Indigenous peoples or cultures can be defined as people native to a specific geographic area. These ethnic groups will share common social characteristics that help to identify them as a distinct group of people. This exercise is designed to help you explore an indigenous group that may not be very well known. There are hundreds of these groups around the world, varying widely in population and characteristics. Be aware that nationalities and religious affiliations are not ethnic groups. There is no single website that works for all ethnic groups, but the links listed below may be a good place to start.
Remember that you will be looking for indigenous groups, which by definition are usually groups of people that are not necessarily integrated into main stream society, so web pages may not be an everyday concept in their culture. There is good information out there, but it can be difficult to find. Be patient, and do not resort to Wikipedia.
http://www.mongabay.com/indigenous_ethnicities/
http://www.peoplesoftheworld.org/bypeople
Investigating an indigenous culture:
1. Choose an indigenous group to research. Be careful to select a specific group of indigenous people, not an association of groups. For example, the First Nations Assembly in Canada is an association of several of their indigenous peoples and would be very difficult to use in completing this assignment. Any one of the groups within that assembly would, however, be an appropriate choice.
2. Find at least two good sources of information on your group. Be sure to provide a complete bibliography of all the sources you use as a reference, and cite them in your text summary as appropriate. Please note that Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable source of information.
3. Locate and label their location on a blank map. Do not download any maps provided with your group’s information—you must make your own map! (See the suggestions below for getting a blank outline map.)
4. Using the information from all the sites you consult, write a summary of your group. In your own words, describe your chosen group. For example, where do they live, what is their natural environment (climate, resources, etc.), what are some characteristic of their culture, what language(s) do they speak, what are some unique things about this group, language, music, rituals, traditional foods etc.
5. Conclude your summary with a paragraph of your impressions. For example, did you know this culture existed? Do you think they will maintain their indigenous identity or are they an endangered culture?
6. No page limits, but you should have a minimum of two double-spaced pages plus your map(s), a 500 word minimum. Use the proper required format for our exercises and turn in a printed copy by March 23rd.
Finding a blank base map to locate your indigenous group:
There are numerous maps available for downloading from on-line sources. You need to use a blank outline map that allows you to label countries, important water bodies, etc. One good source of blank outline maps is provided by the Arizona Geographic Alliance available at http://alliance.la.asu.edu/maps/maps.htm
A Google™ Image search for blank world map or other regional or country map will also give you several options to choose from. A good finished map will include your labels for geographic references to surrounding areas as well as pinpointing the region native to your group. (All labels on your maps should be done by your hand, no computer printed labels or shading are acceptable).
Grading Criteria (25 pts):
Appropriate format and content (#’s 1 & 6) 3 pts
Complete reference list (bibliography) with all sources used (# 2) 5 pts
Appropriate Map and Accurate Location (# 3) 5 pts
Detailed Cultural Summary (# 4) 7 pts
Impression Summary (# 5) 5 pts
25 pts
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