Cottica Lawa (often called Cottica) is a village in the district of
Sipaliwini,
Suriname
Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...
. It is located in the east, along the
Marowijne River and the border with
French Guiana
French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic ...
. The village has a school,
and a clinic.
History

During the 18th century, the
Aluku people settled in Cottica.
Boni Boni may refer to:
Places
* Bone state, a vassal state of the government of Celebes, Dutch East Indies
* Boni MRT Station, a train station in Manila, Philippines
* Boni, Benin, an arrondissement in the Collines department of Benin state
* Boni (d ...
became a major leader and conducted raids against Dutch plantations. Resulting intermittent warfare with Dutch militia, military and mercenaries, between 1768 and 1793, resulted in many Aluku seeking refuge in
Papaïchton
Papaichton (unofficial spelling Papaïchton with a trema) is a commune in the overseas region and department of French Guiana. The village lies on the shores of the Lawa River. Papaichton is served by the Maripasoula Airport.
The village whic ...
and other villages on the French side of the Marowijne River. On 25 May 1891, the Aluku people opted for French citizenship.
The village of Cottica was resettled in 1902, and is the only settlement in Suriname.
The village is not under the authority of the ''granman'' of the Aluku. Captain Bayo, who was the chief at the time of the founding, asked permission from the Surinamese government to be officially installed. Op 21 April 1903, there was an official meeting with the Governor. Bayo insisted that his ''
granman
Granman (Ndyuka language: ''gaanman'') is the title of the paramount chief of a Maroon nation in Suriname and French Guiana. The Ndyuka, Saramaka, Matawai, Aluku, Paramaka and Kwinti nations all have a granman. The paramount chiefs of Amerindia ...
'' was Ochi of the Aluku and not ''granman'' Oseyse of the
Ndyuka. This resulted in a stalemate which lasted until 1938 when Captain Nasinengee was officially installed as village chief.
The view from the village is dominated by the
Cottica Mountain
Cottica Mountain (also Kotika Mountain. French: ''Montagne Cottica''. Aluku: ''Lebi Dotsi'') is a 744 metres high mountain near the Lawa River in the commune of Papaichton in French Guiana, France.
Overview
Cottica Mountain is close to the S ...
,
which rises to a height of 744 metres.
References
Bibliography
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{{Surinamese District Sipaliwini
Aluku settlements
French Guiana–Suriname border crossings
Populated places in Sipaliwini District