The Disappearing Wanniyala-Aetto ('Veddahs') of Sri Lanka: A Case Study
2004; Berghahn Books; Volume: 8; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.3167/082279404782066131
ISSN1752-2366
Autores Tópico(s)Cambodian History and Society
ResumoResume Les Wannivala-Aetto de Sri Lanka en voie de disparition Cet article decrit et analyse la situation actuelle der deux mille derniers Wanniyala-Aetto, peuple indigene de Sri Lanka. Leur vie traditionnelle dans la foret est menacee par les politiques modernes de conservation de la nature. Dans l'ancienne zone seche de la foret tropicale, off leurs ancetres s'evoluerent avec leur environnement, seules la flore eta la faune sont permises actuellement de survivre. En essayant de s'adapter au 'village global', la plupart des Wanniyala-Aetto sont confrontes a la fin de leur heritage culturel ancien. D'autres sont condamnes a disparaitre, lorsque, en violant la loi, ils retournent a la foret pour reprendre une economie de la cueillette et sont fusilles par les gardes armes du parc, employes par les autorites de conservation de la nature srilankaises. Resumen Los Wannivala-Aetto de Sri Lanka en vias de desaparicion: Un estudio de caso El trabajo describe y discute la situacion actual de los 2000 ultimos Wanniyala-Aetto de Sri Lanka. La vida tradicional en los bosques de este pueblo aborigen peligra debido alas politicas conservacionistas modernas. En el viejo bosque tropical, en el que los ancestros de los Wanniyala-Aetto se desarrollaron junto con su medio ambiente, solo la flora y fauna tienen un futuro. Mientras que intentan adaparse a la 'aldea global' la mayoria de los Wanniyala-Aetto enfrenta el fin de su antigua herencia cultural. Otros enfrentan a su extincion, cuando violando las leyes del pais, retornan al bosque para continuar con su vida de cazadores y recolectores. Son heridos de bala y asesinados por los guardias armados del parque que ha empleado el Departamento de Conservacion de Vida Silvestre de Sri Lanka. Introduction Southern Asia is one of the few regions of the world where hunting and gathering communities still exist. Some of these carry on a tradition of hunting and foraging in tropical forests that has developed over many thousands of years (Denslow and Padoch 1988: 64). Sri Lanka, sometimes referred to as 'The Tear Drop of India' is home to one of these now-vanishing forest peoples. If that 'Tear Drop' was shed by anyone, it was most likely by these indigenous people, who call themselves Wannivala-Aetto [waniya-la-atto], meaning 'Forest Beings'. Their traditional life in the forests is threatened by modern nature conservation policy. In the old, tropical dry-zone forest where the ancestors of the Wanniyala-Aetto evolved together with their environment, only flora and fauna are now allowed an undisrupted future. The last 2000 Wanniyala-Aetto face the end of their ancient economic and cultural heritage, sacrificed to 'the global village'. Some, defying the law by returning to their forest to continue a foraging subsistence, are shot and killed by armed park guards, employed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka. In this paper I shall provide a brief overview of this people and the imminent threat to their very survival. The total population of Sri Lanka is almost 20 million people (E-Conflict World Encyclopedia 2000: 2). Most belong to one of the two major cultural groups, the Sinhalese and the Tamils, both of whom, according to the Mahavamsa, came here from India. The Sinhalese constitute 74 percent of the total population and the Tamils, 18 percent. Seven percent are 'Moors'. i.e. descendants of Arab traders. The remaining one percent includes descendants of Malays, Burghers (mixed Asians and Europeans), and the indigenous people. Of the latter, approximately two thousand are the forest dwelling Wanniyala-Aetto. They live in Uva Province of Sri Lanka's dry zone (about 200 m above sea level), located east of the central mountain massif (ca. 1800 m). Their land borders the eastern Province, where the Sinhalese-Tamil civil war has been raging. Towns closest to the Wanniyala-Aetto hamlets are Maha Oya, to the east and Mahiyangana, to the west. …
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