Comments on: Can Tribal Tourism Actually Help Preserve Indigenous Culture? http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/30/can-tribal-tourism-actually-help-preserve-indigenous-culture/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:15:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: DJ Sarver http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/30/can-tribal-tourism-actually-help-preserve-indigenous-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-69854 DJ Sarver Fri, 30 May 2008 18:18:29 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=547#comment-69854 Development is not always a good thing. For example: motor vehicles, fast food restaurants, drugs and alcohol, churches (that's right :-)), shopping centers, WAL-MART! And so forth. This is why America, since we have become one of the most highly developed countries, has the highest obesity rates, high production of unnecessary products leading to high levels of waste and pollution, and the stress of everyday life. Tourism might not be the best thing, but we have bigger problems to worry about when it comes to preserving other cultures. If we really, REALLY want to do something we need to stop cutting down forests! Just like animals, these HUMAN BEINGS inhabit the places, THEIR HOMES, that we are defacing everyday. And just like animals, these HUMAN BEINGS are going to quickly disappear off the face of the earth. Development is not always a good thing. For example: motor vehicles, fast food restaurants, drugs and alcohol, churches (that’s right :-) ), shopping centers, WAL-MART! And so forth. This is why America, since we have become one of the most highly developed countries, has the highest obesity rates, high production of unnecessary products leading to high levels of waste and pollution, and the stress of everyday life. Tourism might not be the best thing, but we have bigger problems to worry about when it comes to preserving other cultures. If we really, REALLY want to do something we need to stop cutting down forests! Just like animals, these HUMAN BEINGS inhabit the places, THEIR HOMES, that we are defacing everyday. And just like animals, these HUMAN BEINGS are going to quickly disappear off the face of the earth.

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]]> By: Pat http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/30/can-tribal-tourism-actually-help-preserve-indigenous-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-67892 Pat Mon, 19 May 2008 12:45:45 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=547#comment-67892 tribal tourism can show the traditions, values and lifestyles of indigenous common ties by inviting tourists to join rural people in their everyday lives tribal tourism can show the traditions, values and lifestyles of indigenous common ties by inviting tourists to join rural people in their everyday lives

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]]> By: Turner Wright http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/30/can-tribal-tourism-actually-help-preserve-indigenous-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-66349 Turner Wright Fri, 09 May 2008 06:04:24 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=547#comment-66349 In Japan, I believe it does more good than harm. There's an island south of the main group called Akusekijima, which celebrates the solar eclipse in the middle of July by resurrecting the native island tradition of dressing in grass skirts, donning huge wooden masks, and dancing to appease the gods. As there was little-to-no culture to begin with on these islands (fewer than 800 people on ten islands today), it's a little bit of a refresher to see descendents carrying this particular tradition on. July 22, 2009 - total solar eclipse festivities on the southern islands of Japan. In Japan, I believe it does more good than harm. There’s an island south of the main group called Akusekijima, which celebrates the solar eclipse in the middle of July by resurrecting the native island tradition of dressing in grass skirts, donning huge wooden masks, and dancing to appease the gods. As there was little-to-no culture to begin with on these islands (fewer than 800 people on ten islands today), it’s a little bit of a refresher to see descendents carrying this particular tradition on.

July 22, 2009 – total solar eclipse festivities on the southern islands of Japan.

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]]> By: Denise http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/30/can-tribal-tourism-actually-help-preserve-indigenous-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-65444 Denise Tue, 06 May 2008 18:35:16 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=547#comment-65444 This is my first comment...I just wanted to say that I believe what you stand for and what you do is remarkable, and that more people should take from your example and take the time to learn and appreciate other cultures. It takes all kinds of people to make up a world so why not be imformed about those who inhabit it? This is my first comment…I just wanted to say that I believe what you stand for and what you do is remarkable, and that more people should take from your example and take the time to learn and appreciate other cultures. It takes all kinds of people to make up a world so why not be imformed about those who inhabit it?

