The Case of Darkness in El Dorado
…as the Yanomami
Group Three: Brian Staub
Colin Ricketts
Ryan Mercier
Andrew Kay
Courtney Calloway
Dan Colaiezzi
Where do they live?
Border of Venezuela and Brazil Orinoco River Basin
(Southern Venezuela) Amazon River Basin
(Northern Brazil) Approximately 363
Villages 30 to 90 Residents
each
How do they live?
Communal House Shabono Relocate approx. every 5
years
Horticulture Plantains Tobacco Vegetables Medicines
Foraging Monkeys Deer Foul Nuts, Fruits Fish
Social Organization
Each Village is Autonomous. Age, Sex, and Personal Accomplishments are
Important in Status Differentiation. “Yanomamö men acquire high status through valor
in combat, accomplished oratory, and expertise in shamanism”.
Mature men dominate positions of political authority and religious practice.
Local descent groups play important roles in regulating marriages and settling disputes within the village.
Family Structure
Monogamous or Polygynous nuclear families are the rule.
Marital partners ought to be cross-cousins.
Men and women average 2.8 marital partners. 75% due to divorce as a result of death
to male or female partner.
What problems do they face?
Conflict with other villages Brazilian Gold Miners (Beginning 1980s)
Physical Health Effects Noise from supply planes scaring away game. Mercury dumped in rivers. Introduction of new illnesses.
Social System Effects Introduction of Alcohol outside ritual leads to
violence. Introduction of prostitution.
Major Changes
Growing dependency on trade with outsiders for metal goods. Pots, arrows, fish hooks, axes, etc.
Effects of Brazilian Gold Miners
The Controversy
October 1, 2000 - Patrick Tierney publishes The Darkness in El Dorado Sensational revelations Exposes people of prestige in the anthropological community
Main Focus: Long term project of study of the Yanomami organized by James
Neel in which Chagnon, Asch, and numerous other anthropologists took part
Tierney’s Revelations: Project was an outgrowth and continuation of the AEC’s
experiments on human subjects Neel and Chagnon started an epidemic of measles An attempt to provide scientific support for Neel’s eugenic
theory
Role in Controversy
The Yanomami people are the “subjects” in the case of The Darkness in El Dorado Neel-Chagnon anthropological research in the
1960s Patrick Tierney’s detailed book titled The Darkness
in El Dorado Investigations by the AAA, and both Venezuela’s
and Brazil’s government The victims of alleged “culture-destroying”
practices
Benefits
Ties to the real world. Gained modern day
tools and weapons, through trade. axes, machetes, fish
hooks, cooking pots
Losses
Yanomami culture was given bad image. Napoleon Chagnon’s book The Fierce People.
Changes in everyday life. Broken alliances.
Relationship with the Anthropologists
Yanomami and anthropologists were allies for the most part.
Yanomami gave anthropologists information in return for goods (soap, machetes, etc.).
The anthropologists introduced the Yanomami to things such as healthcare and vaccinations.
Yanomami gave names to their “friends” the anthropologists (i.e. Waru).
Yanomami made the anthropologists establish friendships upon entering their territory.
The Yanomami in Venezuela and Brazil
Are considered full citizens by both governments.
They are mostly ignored by the two governments.
Both countries failed to the Yanomami from invasion into their land. Which led to disease, pollution and
frequent violent encounter.
Venezuela Relationship
Yanomami are full citizens with rights to language, culture, religion and political organization.
Government promised to provide healthcare, but has never delivered on the promise.
Government failed to protect Yanomami from miners in the late 80’s, early 90’s.
The Yanomami were awarded a National Park in 1990 after suing Venezuela Government.
Brazil Relationship
Yanomami are full citizens. National Congress can permit the use
of their land for hydroelectric and mining projects.
As in Venezuela, Brazilian government failed to protect Yanomami from rogue miners.
Brazil Relationship Continued
The Northern Perimeter Roadway made it easier for ranchers and miners to take over Yanomami land.
Led to disease, violence, loss of land and pollution.
Yanomami made claims of rapes at nearby military bases.
Sources
Shabono - http://www.yanomami.de/yanomami.html Overview Shot of Yanomami Village -
http://www.socioambiental.org/pib/epienglish/yanomami/land.shtm Settlement Patterns - http://www.unl.edu/rhames/212/YANREADG.htm
Benefits & Losses -http://members.aol.com/archaeodog/darkness_in_el_dorado/documents/0421.htm
http://phschool.com/science/science_news/articles/rumble_in_jungle.html
Role in Controversy – http://www.ratical.org/ratville/Yanomami.html www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0204/q_n_a.html http://members.aol.com/archaeodog/darkness_in_el_dorado/index.htm