PART-B

Globalization has led to the

Resurgence of ethnic identities
CASE ANALYSIS

SUBMITTED BY:

VARSHA BHOOTRA
 Bribri Case Analysis

The Setup:
A meeting has been called to discuss and take decision whether to allow mining
activities which is to be conducted by the Canadian Mining Corporation in the
southwestern region of Costa Rica, Di Tsi.The Canadian company proposes to mine
for gold and copper in the region. The decision whether to embrace mining or not is
one of the most important the village has faced in over a decade. Even if mining as an
industry is rejected, many alternative paths exist and compete for community
approval. Many in the crowd believe that more is at stake than whether or not to
accept the company's offer; the meeting feels like a kind of referendum on the future
of Di Tsi. It has become more of a choice whether to go for economic development or
to sit back and worry about the cultural survival.

The Community and their Culture:

Di Tsi is located in an indigenous reservation of Talamanca, where a small population of
approximately 5200 Bribri people has maintained an indigenous language and self-identifies
as culturally different from the rest of the nation. Furthermore, the Bribri are regarded by the
Costa Rican government and numerous international organizations as having a unique
indigenous culture.

Many Bribri are isolated and have their own language. This has allowed them to maintain
their indigenous culture, although it has also resulted in less access to education and health
care. Although the group has the lowest income per capita in the country, they are able to
raise much of their own produce, medicine, and housing materials, and earn cash to purchase
what they can't grow themselves through tourism and by selling cacao, bananas, and plantain.

The Bribri social structure is organized in Clans. Each clan is composed of an extended
family. The clan system is matrilineal, that is, a child's clan is determined by the clan his or
her mother belongs to. This gives women a very important place in Bribri society since they
are the only ones that can inherit land and prepare the sacred cacao drink that is essential for
their rituals.

Men's roles are defined by their clan, and often are exclusive for men. Examples of these
roles are the "awa" or shaman, and the "oko", the only person allowed to touch the remains of
the dead, sing funeral songs, and prepare the food eaten at funerals.

Agriculture is the main activity of the Bribri. The Bribri are isolated, and have developed an
extensive bartering system.

The Bribri spiritual practice centers about the conical house.The conical house is a symbolic
representation of the universe.
The Views of various Groups:
1.Pro-mining Residents:

The mining base would bring out following benefits:

a. Over 300 wage paying jobs would be created.

b. The earnings in the community would help support many small businesses
c. Scope of improvements and enhancements of the medical services available both in
the village and country’s capital.

2.Grassroots Organization:

a. The mining project would be detrimental to Di Tsi.

b. Fears that mining will destroy the natural resources and also disrupt the cultural
identity
c. The leaching process would release mercury into the water resources affecting the
water supply
d. Would prefer a method that preserves the harmony which aligns with the way of their
life

3.Women Organization:

a. Women would lose power within the home.

b. Jobs will be created only for men.
c. Would loosen the decision-making process in the village and also affect the everyday
life
d. Children would be tempted to leave the Bribri language

The Conclusion:
The perspectives for both the anti-mining and also the individuals of Pro-mining occupants
appear to make persuading Concerning illustration they state profitable profits for the
individuals Previously, two diverse ways, yet the sees from claiming ace mining occupants
develop stronger over the individuals about against mining occupants Similarly as the
individuals will assistance Previously, diversion and improvement of the people of the town
particularly upgrading those therapeutic facilities, expanding the approaches of finding their
hotspot of wage Similarly as different commercial enterprises will quickly take after after
these and chances to individuals to succeed their expectation for everyday life. It might also
lighted the soul of constantly Monetarily autonomous Also will stop being dependent on
others for their survival, which might help them in the long run. Such a pattern might help
done empowering the individuals of the land should Figure answers for their ordinary
lifestyle Also likewise make an aggressive soul Furthermore character for the planet. The
elders of the town need aid not totally not right Likewise they need to stay with and parity the
middle of both social What's more monetary development, Anyway this kind from claiming
social collaboration might assistance them create themselves and bring them An step closer
of the outside universe the place they will get the purposes of presentation they need and will
pick up the k learning about looking after a best possible parity between both. Keeping
ecological maintainability calculate in mind, considering of a better elective proposition may
be not an awful perfect. Be that as as for now, continuously Practical Furthermore keeping in
touch with you must be clear in your reasoning for available might worth of effort the best for
those town What's more upgrade gathering those vital needs for example, employment and
therapeutic help might be on necessity. Those apprehensions indicated Toward the ladies
group keeping camwood be taken under record Furthermore functioned upon in the procedure
from claiming improvement for example, such that guaranteeing rise to necessity to both men
What's more ladies On the whole parts. Overall, the clue from claiming grasping the mining
exercises ought make welcomed entire heartedly bringing under account the have for those
society and the land to develop and adjust to those reality guidelines.