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]]> By: Andrea Kirkby http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/30/can-tribal-tourism-actually-help-preserve-indigenous-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-63795 Andrea Kirkby Fri, 02 May 2008 10:10:26 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=547#comment-63795 A very interesting piece. We don't have very joined-up attitudes to other cultures, sometimes. I know someone who wants to bring anti-malarial drugs to Africa and wants to ban FGM - but also wants to prevent tribal peoples from being 'corrupted'. (I wonder if the way Australian aborigines and Native Americans have started to develop and protect their cultures, while dealing with a modern world too, is relevant in Africa? That might be an interesting idea to follow up.) I thought it was very interesting that you allowed the local people to speak for themselves through your article. That brought a very fresh perspective. It's certainly an issue we should all be thinking about - whatever, in the end, we decide to do on our travels. A very interesting piece. We don’t have very joined-up attitudes to other cultures, sometimes. I know someone who wants to bring anti-malarial drugs to Africa and wants to ban FGM – but also wants to prevent tribal peoples from being ‘corrupted’.

(I wonder if the way Australian aborigines and Native Americans have started to develop and protect their cultures, while dealing with a modern world too, is relevant in Africa? That might be an interesting idea to follow up.)

I thought it was very interesting that you allowed the local people to speak for themselves through your article. That brought a very fresh perspective. It’s certainly an issue we should all be thinking about – whatever, in the end, we decide to do on our travels.

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]]> By: N. son http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/30/can-tribal-tourism-actually-help-preserve-indigenous-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-63697 N. son Fri, 02 May 2008 02:28:58 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=547#comment-63697 I think travelers don't damage traditional cultures if they are there for the right reasons. I don't mean bringing medical supplies, aid or food. I'm talking about speaking and seeing different people and to learn from each other. We as humans are in a musical. Tickets are sold out everynight but casting is hard. laughter is key and smacking a 30 yr old kid is A Ok. Do you know who we be? I think travelers don’t damage traditional cultures if they are there for the right reasons. I don’t mean bringing medical supplies, aid or food. I’m talking about speaking and seeing different people and to learn from each other. We as humans are in a musical. Tickets are sold out everynight but casting is hard.
laughter is key and smacking a 30 yr old kid is A Ok. Do you know who we be?

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]]> By: Julie http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/30/can-tribal-tourism-actually-help-preserve-indigenous-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-63252 Julie Thu, 01 May 2008 00:37:43 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=547#comment-63252 Lucy, Thanks for raising these questions and concerns, which apply not only to tribes but to "developing" countries in general. Lucy, Thanks for raising these questions and concerns, which apply not only to tribes but to “developing” countries in general.

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]]> By: Lola Akinmade http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/30/can-tribal-tourism-actually-help-preserve-indigenous-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-62985 Lola Akinmade Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:10:06 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=547#comment-62985 “People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” - Dagobert D. Runes Lucy - Definitely an insightful article and thanks for bringing it to the forefront. Once people stop struggling internally with the decision, thats when the real problem arises! “People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” – Dagobert D. Runes

Lucy – Definitely an insightful article and thanks for bringing it to the forefront.

Once people stop struggling internally with the decision, thats when the real problem arises!

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]]> By: Haley January Eckels http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/30/can-tribal-tourism-actually-help-preserve-indigenous-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-62965 Haley January Eckels Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:18:34 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=547#comment-62965 Very interesting piece, and it gives perspective to an increasing trend towards cultural/tribal tourism. In a way, all tourism aims at interacting with people unlike ourselves, but when it means interacting with a "traditional" group, we become nervous about the impact of our trips. While it's good to be conscious of the affect that Western contact can have on isolated tribes (i.e. disease), it's also a big presumptuous to assume that we should prevent them from becoming "modern" and worldly. Great food for thought, Lucy! Very interesting piece, and it gives perspective to an increasing trend towards cultural/tribal tourism. In a way, all tourism aims at interacting with people unlike ourselves, but when it means interacting with a “traditional” group, we become nervous about the impact of our trips. While it’s good to be conscious of the affect that Western contact can have on isolated tribes (i.e. disease), it’s also a big presumptuous to assume that we should prevent them from becoming “modern” and worldly.

Great food for thought, Lucy!

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