The Batek of Malaysia Yolanda Moody Ant. 101 Prof.

Arion Melidonis January 11, 2011

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Since it has only been as recent as the last 40 years that roads could be constructed for purposes of logging, the Batek were widespread throughout the rainforest of the Amazon. With the forest now exposed the Batek are confined to mainly Taman Negrara National Park, and its surrounding area. The Batek of Malaysia also known as one of the original affluent societies, are known for their nomadic and foraging lifestyle. While the population has decreased due to government encroachment within the last 40 years, the Batek have been able to hold onto social organization and gender relationships because the Batek have been able to hold onto its traditional beliefs and values the Batek have maintained their identity, and the Batek have move throughout the forest to maintain these traditions.

The Batek of Malaysia I. Introduction A. Thesis Statement While the population has decreased due to government encroachment within the last forty years, the Batek have been able to hold on to social organization and gender relationships because the Batek have been able to hold onto its traditional beliefs and value, the Batek have maintained their identity, and the Batek have move throughout the forest to maintain these traditions.

II.

Body Paragraph #1-Topic Sentence#1

The Batek has been able to hold on to social organization and gender relationships. A. It is the moral obligation for Batek to share food for which they have acquired. Normally the person who harvests the food items will first give to their immediate family, then to their extended family and finally the rest of the camp. If everyone is giving to everyone else, a family who is down on their luck will still have food. (2008, Feburary 12) Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia.

B. The Batek have only two important levels of social organization: the nuclear family and the camp.(1981) Asian Pacific Journal of Anthropology

C.

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Batek are a peaceful society. If a member of the group has a conflict with another member they will discuss it privately. Since each adult member of the camp is equal, there is no internal leader or adjudication system so one or both aggrieved parties will leave camp until cool heads prevail. Batek (2008, February 12) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

II.

Body Paragraph#2- Topic Sentence#2 The Batek have not allowed government encroachment on their land in the last 40 years to affect their values and traditions.

A. However, the Batek still follow a nomadic lifestyle. As with other tribal groups, urbanization, development and the togging of their traditional habitats has resulted in their numbers fatting and has pushed them deep into the protected national park of Taman Negara. Exploring Eye, (2010, October 10) pgs. 1-2. The Architectural Review. B. All these societies are nomadic and positively value movement. The system is one in which people travel light unencumbered, as they see it, by possessions and by commitments (1980:99) The Asian Pacific Journal of Anthropology. C. Indigenous people struggle for their rights to keep their resources, this affects their sustainability. This is why they are opposed to social and environmental change from the outside. (2006) Nature in Asian Indigenous Traditions. III. Body Paragraph#3-Topic Sentence#3 Although non indigenous lowlanders of the Amazon have basically tried a form of religious colonialism by pressuring the indigenous highlanders to convert to

Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism. The depletion of biological diversity goes together with the depletion of cultural diversity throughout the region. (2006), Nature in Asian Indigenous Traditions

A. Through the examination of TEK, some argue that many indigenous groups operate without sharp human-nature dichotomy familiar in the west and coexist peacefully with nature. (2006) Nature in Asian Indigenous Traditions. B. Most Batek are unwilling to settle in Pos Labir because it has not been dedicated to the Batek, they would have to leave there if the government asked and they would loss their nomadic lifestyle and their religion. (2008, February 12) Wikipedia C. Since the Batek are one of a few peaceful societies left, it is unfortunate that the government is trying to change the way that these people have existed for all these years. If the government is going to presently intrude on the Batek land it would appear that they would come to a formidable resolution with the Batek out of respect for the environment, traditions, and culture. IV. Conclusion The Batek have move throughout the forest to maintain their identity and hold onto its traditional belief and values. They have also maintained social organization and kinship relationships. Over the last 40 years government encroachment of their land has caused a decrease in population.

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References

Endicott, L. K. (1981) The Conditions of Egalitarian Male-Female Relationships In Foraging Societies. Asian Pacific Journal of Anthropology (4)2, 1 -10. Retrieved from http://.www.informaworld.com

Endicott, K. (1979) The World View and Rituals of Hunting and Gathering People of Penisular Malaysia. The Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (4)14, 234 Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/action

Jon, B. (2010) Exploring Eye. The Architectural Review (column) 1-2. Retrieved from http://www.thefreelibrary.com

Nowak, B. & Laird, P. (2010) Cultural Anthropology sec. (3.2). Retrieved from http://contents.ashford.edu./books/auant.

Po-Tuck, L. (2002) The Significance of Forest to Emergence of Batek Knowledge. Southeast Asian Studies (40)1, 18-19. Retrieved from http://www.cseas.kyoto-u-.ac.jp/seaas.

Po-Tuck, L. (2005) The Meaning of Trees: Forest and Identity for Batek of Pahang, Malaysia. (6)3, 249-261. Retrieved from http://webebscohost.com.

Winzeler, R. (1999) The Indigenous People and the State: Politics, Land and Ethnicity in Malaysian Peninsula and Borneo (72)1. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.

Witt, J. (2006) Nature in Asian Indigenous Tradition, World Views Environment , Culture, Religion (10)1 40-68. Retrieved from http://webebcohost.com Wikipedia (2008) The free encyclopedia (2-3). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/batek.

Peaceful Societies (2010) Alternatives to Violence and War (1-3). Retrieved from http://peacefulsocieties.org.