Another similar case which I found was that of the towering dilemma

The Towering Dilemma

1. Summary: In 1994, Deborah Liggett who was the superintendent of Devils Tower
National Monument in north-eastern Wyoming, along with her co-workers had been trying
to find a way to manage the conflicting uses of the monument for almost two years. Devils
Tower, in 1906 was established as the nation’s first national monument.

However, climbing on the tower was seen to be offensive to American Indians for a long
time. Thus, Devils Tower faces a significant issue : traditional use in conflict with
recreational use. National Park Services (NPS) began an environmental assessment that led
to the development of preservation and protection of the monument.

Thus, an increased understanding between the two principal users of the

monument- rock climbers and American Indians, was to be brought about since
both had different perceptions about the Tower. Also, environmentalists were
concerned about the rich ecology around the tower being destroyed. For the same,
various plans were put out regarding the use of the tower and Deborah had to choose one
of those plans for being implemented by National Park Service.

2. Arguments & Conflicts

 2.1 By the American Indians:
 Crow people believe that it was put there for a special reason, i.e. the
tower has supernatural origin.
 Another tribe regards it as a protector; the rock saved 7 girls from a bear.
 Lakota Sioux believe that their people have an ancient and sacred
relationship with the monument, which they consider their place of
creation.
 To American Indians, the tower long has been regarded as a spiritual place
and a pilgrimage destination.

2.2 By the Rock Climbers:

 For climbers, it is a premier destination in North America.
 It is recognized as one of the premier crack climbing areas in America.
 In recent years more than 6,000 climbers have scaled the tower annually.
 A spiritual experience for the rock climbers.
 In 1994, seven commercial climbing guide companies depended on climbing
activities at the monument for their economic well-being.

2.3 By the Environmentalists:

 A significant part of ecoregion.
 Increasing use of the tower by climbers would destroy or disrupt the natural
qualities of the tower.
 Larger number of climbers and climbing routes would destroy vegetation,
increase erosion and reduce the tower’s capacity to serve as wildlife
habitat.
 Negative effects on nesting raptors.

2.4 Controversy:
 The children residing there were being wrongly influenced by the language
and behaviour of the climbers.
 Indians did not like climbers driving metal bolts and pitons into the tower to
assist with climbing. They thought it would affect the spiritual quality of the
tower.

3. Plans/Policies available to Deborah:

 Allow unlimited climbing and bolting.

 Continue with the current policies and regulations.
 Closure of climbing in June and regulated bolting.
 Closure of climbing in June and ban new bolting (but replacement of old
allowed).
 Closure of climbing in June and ban on bolting of any type.
 Permanently close the tower for climbing.
4. Example from Contemporary Times:

The Western Ghats are a unique ecosystem, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and a
place that resided huge number of tribals. This chain of mountains was once largely
occupied by hunting and gathering societies — until tea and coffee were introduced into
the region as commercial crops by colonial planters with the active encouragement of the
state.

The result was enormous ecological devastation as hundreds of square kilometers of forest
were destroyed in order to establish plantations. These plantations pulled in hundreds and
thousands of non-tribal settlers from the plains as tea pickers and also as peasants. The
indigenous cultures — indigenous to that ecosystem — were swamped and destroyed.

4.1 In this example, there was a similar situation like that of a case. The ecosystem
was and tribal habitation was in danger, but there was no solidarity, unlike as
shown by the American Indians in the case.
5. Relate: “Globalisation has led to the resurgence of cultural identities.”

Globalization supplements cultural identity. A total of 286 letters and two petitions were
received which is a clear indicator of togetherness among people. If the policy of allowing
the climbers to climb the tower throughout the year except June and restricting the
bolting is executed, then both, the climbers and the American Indians would be mutually
content. Measures to protect the ecosystem and surroundings of the tower should be
mandatorily taken by the climbers as well as the Indians for protection and prevention
purposes.

The selection of this policy and its administration would be resurgence of cultural
identities.