Jupta Itoewaki

Why you should listen

Jupta Itoewaki lives in Suriname, South America. She is an Indigenous woman from the Wayana People living in the remote southern region of the country. She has served her community for more than a decade as a facilitator, trainer, interpreter and assistant of the Paramount Chief. She is the president of Mulokot Foundation, a community-based organization set up to support the Wayana People and help achieve their development aims.

Itoewaki has a background in social cultural education and has received additional training on biodiversity, sustainable forest management, human rights, primary health care and gender mainstreaming. In 2018, she was the first Wayana to be selected as a fellow by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nation and participated in the annual Indigenous Fellowship Program. In 2020, she was the recipient of the Golden Gavel Award for her work in the field of environmental protection.