{{Short description|Surinamese traditional leader}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Asongo Alalaparu | native_name = Ashongo Alalaparoe <!-- used as alternative (Dutch based) spelling --> | image = Asongo Alalaparu (2020).jpg | caption = Alalaparu in 2020 | office = Granman of the Tiriyó in Suriname | predecessor = ''Office established'' | successor = Jimmy Toeroemang | term_start = 15 January 1997 | term_end = 18 September 2021 | birth_name = | birth_date = 1941-42 | birth_place = Surinam | death_date = 21 November 2021 (aged 79) | death_place = Lelydorp, Suriname | alma_mater = | website = | children = | parents = }}
'''Asongo Alalaparu''', also '''Ashongo Alalaparoe'''<ref name="dewest"/> (1941–42 – 21 November 2021), was a Granman (paramount leader) of the indigenous Tiriyó people in Suriname.
He led the Tiriyó from 1997 to 2021 from his residence in Kwamalasamutu.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vids.sr/about/dorpsbesturen/ |title=Dorpen en Dorpsbesturen|website=Vereniging van Inheemse Dorpshoofden in Suriname|access-date=23 March 2021|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=22 November 2021|title=Oud-Trio-granman Ashongo Alalaparoe (79) overleden - Alalaparoe was van grote betekenis voor de Trio-gemeenschappen|url=https://www.dbsuriname.com/2021/11/22/oud-trio-granman-ashongo-alalaparoe-79-overleden-alalaparoe-was-van-grote-betekenis-voor-de-trio-gemeenschappen/|access-date=23 November 2021|work=Dagblad Suriname|language=nl}}</ref> During his rule, the Tiriyó established new small villages in the interior of Suriname.<ref name="mans">{{cite thesis|last=Mans| first=Jimmy |title=Amotopoan trails : a recent archaeology of Trio movements|publisher=University of Leiden|url=https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/19857/05.pdf;sequence=10| degree=phd|year=2012|page=129|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="DWT2021">De Ware Tijd, [http://www.dwtonline.com/laatste-nieuws/2021/09/17/jimmy-toeroemang-(30)-nieuwe-granman-kwamalasamutu/ Jimmy Toeroemang (30) nieuwe granman Kwamalasamutu], Audry Wajwakana, 17 September 2021</ref>
==Biography== Alalaparu was born in 1941 or 42 as a member of the Tiriyó tribe.<ref name="db">{{cite news|title=Oud-Trio-granman Ashongo Alalaparoe (79) overleden – Alalaparoe was van grote betekenis voor de Trio-gemeenschappen|language=nl|url=https://www.dbsuriname.com/2021/11/22/oud-trio-granman-ashongo-alalaparoe-79-overleden-alalaparoe-was-van-grote-betekenis-voor-de-trio-gemeenschappen/|access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref> This tribe lived in the border area of Suriname and Brazil, and had been contacted in the early 20th century.<ref name="grammar">{{cite thesis|url=https://etnolinguistica.wdfiles.com/local--files/tese%3Ameira-1999/meira_1999_tiriyo.pdf |title=A Grammar of Tiriyó|author=Sergio Meira|publisher=Rice University|year=1999}}</ref>{{rp|12}} In 1959, airfields were built in the interior of Suriname as part of Operation Grasshopper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://landewers.net/grasshopper.pdf|title=Operatie sprinkhaan|author=Arno Landewers|publisher=Landewers.net|page=2|access-date=24 November 2021|language=nl|archive-date=8 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808125605/http://www.landewers.net/grasshopper.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> In that same year, the Door-to-Life Gospel Mission was given permission to work among the Tiriyó.<ref name="grammar"/>{{rp|14}} In 1961, American missionaries convinced the Tiriyó tribe to abandon their small villages, and settle in one big modern village.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mans |first1=Jimmy |last2=Carlin |first2=Eithne B. |year=2015|title=Movement through Time in the Southern Guianas: Deconstructing the Amerindian Kaleidoscope |url=https://www.academia.edu/10673618 |location=Leiden |publisher=Brill |page=94|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref>
The Tiriyó tribe did not have a clear hierarchy; therefore, President Wijdenbosch appointed Alalaparu as Granman of the tribe on 15 January 1997, and installed Captains to serve as village chiefs.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Heemskerk |first1=Marieke |last2=Delvoye |first2=Katia |year=2007 |title=Trio Baseline Study: A sustainable livelihoods perspective on the Trio Indigenous Peoples of South Suriname |url=http://www.act-suriname.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Trio-Baseline-Study_2007.pdf |location=Paramaribo |publisher=Stichting Amazon Conservation Team-Suriname|page=3|access-date=23 March 2021 }}</ref>
