Audrey Christiaan

Audrey Christiaan
NationalitySurinamese
Occupation(s)Environmentalist; Indigenous rights activist; Politician
Political partyParty for Law and Development (PRO)

Audrey Christiaan is a Surinamese indigenous and environmental activist and politician. She is a member of the board of the Party for Law and Development (PRO) and in the 2020 elections she was a candidate in Paramaribo.

Biography

Christiaan is a daughter of the indigenous activist Thelma Christiaan-Bigiman.[1] In 2011 she took over her mother's chairmanship of the Indigenous Social-Cultural Association: Juku Jume Mar.[1] Thelma was actively involved in the Association of Indigenous Village Heads of Suriname [nl] (VIDS).[2]

In 2015, she established the Platform for Unity and Solidarity for Alliance and Progress (ESAV) (nl).[3] On 21 January 2015 in Paramaribo the party proclaimed a 15-point programme.[4] One of the central points of the programme was the recognition of indigenous peoples in the Constitution of Suriname as its first inhabitants, as well as supporting the examination of events in Surinamese history from the perspective of indigenous peoples.[4] Conservation and education are central policies in ESAV.[4] In 2017 she joined other Caribbean feminists as a panellist at the conference: "Towards a Politics of Accountability: Caribbean Feminisms, Indigenous Geographies, Common Struggles".[5]

PRO members in Lob Makandra 2019

Christiaan left the role of chairperson at ESAV to focus on a political career in March 2019.[6] She continued as chairperson of Juku Jume Mar.[6] She was elected a member of the board of the Party for Law and Development (PRO).[7] She joined the PRO because its policies on indigenous rights aligned with her own priorities.[8] In Suriname's 2020 elections she was a candidate in the Paramaribo district.[9] However, the PRO party did not acquire any seats.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Starnieuws - Kleur, zang en dans bij laatste groet tante Thelma". www.starnieuws.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  2. ^ "Starnieuws - Carifesta besproken bij VIDS-bezoek aan Moestadja". www.starnieuws.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  3. ^ "Starnieuws - Eenheid voor vooruitgang meer dan ooit gewenst". www.starnieuws.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  4. ^ a b c "Starnieuws - Surinaamse Inheemsen geven petitie aan Braziliaanse ambassadeur". www.starnieuws.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  5. ^ "Towards a Politics of Accountability: Caribbean Feminisms, Indigenous Geographies, Common Struggles". Antipode Online. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  6. ^ a b "Christiaan treedt terug als voorzitter Esav". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  7. ^ "Waarborgsom geen issue". DWTonline.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  8. ^ "PRO gaat voor regeerverantwoordelijkheid". Suriname Herald (in Dutch). 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  9. ^ "Starnieuws - Curtis Hofwijks voert de lijst van PRO aan in Paramaribo". www.starnieuws.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  10. ^ "CHS Proces Verbalen 2015 en 2020". Dagblad Suriname (in Dutch). 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2020-12-03.