Amazonia and the Amazonia and the OrinocoOrinoco

Tribal Peoples of the RegionTribal Peoples of the Region

Location of South Location of South AmericaAmerica

• South America is South America is located located

• North of AntarcticaNorth of Antarctica• South of North and South of North and

Central AmericaCentral America• East of Africa East of Africa

(portion of continent (portion of continent to the right)to the right)

• Southwest of Europe Southwest of Europe (upper right corner)(upper right corner)

Location of Amazonia Location of Amazonia and Orinocoand Orinoco

• The green represents The green represents tropical rain foresttropical rain forest

• Amazonia covers Brazil, Amazonia covers Brazil, but also 8 other countries but also 8 other countries (map)(map)

• Southern Venezuela is Southern Venezuela is home to the Yanomamöhome to the Yanomamö (reading assignment here)(reading assignment here)

• Central Brazil is home to Central Brazil is home to the Kayapó (film in this the Kayapó (film in this course)course)

• Ecuador is home to the Ecuador is home to the Waodani (film in this Waodani (film in this course)course)

Yanomamö of Southern Yanomamö of Southern VenezuelaVenezuela

• They are a tribal peopleThey are a tribal people• They cultivate gardens, They cultivate gardens,

principally the root known as principally the root known as manioc (upper left)manioc (upper left)

• They use slash-and-burn They use slash-and-burn techniques (lower left)techniques (lower left)

• They tend to be warlikeThey tend to be warlike• These features are common These features are common

to other South American tribal to other South American tribal peoples in Amazoniapeoples in Amazonia

ShelterShelter• Like other peoples, they live in Like other peoples, they live in

thatch housingthatch housing• Yanomamö live in Yanomamö live in shabonos, shabonos,

circular palisade housing circular palisade housing surrounding a plaza (upper left)surrounding a plaza (upper left)

• Others may differ in design, (like Others may differ in design, (like the Kayapo, left) the Kayapo, left)

• But they reflect moieties, a kin-But they reflect moieties, a kin-based organization divided into based organization divided into two parts (lower left)two parts (lower left)

Kinship: A Quick Introduction, Kinship: A Quick Introduction, The BasicsThe Basics

• Almost all nonwestern cultures are family basedAlmost all nonwestern cultures are family based• Often, they comprise extended familiesOften, they comprise extended families• That is because there is so much work to do—That is because there is so much work to do—

tending gardens, herding cattle—a lot!tending gardens, herding cattle—a lot!• Extended familiesExtended families usually involve usually involve three or three or

more generationsmore generations of of married married kin. kin. • Sometimes there is a lot of work to doSometimes there is a lot of work to do• So they form lineages and clans beyond the So they form lineages and clans beyond the

extended families extended families

Kinship: A Quick Introduction, Kinship: A Quick Introduction, Descent RulesDescent Rules

• All cultures have different rules of descentAll cultures have different rules of descent• We recognize our kin through both sides of the We recognize our kin through both sides of the

familyfamily• But Yanomamö recognize only one side: the But Yanomamö recognize only one side: the

father’s sidefather’s side• And within that they recognize only one line of And within that they recognize only one line of

malesmales• So there is one unbroken line of malesSo there is one unbroken line of males• Daughters do not pass the affiliation down to Daughters do not pass the affiliation down to

their childrentheir children

Kinship: A Quick Introduction, Kinship: A Quick Introduction, Bilateral DescentBilateral Descent

• This is bilateral descentThis is bilateral descent• Notice everyone is affiliated with ego (that is, Notice everyone is affiliated with ego (that is, you!)you!)• They are labeled by redThey are labeled by red• In some schemes, in-marrying relatives are excludedIn some schemes, in-marrying relatives are excluded• See also diagram on page 72 an description on page 72 in See also diagram on page 72 an description on page 72 in

McDowell’s McDowell’s Cultural Anthropology: A Concise IntroductionCultural Anthropology: A Concise Introduction

Kinship: A Quick Introduction: Kinship: A Quick Introduction: Patrilineal DescentPatrilineal Descent

