Corey's Reflexive Post

Reflexive post

Nowadays people have a pretty good conception of equality between different cultures and people. However in the past this was simply not the case. People came into the Kayapo land for their own personal gain and cared nothing about preserving the Kayapo land and resources.  During my research I found a few things I can relate to from personal experience.

First I was kind of surprised when I found out that the Kayapo would sometimes kill people who trespassed on their land. However, they normally would confront the people first and tell them to leave. This feeling of the land belonging to them is something I can relate to.  I do a lot of deer hunting and fishing. I have a few properties that I can go on. On a few occasions I have dealt with trespassers. Even though I don’t own the land I still feel like it’s my place to go. So I can relate to the feelings or anger and frustration when people trespass onto my land. Plus in the Kayapo case the people trespassing were bringing diseases to the people. So that would just increase these feelings and wants of these trespassers being off their land. As I talked about in my ethnographic post the Kayapo would get legal paperwork for their land so then they could legally control the issues of trespassers.

One thing I can’t relate to first hand but can relate to is disease. Working in the healthcare field I have dealt with many people with different diseases. Diseases are often transported from people to people so was the case for the Kayapo. I’m not sure how the Kayapo treated the different diseases. They may have isolated the people that were sick or the missionaries and different agencies brought over treatments. I do know that the Kayapo were very afraid of these diseases just like a lot of patients that I have dealt with. This is a normal response.  I was really glad that the Kayapo overcame these diseases and are thriving to this very day.

The point I am trying to make in this reflexive post is just how my personal experiences have influenced the way I think about the Kayapo and the research that I conducted on them.  Another main point that I’m trying to make is that the rights of everyone need to be equal. Everything we do can have an effect on someone else. For the Kayapo it was outsiders trying to get personal gain. These outsiders were selfish and didn’t think about the effect they would have on the native population. So just remember what you do does have effect on others around you.

Corey's Ethnographic Post

The Effects of the Modern World on the Kayapo

The Kayapo have been subjected to many threats that have not only challenged their way of life but also threaten their very existence. The research that I have conducted involves the ways that the Kayapo have adapted to different situations they have faced. I will be talking about two main problems. The first is the effect of the modern world on the Kayapo. It has affected their way of life, the land they possess, and their population. The second problem I will discuss is diseases that the Kayapo have faced and overcome. I will talk briefly on each and discuss how they affect the Kayapo.

The modern world has had a huge effect on the Kayapo, but the Kayapo have fought back and kept their traditions. In 1900's the population was 4000, in the 1970's it was 1300 this is due to a lot of factors. One of the major factors is disease which I will talk about later. Other factors were people coming in looking for their own personal gain. Examples are minors, loggers, rubber tappers, and ranchers. The Kayapo didn’t like this but missionary organizations and government agencies tried to calm the people by giving them trade goods. These trade goods were objects such as clothing, cooking utensils, machetes, and axes. These were things that helped the Kayapo. However, this boom of new people brought many consequences, some of which were not intended such as bringing new diseases to the Kayapo. The Kayapo had enough of people coming into their land and they rallied in the 1980 and 90s. Kayapo war parties were formed and they got rid of illegal ranchers and gold miners. Sometimes they would offer the choice of them leaving or they would be killed. The Kayapo warriors took control of many important river crossings and began to patrol their borders. An interesting fact I found was that they sent the people they captured back to town without their clothes. The leaders of the Kayapo realized that this could not continue forever and in a way to keep their land their leaders adapted by learning Portuguese. This allowed them to get help from different conservation agencies and eventually they secured legal recognition of their territory.

Diseases were introduced to the Kayapo through the increase of foreigners coming into the Kayapos land. These foreigners may not have had diseases at the time they were there but they had been exposed to these diseases. Examples are measles and other diseases. The native people had no immunity to these so they began to extract the diseases. The diseases the Kayapo were faced with were serious diseases, and in result many of them would die. I couldn’t find any information on how they tried to treat the diseases. As a nursing student I do know a little bit about the disease process for measles. Here in the United States it is easy to treat because we have vaccines for it. The Kayapo didn’t, and measles is very contagious. Measles is transmitted through droplets. This means that if someone coughs, sneezes, or shares something with you, you could get the diseases. Also measles can travel through the air for a short distance. For these reasons measles is very contagious and a village would be very susceptible to transmission. Now Measles in itself doesn’t necessarily kill people it’s the complications that arise from it that are severe. Some of these serious complications that arise are pneumonia and brain inflammation. If these complications aren’t treated in a timely matter death is imminent.    

In conclusion the Kayapo have been faced with many threats that have indeed threatened their existence and have reduced their population. The Kayapo have however always fought back and overcome these threats whether it’s from protecting their land or fighting off diseases. The Kayapo have always risen to the occasion and I believe they will continue to due this with whatever issues they face in the future as a people.

Works cited

Brown, C. (2014). Kayapo Courage. National Geographic, 225(1), 30.

Amundsen-Meyer, L.M. (2013). Nature versus Culture: A Comparison of Blackfoot and
Kayapo Resource  Management. Canadian Journal Of Archaeology, 37(2), 219-247.

