working day and be paid by the State.63 It should be noted that the Court has verified that this bill did not include the recognition of the indigenous and tribal peoples as juridical persons or their rights to lands, resources and communal lands. 56. In this regard, a letter that Martin Misiedjan, President of the Land Rights Bureau, and State agent for this case, addressed to indigenous and Maroon communities indicated that the draft bill had been prepared without the contribution of indigenous and Maroon communities and they were therefore invited to a meeting to discuss the draft. 64 Nevertheless, the Court has no information regarding to whom the invitation was addressed, whether the meeting was held, and the results. 57. The Court also takes note that, on October 1, 2014, Martin Misiedjan sent a letter to the Executive Director of Conservation International Suriname requesting funding for future meetings with the indigenous and Maroon communities in relation to the draft bill.65 However, the Court has no further information concerning this request. D. The steps taken by the indigenous peoples to obtain recognition of their rights 58. In the following section, the Court will refer to diverse social protests, and administrative petitions and judicial proceedings filed before the State authorities in relation to the land claimed in this case, by which the Kaliña and Lokono peoples demanded recognition of their rights by domestic law and practice. D.1 Steps taken prior to the acceptance of the Court’s jurisdiction (November 12, 1987) 59. The steps taken by the Kaliña and Lokono peoples to obtain recognition of their rights began prior to the independence of the State of Suriname, which was achieved November 25, 1975. In 1972, they filed various petition before the Independence Commission in which they denounced, among other matters, that classifying indigenous territory as State-owned lands was unjust.66 60. In 1975 and 1976, they filed three cases before domestic courts to claim their rights to ancestral lands, which were rejected, citing lack of legal grounds. 67 61. In 1976, the Kaliña and Lokono peoples took part in a 142-kilometer march from Albina to Paramaribo to protest against the violation of their land rights by the creation of the Galibi Nature Reserve in 1969, as well as the sub-division and parceling of the villages of Erowarte, Marijkedorp (Wan Shi Sha), Tapuku and Pierrekondre. The State’s response was that the indigenous peoples had no land rights and, therefore, no objection was admissible.68 Also, in 1978, the Kaliña and Lokono peoples, together with other indigenous peoples and Maroons, 63 Cf. Articles 1, 2, 5, 7 and 8, Draft Bill on Traditional Authorities of June 3, 2014 (merits file, folios 848 to 850). 64 Cf. Letter dated July 30, 2014, Ref.: 038-14/KB/BG (evidence file, folio 3000). 65 Cf. Letter dated October 1, 2014, Ref.: 057/14/KB/BG (evidence file, folios 3001 and 3002). 66 Cf. Affidavit made by Loreen Jubitana on January 27, 2015 (merits file, folio 431). 67 Namely: Case of No. 165, Association of Indigenous Peoples v. Suriname, March 17, 1975; Association of Indigenous Peoples v. Suriname, A.R. No. 754180, September 26, 1975; and Association of Indigenous Peoples v. Suriname, A.R. No. 753160, January 13, 1976. Cf. Affidavit made by Captain Grace Watamaleo on January 27, 2015 (merits file, folio 445). 68 Cf. Affidavit made by Captain Grace Watamaleo on January 27, 2015 (merits file, folio 445); Affidavit made by Loreen Jubitana on January 27, 2015 (merits file, folio 431); 19