Ammali

​GROUP B

You live in a humid tropical land with a large saline lagoon. Coral reefs follow the coastline. There is less and less rainfall as you go inland. There are no rivers because the land is porous limestone (karst) which absorbs the rain, so fresh water is not readily available. However, there are underground reservoirs of water. Temperatures range from 30-35C all year round.

**Name:** Ammali
 * Peoples:** Ammalians
 * Prominent Geographic Features:** Bay, coral reef, tropical rain forest
 * What biota exist in your homeland?** Fish, pigs, tropical fruit, wild boars
 * Natural Resources**: Fresh water (from wells), wood, rain water, coral, flint, limestone
 * Resources needed:** Wool


 * SUBSISTENCE**


 * 1. What pattern(s) of subsistence will your culture follow?**

foraging horticulture(mainly wildcrafting and small garden plots)


 * 2. What resources does your territory have to support your subsistence pattern(s)?**

We have a rainforest called Donneur De Vie(Life-Giver) that has a abundance of vegetation and animals. Our Bay provides a variety of fish and other sealife to catch. Seafood such as shrimps and smaller fish are mainly caught exclusively for celebrations, such as when the Oracle visits the underground caves and the village converges on the shoreline of the lagoon. We also can collect freshwater from open cenotes and collecting rainwater through bromelaid plant(type of pineapple)The leaves act as gutters to collect rain. The largest bromeliads hold up to two gallons of water.

We have trees and plants that contain, but are not limited to: brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, bananas, plantains, pineapple, cucumber, cocoa, cofee, tea, avocados, papaya, guava, mango, cassave (starchy root), tapioca, yams, sweet potatos, orka, cinnamin, vanilla, nutmeg, mace, ginger, cayanne pepper, cloves, oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, passionfruit, peanuts, rice, sugar kane, coconuts, corn, black pepper, tumeric.

Insects make up a large portion of our food group. Meat from various birds and frogs make up food as well, not eaten as often as fruits and vegatables.


 * 3. How do the climate and seasons in your territory affect your subsistence pattern(s)?**

We live in a tropical rainforest so there is not a diffinative rainy season. The weather is realively consistant with a cool season between July and November when the winds blow from the NorthEast. We are able to continually forage for food.


 * 4. How will your subsistence pattern(s) relate to your population size and location?**

Our population size will be limited to 200 people and will be centralized around the rainforest that has easy access to the lagoon as well.


 * 5. How will the labour involved in subsistence be distributed among your people?**


 * 6. What technology do your people use for subsistence purposes?**

Blowguns, Fishing Spears(we have access to flint because of high limestone content in the land), Fishing Nets/lines made out of Palm rolled into a very strong twine, hunting knives, woven baskets for collecting vegetation

Bow and Arrows.


 * 7.** **What impact does your subsistence have on the environment?**

We are in harmony with our environment are we move around often to different parts of the rainforest which allows it to replenish it's self. Even the Palm tree which is used alot for our materials grows rapidly and is not depleated. We encourage preferred vegetation to grow by clearing away any competive plants so that we can acquire a greater quantity of that particular plant. However if we were to stop doing this it would soon return to it's natural state.


 * 8. How do your people clothe themselves?**

We are able to use plant based textiles such as the Chambira Palm which can be processed by peeling the top layer of the leaf(after its been harvested) and dried in the sun. The fibers can then be spun using a spindle and then woven into clothing. We also use animal skins of the larger animals we hunt. Animal skins are primarily worn by older males and the female Oracle are they are seen are containing the strengh of the animal.


 * 9. What type of shelter(s) do your people live in?**

Treehouses. Floor base is made out of the wood of the Palm tree which makes excellent floor planks. We are able to make thatched roofs from the Palm tree (ADD MORE LATER)


 * 10. Do your people have material goods? What kinds? Where do they come from?**

We have limited material goods as we move around often. They would be hunting tools such as spears, blowguns and knives. These are made out of bamboo and flint. We also are able to make baskets to gather and carry food. These are made from Palm Tree leaves that are woven.(ADD MORE)


 * 11. What is your people’s diet? How do they prepare food? What is a typical meal?**

Bananas, Plantains, Lime, Coconut, Pineapple, Sugar cane, wild pigs, fish and sea food on special occasions,


 * 12. Are there any celebrations centred on subsistence issues e.g. a harvest celebration? Are there special ceremonial or ritual foods?**

Shrimp

Note: depending on your choice of subsistence pattern(s), you may have to do some reseearch to fully answer these questions. For example, if you chose ‘horticulture,’ you should know something about how to grow food and/or raise animals. If you chose ‘foraging,’ you should know something about wild foods. And so on.

