Camryn Mata

Smothered By Your Culture

Every day we are buying products that are made hundreds of thousands of miles away by
underpaid workers. We go out to eat chinese food in downtown Durango. Right after dinner I
may choose to swing by yoga or maybe go and get a crepe at Jean Pierre. Just in Durango alone
there are a variety of cultures and religions. What we dont know, is that while our cultures in
being enriched by other cultures, many indigenous cultures are fading away.
Imagine going to school and being forced to only speak and taught in a language which wasn't
your dominant language. You come home from a difficult day of school not completely
understanding anything you've been learning, only to find out a new factory is going to be built
on your land. This forces you and your family to have to find a new home driving you into
poverty. This is due to the globalization of cultures which is a relentless process that may leave
many cultures behind to fade away overtime.
Although globalization allows cultures to grow and spread, many indigenous cultures are being
smothered under the weight of more dominant cultures.
In America we value independence. Independence is the freedom from control and influence.
Within our nation indigenous groups are experiencing their cultures fading away. As stated in
Chris Readings Globalization Blamed for Cultural Losses, It is expected that roughly 90
percent of all existing languages may become extinct within the next 100 years, the associated
traditional ecological knowledge will also be lost. The protection of indigenous knowledge and
their ways of life is not just relevant to indigenous peoples, but to the planet and its inhabitants,
in order for us all to be able to live in a sustainable manner. If changes aren't made to the way
we teach in our public schools or educate the general public on these cultures they could
disappear along with their diversity and beauty.
In the past there were many laws and acts surrounding indigenous peoples and their land. As
stated in Ian Mclntoshs Australian Aboriginal Property Under Threat, The Aboriginal land
Rights (Northern Territory) Act of 1976 gave indigenous people in the Northern Territory veto
power over development on their lands. While there are some existing acts and rights in place
for indigenous peoples and their land, many are not enforced or regarded.
Indigenous peoples, many of whom depend on the land to survive, still farm how it was done
traditionally in their culture. The Yanomami people, who mainly reside in the Amazon Rainforest

had conflicting practices with mining, timber extraction, cattle ranching, and other activities that
may brood or tarnish the environment.While all this has a terrible impact on the land and
indigenous peoples lifestyles, it also causes culture loss due to how they have to move into more
affordable living situation,which are located in more populated areas most of the time.
Companies in search of resource rich land would not be able to start building on your land or my
land without permission or their would be a likely suit. When companies start building on
indigenous land they usually dont ask permission and the people living on the land are left with
no where to go. This process forces indigenous peoples into poverty. Through exploitation of
the land where indigenous peoples live, the land becomes degraded and polluted and much of its
biodiversity is lost. Since indigenous peoples are dependent on the land and its biodiversity, a life
on this land is no longer possible for them. , Indigenous Issues.
Globalization while spreading so many diverse cultures and traditions around the world is
leaving some to fade away over time. While this can create new religions and bring us together,
it also excludes many people and groups leaving them in poverty stricken lifestyle. Many
indigenous people move to urban areas in order to find work. However, due to discrimination
and poor education, they often get little possibilities for getting proper jobs, which leaves them
among the poorest in the city., as stated in Indigenous Issues.
Many indigenous people move to urban areas in order to find work. However, due to
discrimination and poor education, they often get little possibilities for getting proper jobs, which
leaves them among the poorest in the city.
In conclusion we globalization has benefits and allows us to experience different cultures just by
walking down the street, but at the same time globalization is not including all cultures and many
indigenous culture are fading away. Companies are also building on indigenous land without any
consent of its owners. This forces these people into poverty stricken lifestyles and is another
downside of globalization.
Work Sited:
"Indigenous Issues." Indigenous Issues. Unknown, unknown. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
Website http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/1755.html

Reading, Chris. "Globalization Blamed for Cultural Losses." Globalization Blamed for Cultural
Losses. EDMONTON, 2001. Web. 03 Mar. 2015. http://www.ammsa.com/publications/albertasweetgrass/globalization-blamed-cultural-losses
Unknown. "Australian Human Rights Commission." Admin. Unknown, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
Website https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/speeches/impact-globalization-indigenousintellectual-property-and-cultures
Unknown. "Choike - Globalization: Effects on Indigenous Peoples." Choike - Globalization:
Effects on Indigenous Peoples. Unknown, unknown. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/1755.html
Website
Unknown. "Indigenous Cultures and Globalization." - ETEC 510. Unknown, n.d. Web. 03 Mar.
2015. http://etec.ctlt.ubc.ca/510wiki/Indigenous_Cultures_and_Globalization

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