Alicia's Reflexive Post

      As agriculture changes from culture to culture, so does the idea that an agricultural generation changes over time. For myself, I come from a long line of farmers, herders, and agricultural foundations. My great grandparent’s established a farm called Nelson’s Farm. It was full of life. It held horses, cattle, goats, sheep, and chickens. They would bail hay, and planted all of the crops that they saw were essential. Their biggest cash crop was their famous sweet corn. As did the Kayapo, their crops gave them satisfaction, and provided them with survival needs. However, as the generational responsibilities passed onto my uncle and my father, they only kept the farm for a little while. The Nelson farm, under careful counsel of my grandfather, was sold to different owners. In comparison to the Kayapo’s method of shifting cultivation, the land wasn’t used for a while after it was bought. The new owners might have used it to raise chickens for their eggs, but the land didn’t reside crops. In the end, both the Kayapo and the Nielsen family used their agricultural methods for a means of survival. As a 21^st century 18 year old, my position still stands in relation to this need for food, consumption, and economic involvement.

            This summer, I went down to Nicaragua on a mission’s trip. It brought to light so many new ideas, and multiple reflexive thoughts about the demands of agriculture. For one, there are many opportunities to grab fruit at will as you walked alongside the different roads. For the many times that my team and I, after miles and miles of walking, were in need of some energy, there would always be a fruit tree. At the time, it would have reminded me of the way that the Kayapo used to organize their land, so to speak. To recall the use of Nomadic agriculture, many soldiers during war time would need that same refreshment as they hiked the sides of the roads or trials. To combine these ideas, just as the soldiers did, I could just reach up to a tree that was planted purposefully on the side of the road, and enjoy. Now, of course the Nomadic approach was used for wartimes, so the trees down in Nicaragua could be used for other specific reasons. One of these reasons might be for the convenience of a woman’s work. If I were a providing mother in Nicaragua, I would be grateful for the easily accessible and free fruit that I could hand pick. Now, I am the minority race, and since I cannot fight in the war, I could work with my children to help provide for the troops, cops, and fathers in my village instead. Again, restating the idea of how thought out placement of agriculture can prove to be helpful for any culture.    

            When talking about the placement of things, whether it be flowers in a garden or furniture in a house, I consider my placement in society. As I reflect on my research of this indigenous group, I take time to analyze my posts. Did I carefully and correctly talk about the Kayapo’s agricultural history? Was I respectful in explaining their unique culture? You see, as women I might not be in the position to talk as if I completely comprehend the difficulties the Kayapo faced, or did face. For example, more than likely the men’s job was to harvest the crops, defend against the danger facing their village, or appreciate the conveniences of Nomadic agriculture during the wars. Sure, I have the computer, the adequate research capacity, and the modern technology to formulate a great speculation of it all, but it still doesn’t make me a Kayapo member.

            All in all, agriculture is universal, but technologically different throughout varying cultures. As I reflect on the stories from my family and how they tackled farming, I notice similarities and differences. As two different societies, we can diffuse different ideas over time and space, and learn from the Kayapo. To ponder my situation, I can innovate the way we farm today by being inspired by the historical ways of the Kayapo. Carefully integrating new ways of conducting agriculture is one way to appreciate other community’s ways of life. For myself, it opens my eyes to see the unique aspects or traditions of different indigenous groups. From here comes appreciation, and the desire to know more about people other than myself that come from various backgrounds. I can learn plenty about the dynamics of this world by getting to know the dynamic cultures that populate it.     

Alicia's Ethnographic Post

           As a conclusion of history, the Kayapo’s way of life, more specifically agriculture, has been changed and innovated. Throughout the Kayapo’s generations of people, war has become lesser of an issue. How does this contribute to the aspects of the Kayapo’s way of conducting agriculture? Well, it can be explained like this: war changes what the needs of the people are. If there is war, more resources would be demanded for the war effort. Poro, in the Kayapo’s language, means field. Certain Poro’s were distinct, and still are, to their particular culture. One distinct agricultural technique was called Nomadic Agriculture. “Trailside plantings, forest fields, war gardens, and apete form part of the ancient Kayapo-Nomadic Agricultural system” (Posey 1983a, 1985b). This system allowed soldiers to scavenge and find food on their long journeys, and on war raids. As the wars died away, Nomadic Agriculture was slowly becoming abandoned. No long treks would mean that there would be no need to continue that system. However, regular agriculture is still flourishing in all of the Kayapo villages. In conclusion, only a few older people of the tribes and villages can fully describe Nomadic Agriculture in detail.

