Where to visit the remaining people of ancient cultures in New Zealand, Guyana, Dominica, Lapland, Dominica and India.
There are indigenous tourism experiences all over the world, but some are more remarkable than others. There are some peoples that have barely survived, and others that do things very differently. We’ve picked out a few tribes that you might want to try and discover a bit more about – and one you most definitely don’t.
The Moriori
Where: The Chatham Islands, New Zealand
The Moriori were the first Polynesian people to arrive on the remote Chatham Islands. For a long time it was thought that this peaceable bunch were descendents of Maori from New Zealand, but it is now acknowledged that they arrived independently.
When the Maori finally did arrive from New Zealand from 1835 onwards, it turned into a bloodbath, killing and enslaving most of the Moriori.
Over time, the Moriori interbred with the Maori invaders, and the last full-blooded Moriori died in 1933. However, many of the Chatham Islanders still claim Moriori ancestry and a bit of a revival is going on. There is now a statue to the last true Moriori plus a small museum, while visitors can take a look at well-preserved Moriori tree carvings and rock engravings.
Historic settlement sites and middens have also been opened up.
The Arawaks
Where: Pakuri Arawak Territory, Guyana
The Arawaks are thought to have been the inhabitants of the Caribbean islands before the Caribs and the Europeans came along. The Caribs all but wiped them out before European diseases took care of the rest.
However, a few remain in South America – where they came from originally. Most are in Guyana, and that is where the Pakuri Arawak Territory can be found.
It’s possible to stay in the village, sleeping in hammocks by night and going parrot-spotting by day. There is also a small arts centre, where visitors can learn more about the Arawak culture.
The Caribs
Where: Carib Territory, Dominica
It didn’t take the European settlers long to wipe out the Caribs after Columbus had discovered the Americas. They disappeared from the whole island chain apart from mountainous Dominica, where the inhospitable terrain kept them safe.
A small group of Caribs still lives on Dominica, and they govern their own small territory on the Atlantic coast.
Within that territory can be found two interesting projects. The first is Kalinago Barana Aute, a model village which hosts cultural performances, shows off indigenous crafts and gives tours demonstrating what plants and trees have been traditionally used for.
The second is the village of Touna. This is a genuine living village where the locals invite you to come on it and chat with them while they teach you skills such as cassava bread making, basket weaving and sugar cane juice extraction. Bizarrely, the huts from the cannibal village in Pirates of the Caribbean II can also be found there – a lot of the villagers were extras in the movie.
The Sami
Where: Northern Scandinavia and Finland
The indigenous people of northern Scandinavia are often known as Laplanders, and although many Sami have integrated into the Scandinavian cities, some still live the traditional way. Fishing, fur-trapping and reindeer-herding are amongst the major industries up where big coats are practically compulsory.
The best place to get to grips with the Sami culture is probably Inari in the far north of Finland. The Side cultural museum covers Sami history and present day life with plenty of audiovisual displays. There’s also an open air museum, which showcases Sami buildings and crafts in the summer.
Nearby is Ukko Island – an ancient religious site to which it’s possible to visit via a boat cruise.
Pygmies
Where: Africa
Pygmy is a generic name that covers a number of tribes, but the general rule is that the people are under four foot eleven in height. Despite persecution from other African tribes, many pygmies still live scattered across Africa.
These populations are often in unstable (or downright no go) countries such as Rwanda, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo – it’d be an idiot that goes looking for them in the latter.
However, it is possible to spend a day and night in a pygmy village in Cameroon as part of an organised tour. The visit includes the opportunity to go hunting and fishing alongside the locals, as well as the chance to build a traditional grass hut.
Sentinelese
Where: Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal, India
There are some lost tribes that really do not want to be found. The Sentinelese have, remarkably, managed to completely cut themselves off from the outside world, and still operate in a stone age society.
The last outsiders to set foot in Sentinelese territory were two Indian fishermen whose boat drifted the wrong way. They were promptly killed and the coastguard helicopter that came out to investigate was fired upon with arrows.
Anthropologists, government officials and even rescuers checking whether there were any casualties from the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami have received much the same treatment.
Dreadlocked trust fund hippies wanting to find themselves and get to know the little people are more than welcome to give it a try, however.
This article was originally written for Ninemsn
