KAYAPO – Traditions and Temperament theme musicHeres a program from our archives.For the Kayapo people of the Brazilian Amazon, their traditions have helped them become a powerful force in maintaining sovereignty over their environment. I’m Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.Kayapo music When their lands were threatened by the construction of a dam, the Kayapo organized a successful protest, helped in part by their customs and their temperament.Turner: The Kayapo have always had a warlike tradition. They have fought against one another. They’ve fought other tribes. They actually re-conquered large stretches of their territory that had been seized illegally by the government or by settlers.”Terry Turner is a professor of Anthropology at the University of Chicago.Turner: The Kayapo have a tradition of ceremonial and political organization within their communities that is much more highly developed than that of many of Amazonian Indian groups. The Kayapo have a tradition of communities going up well over a thousand people organized in elaborate sets of groupings, age set groupings, ceremonial societies, and these groups serve as military units. They serve for political purposes. They have a tradition of public oratory and political debate that both men and women take part in. You can often see in a village one individual standing in the middle of the plaza giving a great big speech, and anybody who’s out in the houses is supposed to be listening.The Kayapo’s unique oratorical style served them well in meetings with Brazilian authorities. The proceedings were punctuated by dramatic testimonials from both men and women, demanding that their lands be spared from the flood waters of the dam.This archival program is part of our thirtieth anniversary celebration. Im Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.
Tradition as Weapon
A history of confrontation made the Kayapo formidable opponents to a government plan to flood their lands. This archival program is part of our 30th anniversary celebration. Anthropologist Terry Turner (1935-2015) was a strong proponent for the rights of indigenous peoples.
Air Date:07/25/2018
Scientist:
Transcript:
KAYAPO - Traditions and Temperament theme musicHeres a program from our archives.For the Kayapo people of the Brazilian Amazon, their traditions have helped them become a powerful force in maintaining sovereignty over their environment. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.Kayapo music When their lands were threatened by the construction of a dam, the Kayapo organized a successful protest, helped in part by their customs and their temperament.Turner: The Kayapo have always had a warlike tradition. They have fought against one another. They've fought other tribes. They actually re-conquered large stretches of their territory that had been seized illegally by the government or by settlers."Terry Turner is a professor of Anthropology at the University of Chicago.Turner: The Kayapo have a tradition of ceremonial and political organization within their communities that is much more highly developed than that of many of Amazonian Indian groups. The Kayapo have a tradition of communities going up well over a thousand people organized in elaborate sets of groupings, age set groupings, ceremonial societies, and these groups serve as military units. They serve for political purposes. They have a tradition of public oratory and political debate that both men and women take part in. You can often see in a village one individual standing in the middle of the plaza giving a great big speech, and anybody who's out in the houses is supposed to be listening.The Kayapo's unique oratorical style served them well in meetings with Brazilian authorities. The proceedings were punctuated by dramatic testimonials from both men and women, demanding that their lands be spared from the flood waters of the dam.This archival program is part of our thirtieth anniversary celebration. Im Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.