Many people argue that governments should assure that indigenous people can

determine their own future. What are the advantages and disadvantages to this
approach? What are possible alternatives to it?
Indigenous people are members of smaller societies that have been in one
region for a long period of time, to the point that they are recognized as the original
inhabitants of this region. They have their own trades and systems of work. I
believe the problem with indigenous people trying to decide their future is the fact
that many do incorporate themselves into the global market economy in some way.
They find themselves wanting modern lifestyles and the chance to have consumer
goods. (pg.352) With the Saami in Norway, the reindeer is a big asset to them.
The government would like the reindeer brought to their centers so they can be
slaughtered and give the indigenous people a minimum price for doing so. The
indigenous people are reluctant to do this because instead of selling the animals out
of necessity for basic needs, the government wants to make as much money off it
as they can. This means they need a lot more animals to make it more like a ranch
environment.
Some governments dont have the resources necessary to allow those rights
to the indigenous people. They dont have what they need to help defend those
rights. Some countries face these problems where nothing can really be done to the
extent of these freedoms. For example, in the book it talks about Peru being one of
these countries. Some people even get denied their whole existence. Even if there
are people that want that kind of a future, it would be harder for some to obtain it
for the same reason as the people in Peru.
The advantage of having indigenous people determine their own future
means the continuation of customs that originated from their homelands. These
people have their own resources, ways of self-sufficiency, and traditions. The
disadvantage of having this is determining what is rationalized between the
indigenous and the governments. The governments may want products produced
from these people or even land and resources. The indigenous people have rights
over these lands.
I believe that an alternative to this would be for the indigenous people to
contribute certain things that they can and are willing to do so to the economy.
They could still have the rights to their land and resources with no interferences
that are brought up negatively by other people or governments. If this is how they
have lived their whole lives, then they should be allowed to choose how they want
to live their lives. This being with other contingencies that they may have to follow
as well. I feel that it would work with a little give and take from both sides. People
tend to contribute more if there are benefits for themselves as well.

Exam Question: outline in detail with examples 10 concepts you learned from the
class.

1- The first concept I learned about in this class was about ethnocentrism.
Ethnocentrism is judging other cultures based upon ones own culture. This
also being people believing that their own culture is better. People tend to do
this all over the world though. If someone grows up with their own culture,
traditions, etc., then many are going to see their own lives as the right way of
living. Ethnocentrism gets in the way of understanding and accepting other
peoples beliefs.
2- The second concept I learned about goes along with ethnocentrism but is
cultural relativism, which means that the notion of these peoples values and
customs should be understood. Every culture may have different values than
the next but if we can understand them and what culture they are a part of,
then we collaborate better. There are many designs for living among humans
and not just one is shown. It shows tolerance if we can not only live the way
we do but we can try and understand why others live the way that they do.
Human diversity is everywhere and we as different societies and cultures
should work to embrace each other.
3- Enculturation is another concept I learned in this class. This is the process of
learning to be a part of ones cultural group. In many cultures there are ways
of proving that they belong like the Inuit teaching their children the harsh and
dangerous ways of life. They live in environments where if the wrong move is
made it could mean death to them. They are discouraged from asking
questions but figuring things out on their own. They are taught many
physical skills and being constantly on alert. Depending on the surroundings
of a particular culture, certain skills may be taught to survive.
4- Foraging (hunting and gathering) is a main source of survival for certain
cultures. These people rely on gathering fruits, seeds, plants, etc., and the
hunting of small animals and fish. Depending on the climate of their region,
there may not be permanent settlements but moving around for food and
water. Some do stay in their camps and during the winter the women stay
with the children while the men hunt for food. These different kinds of
foragers can recognize many different types of plants and what their
purposes are and the functions they can be used for. Even if they do know
what to look for some resources can be very scarce and hard to find,
especially for many people to feed and take care of.
5- Leveling mechanisms, I feel are a good concept to know. This could be
anything from welfare to education. They are any form or value of distributing
wealth by forcing capital to be used in different ways to try and reduce
economic inequalities. There are many families not only in the United States
that struggle with different things whether that be sending their children to
school, having enough food for their families, extra money for basic needs,
etc. There are many things like scholarships, grants, food stamps, and
employment opportunities that may help and try to better these peoples
lives. These values are put into place to give chances to those that may not
otherwise have them.
6- Before this class I have never heard of an incest taboo. These are
prohibitions on sexual relations between relatives. In every culture there is
some type of incest taboo in place but they may differ from each society. In

early Egyptian times brother-sister marriages were not uncommon. In

cultures where this was common it was mainly to keep power and ruling in
the family. In most modern cultures it is not seen that relatives are marrying
each other. Everyone tends to marry someone outside ones own family. In
some cultures around the world it can still be seen here and there depending
on where it is being practiced.
7- I learned a lot about kinship in families. In matrilineal descent it is where a
person is affiliated through females only. In a patrilineal descent it shows a
person affiliated with the males only. Some cultures the inheritance of a
family moves from father to son and this can also mean the position in which
the father plays in society. The females will get married and then be
separated from her own family and go off with the males family. This is the
same with descent following the female side. The male plays a role that is a
lot less significant than the females role. She is surrounded by all of her kin
while the male cuts off from his own family and goes to live with her. Both of
these types of kinships can be shown in society.
8- In the gender role section of the book it talks about hijras which are an
alternate gender that is neither man or woman. They are born men but grow
up to dress and act like woman. They have certain surgeries to help
transform them more into a woman form. These hijras arent exactly
masculine or feminine though. These transformations are done for the Hindu
goddess. They make these changes to become a hijra not a woman. They
then dedicate their lives to doing things the goddess would approve of like
blessing a newborn or being present at someones wedding to bless them as
well with prosperity. They arent considered women also because they
cannot give birth to a child. Hijras identify themselves as a third type of
gender but they contribute to their cultures in different ways.
9- I liked the section of learning about the differences of power, authority, and
leadership. Someone can have power but no authority and same with having
authority but no power. It is possible to have one without the other. Power is
having control over people and having them do things they may not want to
do. Having authority is causing people to act because of honor, knowledge,
status of an individual, etc. Leadership is the ability to direct and action.
Martin Luther King, Jr is a very good example of leadership and how he could
influence large groups of people towards a common goal. All three of these
things go together but can have different traits that go along with one or the
other.
10-One of the last concepts I really liked learning about was the expression of art
in each individual society. Some people express themselves and others with
paintings and sculptures. They can tell stories in the past, present, or future.
Some cultures use many types of body art. For example, in India, North
Africa, and the middle east they use henna designs all over the body to
symbolize and enhance a womans beauty. They use them to decorate for
weddings or other ceremonies that mean a lot. For weddings it symbolizes a
girl transforming into a woman. Several artists will have some sort of
meaning in their paintings and photographs. It shows cultural values,
traditions, interpretations of events, and other significant details. Art can be

expressed and shown in so many ways around the world. The diversity is
amazing in everything that can be made from individuals.