The Association of Saramaka Authorities (VSG) was established in 1996 with the aim to represent the position of traditional Saamaka leaders and their people from 77 villages in relation to increasing human and land rights violations by the Surinamese state.

The VSG is committed to helping bring about sustainable community development, well-being, and prosperity for the Saamaka community and preserving the Saamaka habitat and its ecological diversity. Today, by involving with relevant partners (e.g. national and international NGOS’s) the VSG seeks to guarantee the State and private actors recognition, observance and protection of the human and territorial rights of the Saamaka peoples. Further, through their involvement with these NGO’s, it seeks to promote the social, economic, environmental, cultural and political development of the Saamaka territory according to local culture and traditions but also considering the urgency to adapt, to certain extent, local development views to modern circumstances.