a head torch, examines pottery fragments on a rock at Werehpai
  • Three men wearing feathered headdresses and beaded sashes