• This is patrilineal descentThis is patrilineal descent• All the men are colored redAll the men are colored red• All the affiliated women are colored redAll the affiliated women are colored red• But the offspring of the men are colored resBut the offspring of the men are colored res• Not the offspring of the womenNot the offspring of the women• So you have affiliated only the line of males and their siblingsSo you have affiliated only the line of males and their siblings

Kinship: A Quick Kinship: A Quick Introduction: American Introduction: American Surname AssignmentSurname Assignment

• Take your own surname (or last name)Take your own surname (or last name)• From whom did you get your surname? Your father, right?From whom did you get your surname? Your father, right?• That was your mother’s name too, but she got it my That was your mother’s name too, but she got it my

marriagemarriage• If you’re male, you’ll pass it on to your kidsIf you’re male, you’ll pass it on to your kids• If you’re female, your maiden name will not pass on to If you’re female, your maiden name will not pass on to

your kids.your kids.• Patrilineal descent operates on that same principlePatrilineal descent operates on that same principle• More details: check pp. 72-76 of the McDowell text, and More details: check pp. 72-76 of the McDowell text, and

diagram on p.74diagram on p.74

Demonstrated and Demonstrated and Stipulated Descent: Basis of Stipulated Descent: Basis of

Lineages/ClansLineages/Clans• Demonstrated Descent:Demonstrated Descent:• Descent is tracedDescent is traced• through all linking males/femalesthrough all linking males/females• to ancestorto ancestor• Stipulated descent:Stipulated descent:• Descent from ancestorDescent from ancestor• Is assumed and Is assumed and • cannot be traced through linking kincannot be traced through linking kin

LineagesLineages• Lineages are unilineal Lineages are unilineal

descent units whose descent units whose membersmembers

• Can demonstrate their Can demonstrate their descentdescent

• To a common ancestorTo a common ancestor• Lineages divide or Lineages divide or

segment segment into smaller into smaller onesones

• This model of a This model of a segmentary lineage segmentary lineage shows how it worksshows how it works

ClansClans

• Clans are unilineal Clans are unilineal descent unitsdescent units

• Whose members can Whose members can only only stipulatestipulate

• Their descent to a Their descent to a common ancestorcommon ancestor

• Clans tend to include Clans tend to include smaller lineages, as smaller lineages, as shown hereshown here

• There are no clans There are no clans among the Yanomamöamong the Yanomamö

Dual Social Dual Social Organization: Formation Organization: Formation

by Marriageby Marriage• The Yanomamö and Kayapo are both The Yanomamö and Kayapo are both

organized into two moietiesorganized into two moieties• They reflect the requirement that a man They reflect the requirement that a man

marries his cross-cousin marries his cross-cousin • Notice that a man (red) from Lineage ANotice that a man (red) from Lineage A• Marries a woman (blue) from Lineage BMarries a woman (blue) from Lineage B• She is both his mother’s brother’s daughter She is both his mother’s brother’s daughter

andand• His father’s sister’s daughterHis father’s sister’s daughter• Isn’t that incest?Isn’t that incest?• No, because she belongs to a different No, because she belongs to a different

lineage (Read Chapter 10, McDowell text)lineage (Read Chapter 10, McDowell text)

Dual Social Organization: ResultsDual Social Organization: Results

• Moieties have been found Moieties have been found in many tribal Amazonian in many tribal Amazonian peoplespeoples

• This is the result of bilateral This is the result of bilateral cross cousin marriage just cross cousin marriage just describeddescribed

• This Kayapo moiety is the This Kayapo moiety is the result of that marriage rule. result of that marriage rule.

