It means some sort of fish place
The area has long been used by our ancestors. The main village site of today was opened by Uncle Henry Lawrence and his sons in 1983. The Wai Wai families came to join the funding families several years afterwards.
Estimated to be 184 persons in 2015 (24 households).
The Village does not have a land title and our rights to the land and forest are highly insecure. Our land has suffered many invasions by illegal miners from Brazil and other countries. Our Village is desperately seeking legal recognition and protection for our legitimate land rights for many years, but the matter is unresolved until today. A full title boundary description has been submitted to the government and we have received promises of title, but the title is now stuck up for several years and we do not know why. The matter is now being addressed in the formal land talks between the SRDC and MIPA and is ongoing in 2017.
The Village is governed by a Council with a Toshao, Treasurer, Secretary and a Deputy Toshao with responsibilities for education (primary), health, farming as well as village assets and tools.
Farming - cassava, ground provisions, peanuts, citrus fruits, Hunting, Fishing, Gathering and Artisanal mining.
Primary School
Health Centre
Airstrip (7 miles away)
Two churches
Transport (Village tractor, ATV, boat, bicycles)
Guest House
Community based organisations
Women’s Group
Youth Group
Community Projects
Community Development Project
Village Shop building
The Village has plans to repair the village vehicle (currently not in service)
Species of importance in our area include the lovely cock of the rock bird. We are also proud that we have harpy eagles, jaguars, bush cows and ocelots among many other types of wildlife.
Photos: Farming and manor, fishing together + artisanal mining
We care for our resources though low levels of resource use mainly for subsistence needs. We feel strongly that effective protection of our land and environment must be addressed through titling and legal recognition of our land which is long overdue and so we are still vulnerable to invasion by outsiders. At the same time, we consider working and thinking together with all other Wapichan communities and the SRDC is important to defend our land and forests from harmful intrusions.