Cultural Diffusion: Indigenous Groups: The Dani IB HL

Intro Irian Jaya on the west half of the island of New Guinea was expected to be an unoccupied Dutch territory. Richard Archibald discovered the Dani people there in 1938. There are 100,000 Dani people with 30 cultural groups.

Pre-Contact Dani Life Housing: Poorly ventilated, Life expectancy is 38 years, some die due to inhaling domestic smoke over the years. Clothing: Very little worn, Men wear a penis sheath, Women just wear a grass skirt with beads. Food: Grown themselves, Sweet potato and pigs, they have a very poor diet.

Pre-Contact Dani Life Social Organisation: Monogamy was normal but polygamy occurred. Men usually marry at 20 and girls at 12. Homosexuality was unknown before outside contact. After the birth of a 2nd child, women ate tree sap to induce early menopause. When close relatives died, men would slash an earlobe off whilst women would amputate a finger to show respect.

Pre-Contact Dani Life Ritual Warfare: Generally brief but would end in a couple of deaths where cannibalism would take place eating the dead from battle. Religion: The Dani saw their surroundings as living things for example the moon was a man, the sun was a woman, and the rain was urine. Bodies were preserved to appease the spirits.

Outside Influences Missionaries: Set up schools in 1954, as well as churches, and medical services. By 1980, 80% of the Dani had been converted to Christianity. Charms and fetishes were burned. They adopted Christian names. Warfare and cannibalism was eliminated. They started to trade using money. Marriage for girls was raised. Polygamy was discouraged.

Government Influences Post 1989 Indonesian government influences were rejected such as… Wearing clothes. Using the Indonesian language. Cultivating rice as the staple crop instead of sweet potatoes. Western-style housing. Expelling the missionaries and leaving the community without support.

Impact of Tourism After the missionaries and government, tourism was the 3rd influence. Tourists started coming in 1984 from the Usa, Germany, and Australia. Tourists bring gifts and novelties for the Dani. The Dani work as porters and guides for cash. Leakage occurs as the hotels are foreign owned. The Dani have become degraded as a “peep show”.

Activities Using Geography For The IB Diploma P174-179, answer the following… What does the term “homogenisation of global culture” mean? Why do you think there is so much international concern for the wellbeing of indigenous peoples? What is the location of the Xingu National Park and Indigenous Peoples Reserve? How has the traditional life and culture of the Xingu been threatened?

Activities Using Geography Course Companion P372-373, answer the following… How have Chinese activities affected Tibetan culture? In the Andaman Islands, how could Tourism affect the Jawara culture? What are the long-term effects of altering cultures over time?