Yanomamö as Tribal Yanomamö as Tribal OrganizationOrganization

• Because they are organized into Because they are organized into two lineagestwo lineages

• And these lineages intermarryAnd these lineages intermarry• They are by definition a tribeThey are by definition a tribe• Villages comprise two segments Villages comprise two segments

called lineagescalled lineages• And so are linked by an institution, And so are linked by an institution,

namely marriage. namely marriage. • When they migrate, the two When they migrate, the two

lineages stay togetherlineages stay together

Cousin Terminology Reflects Cousin Terminology Reflects this Dual Structurethis Dual Structure

• Notice that brother and sisters are named the same as parallel Notice that brother and sisters are named the same as parallel cousins (MoSiCh and (FaBrCh)cousins (MoSiCh and (FaBrCh)

• But cross-cousins are given distinct terms: MoBrDa and FaSiDa are But cross-cousins are given distinct terms: MoBrDa and FaSiDa are Suaboya Suaboya and and

• MoBrSo and FaSiDa are called MoBrSo and FaSiDa are called shoriwa.shoriwa.• Guess whom you could marry in YanomamGuess whom you could marry in Yanomamőőland—and not go to jail!land—and not go to jail!

Politics of the Yanomamö: The Politics of the Yanomamö: The FeastsFeasts

• The Yanomamö don’t get along too wellThe Yanomamö don’t get along too well• They hold feasts to create alliancesThey hold feasts to create alliances• But feasts are a risky proposition for But feasts are a risky proposition for

both guest and hostsboth guest and hosts• The guests could turn against the hostsThe guests could turn against the hosts• The hosts could massacre the guestsThe hosts could massacre the guests• So they have a built-in device to defuse So they have a built-in device to defuse

tensionstensions

Levels of Violence at Levels of Violence at FeastsFeasts

• If things get out of hand, both parties If things get out of hand, both parties agree to a chest pounding duelagree to a chest pounding duel

• If chest pounding doesn’t work, they If chest pounding doesn’t work, they resort to side slapping using spears resort to side slapping using spears (upper left)(upper left)

• Then come the club fightsThen come the club fights• Only then do the arrows start to flyOnly then do the arrows start to fly• At every stage, every effort is made At every stage, every effort is made

to defuse the tension to defuse the tension • But tension is always present at But tension is always present at

feasts (lower left)feasts (lower left)

ReciprocityReciprocity

• Yanomamö trade is the first step to Yanomamö trade is the first step to forming alliancesforming alliances

• A gift made is always acrimoniousA gift made is always acrimonious• Repayment is expected soon, often at Repayment is expected soon, often at

the next feastthe next feast• Mauss’s obligations (see module on Mauss’s obligations (see module on

Tribal Society) is present hereTribal Society) is present here• The market is also present; here a The market is also present; here a

“chief” (actually a powerless headman) “chief” (actually a powerless headman) is selling baskets. is selling baskets.

World of the Hekura: Yanomamö World of the Hekura: Yanomamö and the Supernaturaland the Supernatural

• Yanomamö also try to enter Yanomamö also try to enter the spirit worldthe spirit world

• A hallucinogen called beenA hallucinogen called been• Is used to invoke the hekura Is used to invoke the hekura

spiritsspirits• Here a group blows been Here a group blows been

into each others’ nostrilsinto each others’ nostrils• Sometime they may be used Sometime they may be used

to bring harm to one’s rivalto bring harm to one’s rival• Here a shaman strikes a Here a shaman strikes a

blow at some unseen blow at some unseen hekurahekura

The Cosmos of the The Cosmos of the YanomamöYanomamö

• The Yanomamö conceive of four planes of existenceThe Yanomamö conceive of four planes of existence• The lowest plane, their hell, is punishment for being The lowest plane, their hell, is punishment for being

stingy among other sinsstingy among other sins• Earth is the third plane from the bottomEarth is the third plane from the bottom

Conclusion: Implications for Conclusion: Implications for ComparisonComparison

• For further details, consult Johnson and Earle’s For further details, consult Johnson and Earle’s “Case 5: The Yanomamö of the Venezuelan “Case 5: The Yanomamö of the Venezuelan Highlands,” pp. 142-169Highlands,” pp. 142-169

• One video covers the cases of two Kayapo One video covers the cases of two Kayapo groups as they deal with the gold mining industrygroups as they deal with the gold mining industry

• The second video looks at the Waodani as they The second video looks at the Waodani as they confront Protestant missionariesconfront Protestant missionaries

• Note how each group differs in working—or not Note how each group differs in working—or not working—with Western outsiders. working—with Western outsiders.