Protecting Isolated Tribes

Brazilian and Peruvian governments have policies protecting isolated tribes which is supported by the United Nations. The strategy is described as “leave them alone” (Robert S. Walker and Kim R. Hill, Science, 2015). According to Science when dealing with isolated tribes a non-contact approach should be considered. Isolated tribes are viable and they would prefer to be isolated even if they were aware that contact would not lead to a disaster. External threats will always prove disastrous to isolated tribes and an extra effort needs to be made to reduce the aforementioned (Robert S. Walker and Kim R. Hill, Science, 2015). Based on the interviews done with these groups they have chosen isolation due to the fear of being killed or enslaved, but welcome outside goods and services from neighbours (Robert S. Walker and Kim R. Hill, Science, 2015).

Controlled contact is a better option when contacting isolated tribes than the non – contact policy (Robert S. Walker and Kim R. Hill, Science, 2015). This means a well-organized plan should be put in place before making contact with these tribes. In the late 1970s to mid-1980s accidental contacts occurred in Paraguay and Peru with the Ache, Yora, Mascho – Piro and Matiguenga tribes and they suffered tremendously from new contact – related epidemics (Robert S. Walker and Kim R. Hill, Science, 2015). It was evident that there was a need for medical support to reduce the mortality rate. 

Controlled contact can ensure safety and sustainability, on the contrary poor planning can lead to disastrous outcomes. However, controlled execution of making contact requires qualified personnel such as cultural translators and health care professionals that are committed to staying on site for long periods (Robert S. Walker and Kim R. Hill, Science, 2015). For example, foreign missionaries committed themselves to staying in the community of a Yora tribe for six months to provide health care. When they decided to take a leave of absence dozens of Yora died within weeks (Robert S. Walker and Kim R. Hill, Science, 2015). Also in 1975 missionaries made contact an Ache tribe and provided health care for one year, when they left, many Ache died (Robert S. Walker and Kim R. Hill, Science, 2015). Due to the fact that isolated tribes aren’t viable in the long term, well-organized contacts are required. According to Science isolated tribes can grow up to three percent per year after a population crash (2015). 

Sustainable peaceful contacts with isolated groups encourages the protection of native rights, while ensuring groups remain isolated, but exposed to uncontrolled contact with the outside world, which is clearly a violation of governmental responsibility (Robert S. Walker and Kim R. Hill, Science, 2015). By rejecting controlled plans to make contact with isolated groups, we are simply promoting the extinction of these tribes (Robert S. Walker and Kim R. Hill, Science, 2015).