Agriculture itinérante sur brûlis (AIB) et plantes cultivées sur le haut Maroni: étude comparée chez les Aluku et les Wayana en Guyane française

Abstract

Résumé: Vers la fin du 18 e siècle, les Noirs marrons Aluku, descendants d'esclaves rebelles fuyant les plantations hollandaises et les Amérindiens Wayana, arrivant du Brésil, où ils fuyaient les chasseurs d'esclaves, se sont rencontrés sur le haut Maroni, en Guyane française. Ce partage d'un même lieu de vie a été l'occasion d'échanger un grand nombre de techniques, notamment en ce qui concerne l'agriculture itinérante sur brûlis, et les plantes cultivées. Toutefois notre étude montre que le culte des ancêtres chez les Noirs marrons a modifié leur cycle cultural (via la culture du riz), influençant ainsi leur gestion de l'environnement. De même la nature et la diversité des plantes cultivées diffèrent sensiblement en fonction des usages traditionnels et habitudes culinaires des deux sociétés. Les Aluku ont sélectionné de nombreuses espèces et variétés de plantes qui leur sont propres et sont liées à leurs racines africaines. Les Amérindiens cultivent des plantes spécifiques utiles au chamanisme (tabac) et à leur artisanat traditionnel. De plus, leur perception de la nature implique des pratiques cultuelles différentes notamment avant le défrichage. Cette étude illustre l'influence de la diversité culturelle sur la gestion de l'agrobiodiversité et, de manière plus générale, sur l'adaptation de l'homme à son environnement. Mots clés:Agriculture itinérante sur brûlis. Abattis. Guyane Française. Noir marrons aluku. Amérindiens wayana. Plantes cultivées.Agrobiodiversité. Abstract:In the late 18 th century, Aluku Maroons, descendants of rebel slaves from Dutch plantations and Wayana Indians, fleeing from Brazilian slave hunters met on the upper Maroni in French Guiana. They shared the river and several techniques of subsistence, including slash and burn agriculture, and cultived plants. However our study shows that ancestor worship among the Maroons impacts their crop cycle (through the cultivation of rice) and influences their environmental management. Similarly the nature and diversity of crops differs significantly based on traditional cooking habits and practices of both populations. Aluku selected a lot of species and varieties of plants that are their own and are linked to their African roots. The Indians grow useful plants specific to shamanism (tobacco) and their traditional crafts. Moreover, their perception of nature involves different cultural practices including before clearing. This study illustrates the influence of cultural diversity on the management of agro-biodiversity and more generally on the adaptation of man to his environment. v. 11, n. 2, p. 431-465, maio-ago. 2016.

Hidden Rice Diversity in the Guianas

“…Since the 1936 expedition by Vaillant, our study is the first inventory of Ndyuka Maroon rice that is supported by herbarium vouchers, living seeds safeguarded at a germplasm institute and genetic analysis. We rediscovered only seven of the ± 30 Ndyuka rice names documented by Vaillant (1948), five of the 21 Aluku names listed by Fleury (2016), four of the 25 Saramaccan names of Baumgart et al (1998) and five of the 23 Ndyuka names published by Geijskes (1955). On the other hand, 15 of the local rice names that we documented had never been reported before.…”

“…Anthropologists Hurault (1965), Bilby et al (1989), and Price (1993) mentioned Maroon rice diversity, but hardly published any landrace names. Biologist Geijskes (1955) recorded 23 names of rice varieties along the Maroni River, and anthropologist Fleury (2016) listed 21 names among the Aluku on the Lawa River, but no herbarium or seed collections were made. The only expedition to collect Maroon rice varieties was carried out by Baumgart et al (1998) along the upper Suriname River, who deposited their samples at the SNRI/ADRON seed bank.…”

Capítulo 10: Interconexiones críticas entre la diversidad cultural y biológica de los pueblos y ecosistemas Amazónicos

“…or caboclos have also developed sophisticated agricultural and agroforestry systems, contributing to the rich agrobiodiversity represented in the region. A study of the Aluku Maroons (Afro-descendant group) of French Guiana documented 38 cultivated crops, with 156 varieties (Fleury 2016). Further research for the documentation and "in-situ" conservation of these varieties should be a priority, respecting IPLCs intellectual property rights over these important genetic resources (Santilli 2012).…”

Vernacular names of traditional rice varieties reveal the unique history of Maroons in Suriname and French Guiana

“…Similar percentages are found for all Maroon groups, including for the two most frequent categories: morphology (between 31% and 35% for all groups) and female (between 15% and 22%). For the Aluku, the percentage in the category 'other' are relatively high, because most names collected by Fleury (2016) were not translated, and we did not do eldwork among Aluku farmers. The Matawai have a relatively high score in the male category, because their awned rice was called bia bia ('young man' or 'beard') and we scored this as an association to males…”