THE KEY FEATURES OF THE TALHTAN CULTURE Culture “refers to the ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the material objects that together form a people’s way of life” (Gerber & Macionis, 2014, p. 58). Rich in resources and vast in size, the Tahltan nations relationship with their land is evident in all aspects of their culture, from governance to traditional stories; therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine in detail how the land has shaped the Tahltan people’s beliefs.
Governance
Traditional Social Organization The traditional social organization of the Tahltan was based on the Raven and Wolf moieties (Albright, 1984, p. 11). A moiety is “one of two descent groups in a given population” that usually intermarry (Roufs, 2015). One
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Based on oral traditions and teachings, it is taught through songs, stories, dancing and speech (Language, n.d.). In danger of extinction, the Na-Dene langauge recently had a writing system developed (Language, n.d.). The movie, Da Dzahge Nodesidē: We Are Speaking Our Language Again, was produced to highlight what the Talhtan nation is doing to preserve and revitialize their language through immersion and documentation initiatives (Bourquin, 2016).
Stories were told to entertain; however, they contained moral teachings and were used “for making topical points” (MacLauchlan, 1981, p. 465). In The Journal of American Folklore, James Teit published numerous stories with themes around the creation of Earth Mother and Sun Father, the origin of theTahltan and how man and animals interacted (Teit, 1919). These tales were treated as actual history, not mythology (Teit, 1919, p. 234), and included the formation of the different clan crests, told about a great flood and why cremation came about. One tale has the Dog losing his ability to speak to humans because he told a lie about his hunter catching food for his starving people. (Teit, 1919, p.
There are many cultures throughout the world, which may be far apart and yet still have similarities. Two of those such cultures, the Basseri, that live in Iran, and the Nuer, whom live in Sudan, have their differences, but also have some similarities. Many of the differences and similarities come from their subsistence strategies and the social and political organization of their societies. With the regions of the world, both the Basseri and the Nuer live in, they’ve had to adapt to the environment they live in along with the limitations imposed by that environment.
In Thomas King's short story "Borders," a Blackfoot mother struggles with maintaining her cultural heritage under the pressure of two dominating nations. Storytelling is important, both for the mother and for the dominant White society. Stories are used to maintain and pass on cultural information and customs from one generation to another. Furthermore, stories can be used both positively and negatively. They can trap individuals into certain ways of thinking, but they can also act as catalysts that drive social change within society.
This work exhibits mostly all the characteristics cited by Stockstad as it provided background information into understanding the Tlingit culture and their beliefs.
Much of the literature written by Native Americans from the Southeastern U.S. draws from traditional tribal myths. Many of these myths have been transcribed and translated into English by various ethnographers and folklorists, and, in the case of the Cherokee, myths have been collected and published in acclaimed books. Anthropologist James Mooney, an employee of the federal government at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, collected a large number of mythological stories from informants during his years of fieldwork among the Eastern Band of the Cherokee in western North Carolina; Mooney incorporated that material into the important compilation Myths of the Cherokee (1900). A century later, folklorist Barbara R. Duncan, a researcher employed by the Museum of the Cherokee...
The way of the Ju/‘hoansi life has changed dramatically in many ways throughout the years. However, it is still possible to reflect upon their original way of life and compare it with their present state of living. Most of the changes occurred due to environmental, economical, developmental, social and cultural changes. All of which play a vital role in determining a Ju’s way of life. Although the land of the Dobe and !Kangwa have developed and changed in recent years, there are still some remnants of how the environment used to be. A significant shift in social and cultural aspects of the Ju/‘hoansi life can be observed in the new environment. However, some important aspects of their culture and belief system are still reflected in their everyday lives.
bears, coyotes, hawks and other animals. Storytelling was an important way for Native Americans to understand the world around them and help them understand their past. A common theme in their stories were that of a “hero’s journey” where a man or even animal sets off to change the course of their life. Joesph Campbell wrote a famous book entitled The Hero with a Thousand Faces. This book was based on his life long journey researching heroes, myths and stories around the world. Another common theme is the link between the ...