**1. Describe the typical family or household unit in your culture:**
The typical family unit consists of parents and children. When the children get married they move into an uninhabited hut or build a new one with the help of both sides of the family. Most men are hunters/gatherers while women stay in the village to pass on their wisdom to the children. Food is redistributed. Food is "prepared" based on household specialities
 * **Is it a nuclear family**
 * **Is it an extended family? Who does it include?**
 * **Are there households of non-kin? Who can co-habit this way?**
 * 2. What are the roles of the members of the family in the subsistence system you've chosen?**
 * 3. Is your descent system unilineal?**


 * **If so, will it be patrilineal or matrilineal?**
 * **If it is patrilineal, is it also patriarchal?**
 * **If it is not unilineal, what kind of cognatic system is it?**

There isn't really a destinct following of liniages. However, particular skills, occupations or trades are based on households and are therefore usually passed down through families.
 * **If so, how many lineages are there? How many families in each lineage?**
 * **If so, what are the corporate powers of the lineage?**
 * **If so, is each lineage associated with a particular skill, occupation, or trait?**

Our tribe is too small to contain seperate clans.
 * **If so, what lineages belong to what clans?**
 * **If so, who is the apical ancestor mythological or just forgotten?**
 * **If so, do your clans have distinct totems? What do they symbolize?**
 * **If so, do your clans have chiefs?**


 * **If so, what are the two moieties called?**
 * **If so, how does an individual inherit his/her moiety?**

**7. What kinship system does your culture have? (Eskimo, Hawaiian, Iroquois... ?)**
Hawaiian.

**8. Does your culture practise endogamy or exogamy?**
Spouses are expected to be from outside the family, though with such a small population it's hard.
 * **What specific group is one expected to find a spouse from?**


 * **If so, does it include both polygyny and polyandry or just one?**

By individuals themselves although sometimes the Oracle gives advice.
 * **by the individuals themselves?**
 * **by the individuals' parents?**
 * **by supernatural means or by a match-maker?**

**11. Does the marriage involve bride wealth or dowry or some other arrangement of gift-giving?**
Gifts are given by the community to the newlyweds.

**12. Describe the wedding ceremony/ritual/celebration.**
Takes place in a cenote where the community gathers. Husband and wife are adorned in flowers and then led to the water where they are blessed by the Oracle. A feast then takles place back in the village.

In a new house, either an uninhabited one (where an old couple used to live and died) or a new one which they build with the help of their family.
 * 13. Where do the married couple reside after they are married? **

Economic System

-The resource that is needed most is land. This is because they depend on subsistence through foraging from the land. Our land produces everything we need and so trade is limited to mostly within our own country.
 * 1. Taking your subsistence into account, what resources are needed and how will they be allocated in your culture? e.g. land tenure, access to raw materials?**

-Hunters and gatherers are needed, as are some workers for minor horticultural work. Our society is matrilineal, so men do most of the providing while women raise and teach the children.
 * 2. What labour is involved in your subsistence? Who does what?**

-Goods are collected and re-distributed among the small tribe. Respect is earned based on amount of goods produced.
 * 3. Are people compensated for their labour? If so, how?**

-Mostly small handicrafts are produced as a household or particular skilled worker.
 * 4. What goods are produced in your culture? Is it through households or occupations? Small-scale handicrafts or large-scale industrialized products?**

-Balanced reciprocity exists in which the bride’s family puts together favors. This could be woven goods such as baskets. Usually the favors are inexpensive and personalized.
 * 5. What rituals or ceremonies are the basis for generalized reciprocity? balanced reciprocity? What gift giving is involved?**

-Although food is redistributed, other goods such as furniture, clothing, etc. are exchanged based on hours of labour (ex. It took 6 hours to make this blanket, therefore I will trade you for three shirts that took you 2 hours each to make)
 * 6. Is there trade within your culture? With another culture? What is the basis of the transaction? (i.e. barter? money? some other medium of exchange?)**

-Subsistence is redistributed according to size of family.
 * 7. Is there any form of redistribution of goods and services?**


 * 8. If you decide on a market-based economy, describe the allocation of labour, the means of production, the products, who are the consumers, etc.**

-There is the possibility of trading clothing for other goods outside the group.
 * 9. Does your group trade with another group? What is traded? How is trade incorporated into the economic system?**

-Prestige is gained based on excellence in one’s area ex. Skilled hunter, musician, weaver etc. However, this is social prestige and does not equate to amount of wealth. Wealth is even among tribespeople, other than the Oracle and the Tribe Leader. People display their wealth and personality through trinkets such as decorative feathers, beads etc.
 * 10. Is the distribution of wealth equitable in your culture or are there differences in social status, wealth, and prestige? How is wealth achieved? maintained? displayed?**