            Respectively, the Kayapo culture has gained some ground in how long they have been a tribe, but their risks also increase. Since the Kayapo creates such a large community, their land is exposed to more and more threats of environmental destruction. To explain just how big, “Nine Kayapo villages are scattered throughout the territory, creating a 28.4 million acre home for more than 5,000 people ( www.actionbioscience.org). Two aspects of the tribes’ culture are their ecosystems. These ecosystems consist of tropical Rainforests and grassland. The three major risks that threaten these lands are pollution, land invasion, and hydroelectric dams. On the topic of pollution, as the Xingu River flows near the grasslands, resources for food and water are regularly effected. Also, illegal trading and selling of their land has occurred over time. This has amounted to harsh relations with neighboring tribes. How are the Kayapo supposed to take care of, or live off of a land that they don’t have? Finally, along the Xingu River, governments from Brazil have been articulating plans for building hydroelectric dams. If these were installed, the homes of some of the members would be no more. Furthermore, resources would be damaged for those living down the stream. How? According to www.actionbioscience.com, “…disturb fish populations, and damage terrestrial ecosystems.” As their resources deplete, so could their population.     

            Throughout years of constant tilling, planting, and harvesting the land is far worn. Furthermore, the land might be lacking the proper stability to sustain more crops. To solve this problem the Kayapo use the technique of shifting cultivation. This means that the land might only be utilized for a couple of years at a time. This will give the land time to breathe and refresh, so to speak. How could the Kayapo go without crops for two years? They do not. They proceed to another piece of land to harvest until the other has replenished. Perceptively, it is an efficient cycle. In respect to the topic of the Kayapo’s land choice and location, the Central Brazilian Plateau is where they make their settlement. To put this into a graphical perspective, that would be approximately 300 to 400 meters above sea level. Surrounding this area, there would typically be small hills skewed about the land, as well as small creeks and pools. These pools get their water from large rivers that cut through the land. In addition, multiple small rivers go unnamed because of the magnitude of them. But, the layout of the territory, in all, consists of many, many rivers.

            Just as beautiful as the land itself, the weather in Central Brazil has its eloquences as well. Unlike the United States, the seasons only come with two options: winter and summer. However, they are usually classified differently. For example, winter would actually be called the dry season. Assuming that harvesting activities decrease, and people would start storing up for this time of year. This starts in May, and ends in October. In contrast, the season of summer (also known as the rainy season) would typically run from November to April. The major differences between these two seasons lies in the characteristics of the weather. The dry season is followed by hot days, but cool night and winds. The benefit of this particular time of year is the lack of mosquitoes. Despite how hot it may be, the Kayapo actually prefer this season over the other. “Good weather” is what they call it. As one could imagine, the rainy season consists of “torrential” rainfall and pesky mosquitoes. Especially when the rivers and creeks grow, many different kinds of insects find their way around the territory. Its rain index reaches high numbers, depending on what part of the land is being referred to. It could range from 1,900 to 2,500mm. This is in the stretch of the north-east to the south-east. Despite heavy rain fall, this could very well be helpful in the crops growth, and plentiful harvest.  

http://pib.socioambiental.org/en/povo/kayapo/179

Kayapó. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2015.

 

 

https://intercontinentalcry.org/indigenous-peoples/kayapo/

Indigenous Peoples of the World: The Kayapo. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2015.

 

 

Reno's Reflexive post

Most people now have a decent understanding of the indigenous Kayapo tribes. In some ways I can connect with the Kayapo and their world. For instance, My parents changed houses due to land being developed on. Some peoples situations may allow for a better change than others.

When land started to be colonized in the Amazon it affect them, The Kayapo were often in situations where they would have to give up the territory and land that they had. This turned out to be a negative outcome for them. When my town started to develop on new land further and further on the outskirts of town, my family got a new home. For those who owned small houses or property on that land,they were sort of pushed out.

In my school and schools I previously attended, we usually had to use dictionaries and encyclopedias as research tools. Now, in our more modern culture we simply grab our phones or computers and search the Internet for the answers to our questions. Which brings me to another similarity, our culture ,along with the Kayapo's culture both have been through periods of progression. There was a time when the Kayapo used primitive hunting techniques and weapons, they have recently started hunting more efficiently by using more modern methods and weapons , such as guns.

The Kayapo's culture isn't much different from many other cultures we see today. It's clear that indigenous areas of the world go through change as well. Not all change is good change, but even then people will still progress. Adapting to change is a way that we, as people ,use to survive.

Reno's Ethnographic Post

The Kayapo have been living in the Amazon for quite a long time now. Over time they've been accumulating knowledge of their surroundings. There is more than just one Kayapo tribe in the Amazon. An easy way to think of it is, each tribe is like its own community. They each have their own variation of the Kayapo language as well. 

Some of the tribes actually speak basic Portuguese. The older tribes tend to speak "Truer versions" compared to some of the newer tribes. Over time, the Kayapo have made slight adjustments to the way they operate and do certain things. Mainly because they've been exposed to modern techniques and technology. 

The Kayapo hunt off of the land and have special weapons that they developed to do so. Until Recently, they've used blow guns, arrows made with poison tips, spears, etc... These weapons are somewhat primitive so the Kayapo have begun replacing them with guns when they can be afforded. 

The Kayapo also had "hunter-gatherer groups". They lived in small temporary settlements for about 4-5 years until all the resources were exhausted. Then they would move on and find another place to settle.  Due to land colonization by non-indigenous people, many local groups became peasants. These new changes not only destroy traditional lifestyles but causes the locals to lose control over their territory and land. Now, loggers, gold miners, etc… benefit from it.