The rainforests and lives of the world’s last isolated peoples are under threat from outsiders - should we contact them in a better way, or halt the intrusions?

LEARN MORE

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To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords:

• Isolated peoples: peoples living without significant contact with global civilization, either by choice or circumstance
• Uncontacted peoples: another term for isolated peoples, most of whom have actually been in some form of contact with global civilization
• Forest peoples: indigenous peoples who live in and depend on forests for their livelihoods
• First contact: the first meeting of two cultures previously unaware of one another
• Controlled contact: a planned, organized first contact involving health care professionals and cultural translators
• No-contact approach: a policy to leave isolated peoples alone
• Prime Directive: a Star Trek guiding principle prohibiting Starfleet personnel from interfering with the internal development of alien civilizations
• Self-determination: the right of a people to freely choose their political, economic, social, and cultural systems without interference
• Autonomy: the right or condition of self-government and expression of aspirations free from external control or influence

CREDITS

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Script Writer: Alex Reich Script Editor: Henry Reich Video Illustrator: Omkar Bhagat Video Director: Emily Elert Video Narrator: Emily Elert With Contributions From: Kate Yoshida, Ever Salazar, Peter Reich, Rachel Becker, David Goldenberg Music by: Nathaniel Schroeder

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC https://neptunestudios.info

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REFERENCES

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Feather, C. (2015). Isolated tribes: Contact misguided. Science (New York, NY), 349(6250), 798-798. http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/epidemiology/hanley/communicationCommunicationCommunication/Caa.pdf

Lawler, A. (2015). Making contact. Science, 348(6239), 1072-1079. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/348/6239/1072

Pringle, H. (2015). In peril. Science, 348(6239), 1080-1085. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/348/6239/1080.short

Walker, R. S., & Hill, K. R. (2015). Protecting isolated tribes. Science,348(6239), 1061-1061. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/348/6239/1061.short

News Article about the Science magazine feature: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/we-need-to-make-contact-with-isolated-amazon-tribes-say-academics-10334163.html

Articles about recent Brazil & Peru First Contacts

Fraser, B. (2015). Isolated tribespeople receiving care after violent contact in Brazil. Science Magazine News. https://www.science.org/content/article/isolated-tribespeople-receiving-care-after-violent-contact-brazil

Nuwer, R. (2014). Anthropology: The sad truth about uncontacted tribes. BBC Future. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140804-sad-truth-of-uncontacted-tribes

Pringle, H. (2014). Uncontacted tribe in Brazil emerges from isolation.Science, 345(6193), 125-126. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/345/6193/125.summary

Pringle. H. (2014). Video of tribe's first contact shows both tension and friendly overtures. Science Magazine News. https://www.science.org/content/article/video-tribes-first-contact-shows-both-tension-and-friendly-overtures

Tharoor, I. (2015). Do the world’s ‘uncontacted’ tribes deserve to be left alone? Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/07/23/do-the-worlds-uncontacted-tribes-deserve-to-be-left-alone/

If you liked this week’s video, we think you might also like these things:

Rohrlich, J. (2015). Should Society Start Contacting the Amazon's Uncontacted Tribes?. VICE News. https://www.vice.com/en/article/d39vmy/should-society-start-contacting-the-amazons-uncontacted-tribes

Kluger, J. (2015). Is It Ethical to Leave Uncontacted Tribes Alone? Time Magazine. http://time.com/3909470/tribes-uncontacted-ethics/

Other Pieces about “Uncontacted” people:

Survival International Q+A about “Uncontacted Tribes”: https://www.survivalinternational.org/articles/3109-questions-and-answers-uncontacted-tribes

Glob, A. 2008. Are there ‘uncontacted tribes’? The short answer: No. Savage Minds Blog. https://savageminds.org/2008/07/01/are-there-uncontacted-tribes-the-short-answer-no/