Help protect indigenous lands: Short documentary

voor meer info incl de trailer

Empower Indigenous women leadership!

Hi my name is Jeisson Drenth. You can find more info about me at the bottom of the page. I'm fundraising for my dear friend Chautuileo Tranamil to support her and her team in their process of advocating for Indigenous rights and nature rights.

Chautuileo is the co-founder of Indigenous Liberation Movement. She is known for Indigenous advocacy and public speaking around the world. In her last public speech, she requested the audience in “The Voice of the Nature” at Allard Pierson Museum for urgent support.

Just six weeks ago Suriname's current president Chan Santokhi signed a 'Concept Mineral Agreement' with multinational Chinalco. On approval of the National Assemblee (DNA) this agreement will grant a foreign corporate entity exclusive rights for thirty years(!!!) to extraction and exportation of Bauxite (sedimentary rock high in aluminum content).

This will harm three indigenous communities: Kalinya, Lokono and the Trio peoples from Suriname. They have been given 90 days to defend themselves and the environment from another invasive, extractive, capitalist deal that harms natural life and future. Chautuileo mentioned:

“I was listening not only to the voice of nature. But also the cry for help shared by Indigenous female youth leaders. There is no way I can’t act.”

Chautuileo has fundraised her ticket and she will be traveling with an Indigenous filmmaker.

Also the filmmaker feels the responsibility to act now.

“As a filmmaker of Indigenous heritage from Suriname, I believe in the power of storytelling to create change. This isn’t just about exposing injustice—it’s also about showing the beauty of the land, the strength of the people, and the culture they are trying to protect. Indigenous women like Chau are leading this fight, but their efforts often remain unseen and unsupported. By documenting their work, I can help bring their voices to a global audience and ensure their struggle reaches the people and institutions that can make a difference.”

The mission is to gather testimonials and data to present to the world. In this way, the world is invited to listen to women like Chautuileo and the Indigenous women she works with. They will be filmed during their journey of defense. After having invested a lot herself- Chautuileo is missing a final chunk of funding. It's crucial for Indigenous earth defenders to work in a safe environment like everybody else. They will be presenting their findings to the UN Human Rights Observer.

The basic costs are covered, yet, what about Indigenous themselves? They work for Mother Earth. Worldwide more than 15 % of Indigenous peoples face extreme poverty. They are willing to face all challenges without equal treatment. Your donation will help them along their way. Your support will cover the Earth Defending Fee for the two Indigenous women for their efforts and it will be documented by the Indigenous filmmaker who is joining her. By creating a short documentary film to help preserve and protect indigenous lands and communities, not only in Surinam, but worldwide.

The footage we collect will be used to tell this story in the most impactful way possible. A short documentary will help raise awareness and put pressure on decision-makers. Visual evidence will strengthen UN reports and human rights cases.

It will also support Indigenous-led campaigns that are challenging this law on legal and environmental grounds. By working with international media, we can ensure that this issue doesn’t remain invisible outside of Suriname. Let’s support and follow this amazing case for climate justice and Indigenous rights and lets endorse this uprising of Indigenous women.

Would you be able to support these Indigenous women in any way? Due to safety, we are running this crowdfund through an ally and close friend.

Update:

9355 total costs (4.5K confirmed, lets do the crowdfund!)

For more information:

Article on the mineralagreement by Chautuileo

For updates please follow:

Instagram: Indigenous Liberation Movement

Instagram: Chautuileo

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More about the Fundraiser:

Hi, my name is Jeisson Drenth. I live in Amsterdam where I work as an artist. My creative work originates from research into (my) adoption, my ancestry, pre-Columbian and other colonial collections in Europe. I'm fundraising for my dear friend Chautuileo to support her and her team in their process of advocating for Indigenous rights and nature rights.

I'm very happy that I can help a bit by running this gofundme for Chautuileo. I hereby warmly invite you to support all the efforts in standing up for indigenous rights, future, life. Any amount (really!) is super helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thank you!