Cultural Practices in Yanomamo Culture - Research Paper Example

   Topic:     The Yanomamo tribe, also known as Yanomami, is one of the largest and local tribe which lives in near the tropical rain forest of Northern Brazil and Southern Venezuela. Their population is about 20,000 people and they are separated into different villages. This tribe did not have any contact with the outside world until the 1950s before which they lived in complete isolation. They were able to adapt themselves to their environment through means of cultural adaptation by following their cultural standards and practices (Trachoma among the Yanomami, Web).

The Yanomamo tribe consists of hunters and horticulturists who frequently move to new areas when the soil becomes exhausted. More than half of the Yanomami live within the Amazon forest while some live along the major rivers. Similar to their living conditions, the Yanomamo also follow different rituals and beliefs. Their religious beliefs are also based on the principles of animism. They believe that the forests entail a spiritual existence along with its other uses of food and plants etc (Yanomamo, Varying Adaptations of Foraging Horticulturalists, Web).

One of the main cultural practices followed by the Yanomami is Polygny which is the most common form of polygamy. Polygny is a practice in which a man has more than one wife at the same time. In the Yanomamo society, arranged marriages are common and the marriage is often based on survival and other economic factors. The men are given a higher position or role and the women are treated as servants and properties of other members of the society. The female members of this community are not allowed to participate in most of the activities but the preparation is done by the females themselves.

Their system of marriage also involves cross-cousin marriage and other related practices. Yanomami women are responsible almost all of the domestic chores except hunting which is primarily done by the men. Marriage is considered to be really important even though it does not involve any real marriage practices. The marriages are arranged by the older men or brothers or other family members who arrange these marriages as a sort of political pact or process. The men promise to marry their daughters or other female members to make friendly alliances and it involves a kind of a marriage exchange.

The women are not asked for their consent or given a chance to make a decision about their own lives. The Yanomamo men take pride in having as many wives and children as they can have (Yanomamo marriage, Web). . One of the other important cultural practice followed by the Yanomami is the slash and burn horticulture. This is one of the oldest practices followed by this community. The Yanomami remain in an area of land as long as it is able to support them. In this practice, the members of this community clear the forest by cutting the tall trees and vegetation, after which they burn it in an open area in order to grow plants.

They slash and burn just enough of the forest so as to get around 70%-80% of their food and other plants for required for religious practices as well as for medical purposes. They plant some seeds including those of plantains which are similar to bananas, seeds used for edible starchy root know as Cassava as well as other plants which are used for medicines, relishes and other sources of technology. After planting the seeds, they leave the garden untouched and allow it to grow back into a forest.

As the nutrients get reduced or depleted, the Yanomami are forced to move to new areas, often after two or three years, in order to find other clear grounds. This practice is important for the Yanomami as only 20% of their food comes from hunting and fishing and the other proteins and minerals necessary for their survival are obtained through this traditional practice (Yanomami: way of life, Web). The extreme traditional practices stated above as well as some other ones are still being followed today in some remote parts of Venezuela.

The Yanomami living in these areas are known for their aggressive behavior as they continue to fight with each other and are constantly at war with other tribes and villages of their own community (Chagnong, 1968). Their social life revolves around making friendly alliances with other groups through ways including trade and sharing of food as well as other items. This continuous nature of warfare in this community is the reason why anthropologists started studying this community since the middle of the 20th century.

Works Cited: "Yanomami: way of life." survival international. N.P., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2012. . Yanomami: way of life. (n.d.). Survival international. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/yanomami/wayoflife Yanomamo Marriage. (n.d.). University of Manitoba. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/tutor/case_studies/yanomamo/marriage.html Yanomamo Social Distance. (n.d.). University of Manitoba. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/tutor/case_studies/yanomamo/soc_dist.

html 1995, R. H. (n.d.). Yanomamo reader for HRAF (YANREADG) | Raymond Hames, Professor | University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln | Go Big | Undergraduate, Graduate and Law Degrees from a Research 1, Big Ten University. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from http://www.unl.edu/rhames/courses/212/YANREADG.htm. Chagnon, N. A. (1968). Yanomamo: The fierce people. New York ; Montre?al: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.