Discussion 5

Based upon this last weeks readings and studies, it is apparent that these small scale societies rely largely on the resources that are most abundant around them. Ongka's peoples lives were based on having, buying, and selling pigs. The Bushmen tribe relies on the vegetation and game around their camps. And the Miskito Indians based their economic system solely on turtles. There are advantages to thier system, like the Bushmen eating the abundant nuts as a main source of nutrition. I got the impression that these nuts were very easy to get and preserved for a long time, proving that food is rarely scarce. On the other hand, relying so heavily on your one main resource can be detrimental to a groups society. The Indians who use turtles to run their whole economic system have become too dependent on them over time and now the turtles are running out. Turtle fishing started out as getting them for food and other econmic reasons, but now it's mainly just for the money. I noticed that people of these tribes and groups are not so worried about themselves, but everything is for the whole society. If the Bushmen catch a large mammal, it will be shared with everybody, instead of just benefiting his family. In our society we earn money so then we can go to the grocery store and provide for who is just in our household. It seemed to me that while Ongka dealt with money, the pigs in the end were still much more important. Money definately did not have the same value or "status" in their society. With that being said, modernization of Ongka's tribe hasnt taken away the aspect that the pigs are what run their tribe. Also, the Bushmen people dont bother to become farmers of any type because all thier food and resources they need are attained by hunting and gathering. Theyrefuse to modernize because there is no need for it. While First world countries may view these indigenous groups as barbaric, they are extremely adapted to their enviorment and do not live in such poverty as we may think.