Ethnography of an Indigenous Culture
Some of the following questions may be answered in a few paragraphs, but some may require you to write more than a page. You probably will need to consult more than one WEB site. If you choose a culture that has been changed by another, be certain to stick with the traditional aspects of your chosen culture before it was contaminated by outsiders. Integrate concepts, ideas, and theories from your textbook and Web sites. Remember: demonstrate that you can truly use concepts from this course.
1. Is this truly a culture? What makes it a culture? Why is it a culture? (Remember language!)
2. Where is this culture geographically located? Cite if you quote.
3. Of the patterns of subsistence covered in your videos and textbook, which is the dominant type used in your culture and why?
4. How have these people adapted to their physical environment?
5. Is this a preliterate or literate culture? Explain.
6. How are mates selected? (Think on a cultural basis.)
7. How is descent traced? Describe the system and why this system works for these people.
8. What form of marriage is found? What form of family? Describe them.
9. Describe the religion or concept(s) of the supernatural. How does the pattern of subsistence relate to the type of religion?
10. How have outside forces changed this culture? What are some of the challenges faced by this group today? This is an important part of your paper.
11. What do you believe this culture's future will be like? (Think anthropologically!)
12. Is there anything about this culture which strikes you as unique? Discuss and describe your reaction in cultural terms.