1

Article #7: Amazonian Agriculturalists Bound by Subsistence Hunting.

by Eric Minzenberg & Richard WallacePublished in: Journal of Cultural Geography, 28(1), 99-

121.

Geography Topic: Subsistence - kinship economies of the Amazonian Caboclo communities, Natural Resource Management in the Amazon Basin

2

Topic, Population & Setting:• Topic: An ethnographic study of the Caboclo

community kinship systems of subsistence hunting in the Amazon (Abstract – p. 99)

• Geographical Setting: Amazonian Caboclo communities in Seringal Sao Salvador, western Brazilian state of Acre, Amazon Basin

• Rural Brazil: Sustainable Development Project – PDS, local resource management of wildlife

• Cultural systems: social conflict & cohesion of Kinship - “non-market exchange of game meat between rural households” (p. 100)p. 99 – Abstract & Introduction, p. 103 – Study location map

3

ABrazilian connection:Immigrants in Framingham, MA have friends & relatives in Marietta, GA & Atlanta, GA p. 484

Setting: San Salvador, Guajara, Brazilian state of Acre, western Amazon Basin

4Resource Management Areas, Acre, Brazil

Rubber Tapping – part of subsistence economy – supplement income

Kapok Trees – Western Brazilian Natural Landscape

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/kapok.htm

Slash & Burn– deforestation for agriculture to support Population

5

Study Purpose, Objective & Rationale• 1. What impact did the transition of Caboclo communities of

Sao Salvador, Brazil from the debt-peonage of rubber tapping back to hunting kinship culture have on maintaining cultural-environmental stability?

• 2. Researchers explore the significance of the Caboclo settlement residents who are engaged in transitions of subsistence to market-based agricultural production. (p. 102)

• Research Objective: Examine the socio-cultural dynamics of subsistence hunting for Caboclo families in Sao Salvador, Brazil

Rationale:Understanding the community of subsistence hunting and how maintenance of kinship & meat exchange play a major role in maintaining the ecosystem & support the Caboclo communities.

6

Cultural Geography of Caboclo Peoples• Caboclo communities– Descendants of

miscegnation of Indigenous Peoples with the Portuguese & Africans from NE Brazil (p. 99).

• Subsistence hunting- Term to describe non-market living in the Amazon

• Deb-peonage system – Caboclo paid % of rubber harvest to the land developers

• Kinship ties – beyond economic & into the inter-household exchanges: “Social conflict & tension – part of household meat exchange among families, maintains cultural cohesion & stabilizes the physical environment of western Amazon

7

Historical Background of Sao SalvadorRubber economy from 1930’s to 1990 – The debt-peonage rubber system required a rubber tapper or “Seringueiro” to pay annual land-use fee of 50 mg of rubber to the Patrao (Pedro de Morais). Estimates of 600 kg of rubber or 10% in payment to the de Morais family (p. 102).1980’s Morais family left Brazil, Caboclo had to make a “livelihood transition” for each household & family:Subsistence fishing & hunting & market sales of rubber & local fish & meat2005 –rubber tapping no longer the main economic activity (p. 103)

8

Ethnography & Cultural Geography of Traditional Amazonian Peoples

• The Researchers studied the culture of the Caboclo communities by observation, interviews, and participation in community councils

• Study indicates game hunting sustains natural environment & inter-household ties

• Outside strategies such as animal rearing to conserve regional wildlife backfire & disturb traditional “socio-economic relationships in rural communities.”

• Study shows need for further ethnographic research to: understand existing & emergence of “socio-cultural” cultures in their “local contexts” i.e. the Caboclo communities in the state of A

9

Management of common property resources

• Kinship ties– intra-household connections are a “regulatory mechanism” of exploitation of meat & game resources in the PDS settlement

• Cattle Rearing – Land intensive, destroys forest & displaces Indigenous People whose culture & practices maintain the ecosystem.

• Deforestation – dislocates people & disrupts linkages between households. Incredibly destructive for short-term gain.

10

Commentary• “Kinship ties” maintain relationships among

the People – hunting practice is the principal mechanism through which kinship is enacted and households are held together.

• PDS Sao Salvador environmental reserve created to slow deforestation of subsistence agriculture. Allow Caboclo communities to maintain game hunting for sustenance & to maintain sustainable socio-economic culture.