Cultural anthropology and the Higaonon Tribe of Mindanao Essay

Cultural anthropology and the Higaonon Tribe of Mindanao - Essay Example Cultural anthropology refers to ‘the study of human society and culture,the sub-field that describes,explains social and cultural similarities and differences’.In order to study and interpret cultural diversity, Keesing highlights that cultural anthropologists must engage in ethnographic activity Ethnography therefore provides an account of a particular community, society and culture, and allows researchers to study local behavior beliefs, customs, social life, economic activities, politics and religion according to Kottak (2009). Introduction and Location of the Higaonon Tribe of Mindanao The Higaonon tribal population currently stands at an estimated 350, 000, and largely reside over five distinct provinces – Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte. They are traditionally a nomadic tribe, traveling from one mountain to another, looking for fertile soil for a fruitful harvest. The name Higaonon is derived from the words â €˜higa’ meaning   living, the word ‘goan’, which   means mountains and the word ‘onon’ meaning people. The Higaonon tribe has thus become known as ‘people of the living mountains’. Since ‘creation times’ the Higaonon are said to have lived in their forest home, undisturbed, managing the forest in a natural and harmonious way. Higaonon Tribe Dynamics The tribe consists of eight clans centred around the eight main rivers of the Higaonon’s ‘Ancestral Domain’. These clans are divided into the warrior and peaceful clans. However, both clans now exist in peace with one another. They follow a Datuship system of government, in which each Datu (generally an elder) is trained in distinct areas of expertise, e.g. in education or spirituality. However, the Datu always leads as an administrator, and never as a ruler. Social and Cultural Customary Laws and Sacred Teachings of the Higaonon The social and cultural dynamics of the Higaonon tribal people are governed by the customary laws of Bunkatol Ha Bulawan Daw Nang Ka Tasa ha Lana, which means ‘treasured unity’ or code of conduct. It is a sacred bond that unites the entire Higaonon people, who share a common root language, history and culture (Jong, 2010). These sacred teachings include; Don't go against the law Don't disobey the sacred orders Don't be an egotistic or self-centred person Don't compare yourself to others Don't be envious of others Asking and Giving is the greatest gift of Creation Love one another Live in Peace Equality among Men Listen to everyone Religious Teaching In The Higaonon Tribe The Higaonon tribes are very spiritual and believe that every living thing has a spirit that guides or animates its behavior. The forest is viewed as the Higaonon people’s ‘church’, in which they believe that their ancestor’s spirits live in the mother trees, watching over the land. Prayer rituals a re offered to deities over sacrifices of blood, in which chickens and pigs are usually scarified to ‘the forest spirits’. Human sacrifice does not form a part of Higaonon tribal religion. Tribal burials consist of a ritual washing and cleansing of the corpse in which jewellery and face and body painting decorates the dead body to allow the spirits to identify the dead person in question. This is followed by the cremation of the body, in which the smoke and fire is believed to release the spirit of the deceased. The Higaonon tribe are also true peace loving people, and have been given the name ‘weavers of peace’ (The United Association of Higaonon Tribes, 2011) This is because their strive for peace is expressed in their traditional woven fabric, the Hinabol. The

The Almighty Latin King and Queen Research Paper

The Almighty Latin King and Queen - Research Paper Example One of the oldest, largest and most organized street gangs in the United States of America has been the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN) which is a Hispanic street gang, dating back to the 1940s in Chicago, Illinois. A reflective exploration of the history of this street gang confirms that ALKQN was originated for the same ideologies for which other street gangs were established, i.e. to protect their rights and to fight injustice, but it soon turned out to be one of the most violent street gangs in the nation. The history of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation offers a convincing case of analysis on the gang phenomenon in the nation, because on the one had this gang is one of the most notorious and criminally pursued gangs in the U.S. and, on the other, it claims to be a social movement working on certain essential social values. As Brotherton and Barrios (2004) argue, â€Å"when one of the most notorious and most criminally pursued gangs in the United States, the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation of New York City, declares that it is a social movement acting on behalf of the dispossessed, renouncing violence, refusing to be associated with the underground economy, and making school attendance a criterion of membership, it is time to take a closer look at the gang phenomenon.† (Brotherton and Barrios, 2004, p. xv). Therefore, this paper makes a profound analysis of the street gang ALKQN, focusing on its history, way of working, major ideologies, criticisms, etc. A detailed examination of the history of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation confirms that this street gang was introduced by Gino Gustavo Colon in Chicago, Illinois, during the 1940s. As their manifesto indicates, ALKQN was formed initially in the Illinois prison system to protect the Latino inmates, Puerto Ricans and Mexicans first arriving in the United States. It is important to recognize that this gang has become one of the most powerful and populated Latino urban g angs in the nation having nearly fifty thousand members in the Chicago area alone. However, it has also become one of the most notorious and criminally pursued gangs in the United States. â€Å"Started in the 1940s, the Latin Kings began as many other gangs did – to protect each other, to fight injustice, and to better themselves and their communities. However, over time, they became one of Chicago’s most violent street gangs.† (Kinnear, 2009, p. 189). Therefore, it is significant to realize that the history of the ALKQN has had a mixed impact on the nation’s social scenario and it has become one of the well-organized entities influencing the youth culture of the nation. One may also take note of the fact that the exact date or reason for the inauguration of this gang is unknown, although several factors may have contributed to its origin. One major argument, as their manifesto maintains, is that the ALKQN was introduced as a prisoner self-help group for Latino inmates in the Illinois prison system. According to the community leaders in Chicago, â€Å"it began as a street group called the Latin Angels during the 1950s and later became the Latin Kings during the 1960s. Another explanation for the group’s origin is †¦ that prior to 1965 there was little evidence of the Latin Kings†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Kontos and Brotherton, 2008, p. 3). Thus, it becomes obvious that the exact year of, or reason for, the origin of the Almighty