Apatou

Apatou is a commune in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France in South America. Apatou is home to Maroons of different tribes. Apatou contains Aluku, Paramacca, Ndyuka, and Sarmaka people.[1]

Apatou
Commune
Canoe taxis at Apatou
Location of the commune (in red) within French Guiana
Location of Apatou
Coordinates: 5°09′12″N 54°20′10″W
CountryFrance
Overseas region and departmentFrench Guiana
ArrondissementSaint-Laurent-du-Maroni
IntercommunalityOuest Guyanais
Government
 • Mayor (2014-2020) Paul Dolianki
Area
1
2,020 km2 (780 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
8,826
 • Density4.4/km2 (11/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−03:00
INSEE/Postal code
97360 /97317
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

The town of Apatou was founded in 1812 as Moutende. It was renamed after Captain Apatou of the Alukus.[1] In the late 19th century, Aluku was a guide for the explorer Jules Crevaux. In 1898 Apatou mediated between France and the Colony of Suriname with regards to the border, and allied the Aluku with France.[2] He also united all the different tribes on the French side.[1]

Apatou was up to 1969 part of the Inini territory which allowed for an autonomous and self sufficient tribal system for the Maroons without clear borders.[3] Along with the commune, came a government structure, and francisation. Most importantly, it lead to the concentration in bigger villages and the near abandonment of smaller settlements.[3]

The commune of Apatou was created on 12 November 1976 by detaching its territory from the commune of Grand-Santi-Papaichton (since then renamed Grand-Santi).[1]

Transport
Apatou, 2004

The villages in the commune could only to be reached by boat from the Maroni River.[1] In 2010, Route Nationale 5 opened connecting Apatou with Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, and the road network of French Guiana. The road was opened with the Tour of Guiana.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Guide Apatou". Petit Futé (in French). Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  2. New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids, vol 78 issue 3-4 (1 January 2004). "The explorer as hero: 'Le Fidèle Apatou' in the French wilderness". Brill. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  3. "The Aluku and the Communes in French Guiana". Cultural Survival. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  4. "La route d'Apatou raccommodée". Guyane la Première (in French). Retrieved 6 June 2020.
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