The main problems facing the tribe are food shortages,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nickerie.net/News2008/2008-05-07%20-%20dwt%20-%20Voedselschaarste%20Kabalebo%20gebied%20dreigt.htm |title=Voedselschaarste Kabalebo gebied dreigt|website=De Ware Tijd via Nickerie.net|access-date=23 March 2021|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gfcnieuws.com/kwamalasemutu-produceert-hooglandrijst-om-voedseltekorten-te-voorkomen/ |title=Kwamalasemutu produceert hooglandrijst om voedseltekorten te voorkomen |website=GFC Nieuws|access-date=23 March 2021|language=nl}}</ref> the activities of ''garimpeiros'' (illegal gold miners),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://parbode.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Deelstudie.pdf |author=Marieke Heemskerk|title=Kleinschalige Goudwinning in Suriname |publisher=Project Strategische Analyse en Participatief Actieplan voor Zuidoost Suriname|access-date=23 March 2021|language=nl}}</ref> and logging companies.<ref name="dewest">{{cite news|url=https://dagbladdewest.com/2015/03/05/inheems-verbond-moet-bos-zuid-suriname-ontzien/ |title=Inheems verbond moet bos Zuid-Suriname ontzien|website=Dagblad De West|access-date=23 March 2021|language=nl}}</ref> In order to prevent soil depletion as well as defend tribal land against gold miners and tourist lodges, Granman Alalaparu encouraged the founding of new villages in the interior.<ref name="mans"/> Villages which were established during this period include Alalapadu, Sipaliwini Savanna, Vier Gebroeders, Kuruni, Amotopo and Wanapan.<ref name="oas"/>
At a 2005 meeting with the Organization of American States, Alalaparu expressed his desire to connect the villages with footpaths and link up to the Guyanese border. He also emphasized the potential danger of Kwamalasamutu and Pelelu Tepu, the two major villages on the Surinamese side, becoming divided by land not under tribal ownership.<ref name="oas">{{cite web|url=http://www.oas.org/dsd/Working%20Documents/english/_A4%5B1%5D.1__Meeting%20on%20Land%20Protection%20and%20Land%20Management.pdf |title=Meeting on land management and protection with Trio leaders |publisher=Organization of American States|date=20 October 2005|access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref> In 2012, Alalaparu protested against plans to build hydroelectric dams on the Tapanahony River near tribal villages.<ref name="db"/>
In 2015, President Bouterse awarded Alalaparu the Grand Cordon of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/32328 |title=Bouterse emotioneel bij decoratie granman Alalaparu|website=Star Nieuws|access-date=23 March 2021|language=nl}}</ref> After Alalaparu's repeated requests to the government,<ref>Starnieuws, [https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/49865 Granman Alalaparu van de Trio's trekt aan de bel], 16 november 2018</ref> Kwamalasamutu received a tap water system ahead of the 2020 elections.<ref>GFC Nieuws, [https://www.gfcnieuws.com/kwamalasemutu-voorzien-van-veilig-drinkwater/ Kwamalasemutu voorzien van veilig drinkwater], 29 januari 2020</ref> He also promoted the planting of highland rice to increase food self-sufficiency.<ref>GFC Nieuws, [https://www.gfcnieuws.com/kwamalasemutu-produceert-hooglandrijst-om-voedseltekorten-te-voorkomen/ Kwamalasemutu produceert hooglandrijst om voedseltekorten te voorkomen], 28 december 2019</ref>
On 15 June 2017, Alalaparu named his grandson Jimmy Toeroemang as successor, due to Alalaparu's health.<ref>{{cite news|title=Granman Alalaparu stelt opvolger voor|language=nl|website=Star Nieuws|url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/41880|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> On 18 September 2021, Alalaparu formally handed over his granmanship to Toeroemang. As family members are not usually considered successors in Tiriyó tradition, Alalaparu obtained the assent from a large part of the community beforehand.<ref name="DWT2021" />
Alalaparu died on 21 November 2021, in Regional Hospital Wanica, from COVID-19-related complications.<ref name="db" />
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Alalaparu, Asongo}} Category:1940s births Category:2021 deaths Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Suriname Category:Year of birth missing Category:Place of birth missing Category:Granman Category:Grand Cordons of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star Category:Tiriyó people Category:Surinamese people of indigenous peoples descent