Hunter-Gatherers in Late Modernity: Is Survival Becoming Easier?

Abstract

"This essay is motivated by a realization about how much has been lost to my generation about our place, why this happened, and how it is being fixed. How do we descendants of the hunter-gathering peoples deal with the characteristics of late modernity which have removed us from our places? My brothers and I identify with our tribe, but we are definitely modern Indians, less connected to the land than our parents and grandparents. I conclude with some examples of how the reconnection is proceeding; the middle part is a theory about why these examples make sense. This disconnection from our places has two parts, the old story and the new story--the impact of early modernity-- fairly well, as I will explain. It may have done less well with the new story, the impact of late modernity; but we are handling that to an extent as well. The old story is that of reservations, allotment, and the BIA, roughly named 'colonialism.' The new story is harder to name: I call it 'late modernity.' Beck (1992) and Giddens (1990) call it 'reflexive modernization' with 'individualization' as a main result. We may succeed in fighting colonialism but succumb to individualization. On the other hand, maybe reflexive modernization provides some opportunities as well. With changes in strategy, our way of life, world view, and the management goals they give us for our land can survive."