Paramaccan people
The Paramaccan or Paramaka (French: Pamak[3]) are a Maroon tribe living in the forested interior of Suriname, mainly in the Pamacca resort,[4][5] and the western border area of French Guiana.[3] The Paramaccan signed a peace treaty in 1872 granting the tribe autonomy.
Meeting under a pole dwelling in Langatabiki (1947) | |
Total population | |
---|---|
11,000[1] (2014, est.) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Pamacca, Suriname | 4,300 |
Urban French Guiana | 3,900 |
Languages | |
Paramaccan | |
Religion | |
Christianity, Winti | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Ndyuka |
Granman of the Paramaccan people | |
---|---|
Residence | Langatabiki |
Overview
The administrative centre for the tribe is located in Snesiekondre,[6] but the main village of the resort is Langatabiki which is also the residence of the granman (paramount chief) of the Paramaccan people.[7] The tribe controls 13 villages.[8]
The total population in 2014 was estimated at 11,000 people with 4,300 people living in the tribal areas in Suriname, and 1,000 living in the interior of French Guiana.[1]
History
The Paramaccans were runaway slaves from the Handtros or Entros plantation who fled around 1830.[9] In 1856, the August Kappler reported that the tribe had established villages near the Paramacca Creek.[10] In 1872, they had signed a peace treaty with the Dutch colony giving the tribe autonomy,[11] and Frans Kwaku, the leader of the expedition to Paramaribo, was officially appointed granman by the Governor.[10] In 1879, a group of about 90 Paramaccans lead by Apensa created a settlement on an island in the Marowijne River near the mouth of the Paramacca Creek. The town was named Langatabiki (Long Island).[12] During the Surinamese Interior War, the Paramaccans sided with the Jungle Commando,[13] which resulted in a large migration to French Guiana.[3]
Language
Paramaccan is also the eponymous term for their language, which is English-based[14] with influences from Dutch, African languages,[15] and other languages. It is similar to the languages spoken by the Ndyuka and Kwinti, and mutually intelligible with Sranan Tongo.[16] Paramaccan is the youngest of the Surinamese pidgin languages.[17] The language had an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 speakers in 1991.[18]
See also
References
- Richard Price. "The Maroon Population Explosion: Suriname and Guyane". Brill Publishers. New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids Volume 87: Issue 3-4. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
- "Pamaka stam in Suriname heeft nieuwe granman". Waterkant (in Dutch).
- "Pamak". Populations de Guyane (in French). Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- "Distrikt Sipaliwini". Suriname.nu (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- "Paamaka en Ndyuka leggen grens vast". Regional Development.gov.sr (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- "Bestuurscentra Sipaliwini bouwtechnisch opgeleverd". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- "Planning Office Suriname - Districts" (PDF). Planning Office Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- Plan Bureau 2014, p. 169.
- Marten & Schalkwijk 2018, p. 3.
- Marten & Schalkwijk 2018, p. 19.
- Marten & Schalkwijk 2018, p. 19, :"Original publication:Koloniaal Verslag van 1872 page 543"
- "Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië - Page 155 - Boschnegers" (PDF). Digital Library for Dutch Literature (in Dutch). 1916. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- Thoden van Velzen 1988, p. 215.
- Borges 2014, p. 124.
- Borges 2014, p. 167.
- Jacques Arends (1989). "Syntactic Developments in Sranan". Digital Library for Dutch Literature. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- Borges 2014, p. 187.
- "Languages of Surinam". Suriname.nu. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
Bibliography
- Borges, Roger (2014). The Life of Language. Dynamics of language contact in Suriname (PDF) (Thesis). Utrecht: Radboud University Nijmegen.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Marten, J.; Schalkwijk, W. (19 June 2018). Conference on Slavery, Indentured Labour, Migration, Diaspora and Identity Formation. Anton de Kom University.
- Plan Bureau (2014). "Planning Office Suriname - Districts 2009-2013" (PDF). Planning Office Suriname (in Dutch).
- Thoden van Velzen, Bonno (1988). "De Brunswijk-opstand: Antropologische kanttekeningen bij de Surinaamse burgeroorlog". University of Groningen (in Dutch). Sociologische Gids.