**POLITICAL SYSTEM**
====**When considering these following questions, keep in mind the subsistence strategy/strategies and economic system you have developed so far. Population size is also a factor. Later, religion may also be a consideration.**====

**2. If your culture has a leader, how does a person acquire this status? What are his/her responsibilities to the community?**
====Leaership is dedciced on the skills and talents of the person, knowledge they have, and genoristy they provide which ultimately creates others loyalty. This leadership known as being a cheif and they are obeyed through there respect they have aquired (have more than just influence on the people). Majority of decisions are made through a village moot. Reponsibilities of the cheif include being in charge of redistributions, handing out labour/subsistence responsibilites, warriors (if needed) for fighting and to initiate rituals such as marriage, celebration of a newborn, etc.====

N/A **4. How does a leader maintain influence/authority/power? Can the leader be replaced? If so, how?**
====Cheifs influence and leadership depends on their generosity they provide as well as proper decisions for the groups health, safety, adjucations (for i.e. if the leader lead them to a devastating war, they would be replaced)====

**5. How does your culture deal with conflict and disagreement among its people? (Consider how you answered this in the very first exercise we did).**
====Majority of the time the disagreement is settled out through negotiations of if brought to the cheifs attention through adjucation. Cheif's decisions are collaborated on and discussed witht the Oracle.====

**7. How does your culture deal with inappropriate social behaviour and crime?**
====Most inappropriate behaviour is believed to be by a witch at work. If someone has an "accidental death" it is believed to be a purposeful act from a witch at work because of wrong doing. If a person is caught for acts such as this (and of course stealing, murder, adultry, etc) Cheif is brought in to handle retribution which could be anything from giving over wealth (food, goods) to being exiled, depending on the crime. Cheifs decisions are gone over with the Oracle====

NOTE* The Cheif is the one who will make decisions and deal with any questions, the Oracle is to guide the cheif as well as other people with health, difficult decisions, or advice.

**8. What are typical negative social sanctions in your culture? Typical positive social sanctions?**
====Negative: Greed, being unrespectful, lying, stealing, adultry, witchcraft (for bad purposes) which would result in possibly loss of redistribution, ostracism, repayment, even exile (depending on the severity of the crime).====

**9. Is there internal strife within your culture? Describe how it occurs, why it occurs, and how it is resolved (if it is).**
====Feuds often appear within the tribe but most are negotiable amongst the family. If the problem is sever enough, family members may go to the Oracle for advice on what to do. If the feud is big enough and war on the family might be declared, Oracle is referred to for family members health and odds of succeeding. Can be solved through adjucation if it is big enough. It hasn't happened yet but the family could move off to start there own tribe.====

====**10. Is there external strife between your culture and another culture? Describe how/why it occurs. How is peace achieved/achievable?** Once upon a time there was and both groups were left devastated (us and the island group). Since then, no wars amoungst a foreign tribe have taken place.====


 * RELIGIOUS BELIEF SYSTEM**


 * 1. Does your culture worship a deity or deities?

2. If your culture is monotheistic...

What does God look like? What role does God play in people’s lives?

3. If your culture is polytheistic...

How many gods are there? What do they look like? Do different gods have different responsibilities in the world? e.g. death, fertility, rain

4. Does your culture have ancestor veneration? Is it totemic? How does ancestral veneration work?

5. Does your culture believe in animism or animatism? How does it work?

6. Is there a belief in ghosts and demons? What role do they play? Can they be controlled or used?

7. What is the culture’s mythology?

How did the world begin? How were humans created? What stories explain the existence of things? of culture? What happens to people after death? What moral lesson are taught?

8. How do people worship?

on their own? with religious specialists? healers, diviners, mediums, shamans, priests/priestesses? a bit of both? who does what?

10. If there are religious specialists...

how do they become religious specialists? how do they connect with the supernatural world? manipulate it? what is their social status?

11. Is there a belief in magic used? How is it used for good or bad? How do people protect themselves from bad magic?

12. Are there rites of passage? If so, what rites are there? e.g. mortuary, marriage, birth

13. Are there rites of intensification? If so, for what purposes? e.g. fertility, drought, epidemics

14. How are the rituals in 12 & 13 performed? e.g what offerings, sacrifices, symbols, actions, language, costumes, masks, performances, etc. are involved? By whom? 15. Have there been changes in belief? Conflicts? Have these resulted in cults or movements? How have these been handled by the social structure?**


 * GENDER QUESTIONS

1. How is gender identity reflected in differernces in clothing, behaviour, speech, etc.?

2. What are the gender roles of men and women, boys and girls in the domestic sphere and in subsistence labour?

3. What gender roles are apparent in economic activities, political organization, and religion?

4. What gender status differences are there between men and women?

5. What control do women have over divorcing their husbands?**