Storytellers tended to have a special place in their societies, whether they were held in high regard or shunned for their lifestyle choice. Regardless, these people could inform the audience about cultural traditions, values, behaviors, etc such as the griots found in some Hawaiian cultures. They could also take advantage of the opportunity to attempt to persuade people to act a certain way or adopt a particular world view. Finally, quite often storytellers were looked upon to entertain at social gatherings to tell humorous stories, such as jesters.” ( http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-significance-storytelling-oral-tradition-396206 )
Tidwell, James N. "Folklore in the News." Western Folklore 14 (1955): 213-14. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.
In John Barker’s Ancestral Lines, the author analyzes the Maisin people and their culture centered around customs passed from previous generations, as well as global issues that impact their way of living. As a result of Barker’s research, readers are able to understand how third world people can exist in an rapid increasing integrated system of globalization and relate it not only to their own society, but others like the Maisin; how a small group of indigenous people, who are accustomed to a modest regimen of labor, social exceptions, and traditions, can stand up to a hegemonic power and the changes that the world brings. During his time with these people the author was able to document many culture practices, while utilizing a variety of
Today, I will be talking about a group of people who are known as the “Arabs’ purist representatives” (in cite). People who love to live near the desert and are not interested with the modern city life. They are more into the simple and peaceful lifestyle and way of living. There are around 4 million people, spread among Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Morocco, Sudan, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. Today, my speech is about the very interesting and unique Bedouin tribes. What is interesting about the Bedouins is that despite the changes and advances that happen around the world, they are still attached to the traditions they were raised on, without changing a thing. Although they have a lack of education,
Throughout time, mankind has forged stories and legends to explain the unknown. As years went along the stories and tall tales were passed down to each generation. Each recount of the inherited stories are always told differently, how the story was told usually depended on the person and their particular region of habitance. Thus leading to hundreds of different versions of a single story told throughout the world, written and told by different people. Not only are these stories told as pure entertainment, they serve as wise life lessons and set examples for children when they were eventually introduced to society. These stories are so prominent in human history that even to this day the same stories that were told to children centuries ago
For over five centuries, the Himba people have breathed the “hot and filmy” air of the Earth’s oldest desert, raising fat, prosperous herds of livestock in a shrewd network of grazing lands, and honoring their ancestors through ancient sacred fires and venerated grave sites (Crandall). Anthropologists suppose “the Himba's [ancestral] firelight has been flickering . . . since the 1600s, when they arrived as part of the great Bantu migrations from the north” (Salopek). Unbeknownst to them, the arid and volatile beauty of Southwestern Africa has provided the Himba the world’s best cultural haven from violent confrontation and influence of foreign power (Salopek). However, this desert haven is no longer a refuge from racial discrimination and environmental destruction: in an ironic twist of history, the Himba are now threatened, not by European colonists, but by their own Independent nation state governments.
In recent modern times, the Islamic faith and culture has been scarred by bad publicity and criticism worldwide concerning terrorism, fanaticism, and the treatment of women. All these issues have existed in most religions throughout time, but the treatment of women is different in which most other cultures and religions have minimized the issues and Islam, under its attempts to also end it, has failed to create a society in which the treatment of women is equal to that of men. The treatment of women, beginning from the time when they are born, to the time of their marriage, to the moment of their death, has not been equal to that of men despite the actions taken to end the injustice.
Being Saudi Arabian is to be faithful and authentic to one important religion symbol of Islam which is being believer of Allah but no one else and being the believer that Mohammed is the prophet of Allah, which is considered very essential aspect of the culture. Saudi Arabians are the people who have strong affiliation and loyalty to the authentic, generous, wise Arab tribes who settled in the Arabian Peninsula many years ago. In addition, being Saudi Arabian represents being loyal to the country that fully contributed to provide free healthcare, education, and public services for the citizens. Saudi Arabians are the people who care and help others when they face any life disasters. The Saudi Arabians have many symbols that represent them. First, the date tree is an important symbol of the culture, which represents them as the glorious and authentic people who serve dates besides Arabic coffee together in celebrating any special occasion such as family gatherings, weddings, and funerals. The date tree also represents them as the people who always give to their families, and community...
In its entirety the word “culture” is broken down by five basic characteristics. It is learned, shared, based on symbols, integrated and dynamic.(2. INSERT CITATION). But how does all of these factors compile success for the Qatari nation? How did the country of Qatar become the superpower that it is today?