For centuries, different groups of humans have struggled to maintain their cultural identity because of strong, powerful, and overbearing outside influences (Haviland, 2008). In this essay, we will examine the plights of two indigenous populations of people in separate parts of the world. First, we will take a close look at the Shuar Indians of Central America. They chose to fight back against aggressive colonialists, and in so doing maintained key components of their culture. In addition, they adapted to modernization by using new technologies to keep their ethnic identity. In contrast, we will study the Saami herders of Scandinavia. They were overzealous in embracing principles of globalization without thinking through the scenarios that could occur by this decision. The consequences were devastating as a unique people in the arctic lost skills and traditions that were of ancient date (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, Mcbride, 2008). The Shuar people of the rainforests of Ecuador were a group of independent, and conflicting small communities in the Amazon basin. Before the impact of globalization invaded their home lands, they survived by planting crops and by gathering food from other sources in their areas. As more mainstream countrymen began encroaching on their ancestral homelands, they knew they must respond in a proactive way or face eradication as other indigenous peoples had in the Amazon basin (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, Mcbride, 2008). After contemplating the disastrous threat of modernization on their long cherished culture, the Shuar also known as the Jivaro united their tribes into one unified representative body. Through the Shuar Federation that since has been recognized by the Ecuadorian government, they have been able to maintain nearly 100,000 hectares of their land. They also have thousands of cows which they use as their means of subsistence. Moreover, they have preserved their language by establishing a radio station and a local newspaper.
Through these interventions, the Jivaro have maintained control over the intimate details of their lives (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, Mcbride, 2008). A case study of the Saami reindeer herders of Finland offers quite a different perspective on one community’s response to modernization. Before the adaptation of using internal combustion snowmobiles to heard reindeer, the Finlanders used wooden skis to encourage the animals to migrate which allowed them to maintain close contact with the large mammals. Because of this intimate relationship, they were able to assist the animals in the birth of their offspring, guide them into rich food sources, and shield them from wolves and other predators. In addition, by using their traditional skills, these subarctic tundra inhabitants had remained largely self sufficient (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, Mcbride, 2008). After their indulgence in modern technology, the Scandinavian locals noticed the destructive influences of their acceptance of noisy snowmobiles to help them in their traditional tasks. Immediately, they spent more time working outside their immediate vicinity to earn extra funds to support their new machines. This meant less leisure time and precious moments with their families. They also witnessed the adverse effects on the fertility of their animals. Their herds had decreased by more than 50%. In addition, the animal human relationship diminished because of the frightening motors. This caused the deer to run away to places where they couldn’t be found easily. Ultimately, this mechanized process of animal husbandry became unsustainable, so many laborers stopped doing it all together. Their financial outlook became bleak as few other jobs were available in the area (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, Mcbride, 2008). The influence of globalization on the Shuar people of Ecuador came as a direct result of increasing population in Ecuador, and this led to more people needing to expand into the Jivaro’s lands. This was an intentional influence as settlers were looking for ways to thrive economically by developing the lands natural resources. This meant pursuing vocations such as mining and agriculture and livestock development on the Shuar’s territory. The impact of this modernization was initially negative because many communal lands were lost to encroaching settlers, but eventually became positive. Through the diffusion of modern technology, the Jivaro were able to preserve their cultural identity. Furthermore, they avoided a possible total societal wipe out of their customs and traditions as has happened to other indigenous peoples (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, Mcbride, 2008).
After seeing that the impacts of globalization on their small part of the world were going to be severe, the Shuar Indians responded quickly and effectively. As a result of this proactive response which began with the formation of a national alliance, they have secured the property deeds for a large part of their native lands. Their ethnicity is abundantly preserved do to their employment of bilingual media resources that use their distinct language. They also maintain great sovereignty over their lands and people. Furthermore, they have their own educational institutions which through instruction and repetition preserve their unique language and other cultural characteristics. (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, Mcbride, 2008). In conclusion, we can see through a careful look at the process of change, that there are many factors that decide whether an indigenous people can survive an onslaught of globalization. In the case of the Saami herders, minimal collaboration and poor insight into the benefits and adverse effects of embracing a modern technology resulted in losses of identity for a subarctic living people. However, in the case of the Shuar Indians, there was strong unification and advocacy which enabled them to embrace globalization and maintain long held traditions and ethnic identity (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, Mcbride, 2008).
Works Cited
Haviland, W. A., Prins, H. E. L., Walrath, D. & McBride, B. (2008).Anthropology: The human challenge (12th Ed). Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning. ISBN: 0-495-09559-1
