Write a paper based on your reading of one ethnography.

Write a paper based on your reading of one ethnography.

Families of the forest, by Alan Johnson (lifestyle of the Matsigenka Amazonian natives) – Attached as a PDF.

Assignment

Read one of the ethnographies found on the course syllabus page, identify the populations needs, resources, and propose a development project that meets

one or more of the needs integrating the resources available.

Paper

The paper will have four parts:

(1) an overview of the culture group described in the ethnography (not a book review) (about 1 to 2 pages); this is not a book review but will cover the populations demographics, language, culture basics (e.g. mode of subsistence, marriage, and inheritance systems) and cultural history (e.g. history of contact with Europeans, recent migrations/issues). I recommend using outside sources to supplement information in the book. Often, Wikipedia has reliable, up-to-date information on these groups. Imagine as if someone paid you to visit these populations and provide a general overview of their culture, population, size, and cultural history. It will be good if you can link together your overview with later sections (e.g. such needs are not surprising given a history of numerous forced migrations)

(2) a needs and resource assessment based on the ethnographic description (1 page);

Needs: This is similar to what you did for your community. Instead of interviewing people, however, you will get the needs based upon the ethnographers observations. Given your readings, what are the most pressing needs of the population, or segment of the population? Why are the needs you have chosen most pressing? Make sure to provide examples from the book that shine light on these needs (e.g. domestic violence is rampant in the groups. The author recounts a story where)

Resources: What are the resources available to the community? Resources can be anything that has potential to help the community, especially in terms of your proposed development project. Examples of resources: proximity to resources that can be sold abroad (e.g. coffee, baskets); health clinics/schools, even if ru-down or in distant locations. Your development project could include making access to these resources feasible (e.g. fixing/stocking a health clinic). Again, provide examples from books relating to these resources (e.g. the author observes that the area would be good for growing)

(3) a proposed development project that meets one or more of the needs described (1 page); This development project must meet one or more of the needs you discussed. Integrate one or more of the resources you identified in the project. Identify four possible NGOs/businesses/government entities that could aid in implementing your development project.

A (very) simple example of development project:

Need: food to decrease infant mortality

Resources: a climate conducive to coffee growing and a womens organization

Development project: Write an outline for a grant proposal to an NGO concerned with female empowerment (e.g. providing training for growing/harvesting coffee). Petition a government program that provides agricultural aid (e.g., clearing fields, fertilizer). Find and describe four businesses/NGOs/government programs that aid in getting organic certification and bringing coffee to international markets.

(4) a list and brief description of 4 funding sources. Give specific examples of how each source will support the development project you propose.

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