April 08, 2006

The Orochen Foundation seeks to preserve the culture, language and identity of one of China's smallest ethnic groups. The Orochen were among the last hunter-gatherers in what is now the People's Republic. Post 1949 they were settled, and are losing their traditional culture as their way of life changes and outsiders move in to their homeland.

The Foundation is doing its best to revive and preserve Orochen culture and conserve their forest home. This Flash site contains information on history, religion and traditons, mp3s of folk songs, introductions to traditional crafts and arts, and the works of contemporary Orochen artists. All of which I can't work out how to link to individually, so you'll have to click around.

posted by Abiezer_Coppe 18 years ago
  • Here's a few Chinese pages with pics, found searching on the Chinese for Orochen, 鄂伦春: 1; 2; 3; State propaganda site with pics of 'glorious development' under Party;
  • A striking and beautiful people. I may be a vegetarian, but the sight of that cooking meat on an open brazier makes me feel good. There's nothing quite like living in the wild and eating outdoors. I get invigorated just looking at those teepees. What a great way to live!
  • I love those antler hats, too.
  • Very much the same for me Chy. Wouldn't feel the need to be vegetarian living in a sustainable relationship with the forest.
  • Good post! Mucho ))))!
  • Are those small bananas you grew yourself as per Chy's link Neddy?
  • "Wouldn't feel the need to be vegetarian living in a sustainable relationship with the forest." Yeah, exactly. I've got no problem with that. That's the way nature likes it. Rock on.
  • Oh all right, if you guys wanna be picky about it. Here! ))))
  • Those would be plantains!
  • I wonder if making a hat from the scalp/antlers/ears of the beastie eaten is a matter of respect or triumph. *constructs bean pod beanie*
  • I respect any beastie that can be both lunch and a cool hat.
  • Stuck in the ever so modern industrial world of the USA with no means to explore the world outside of the internets, it is links like this that make a day interesting. Thanks Abiezer. Just the other day I was having a conversation with a young couple I know. I asked them if they thought they could survive if suddenly there was no gas for their cars, no food in the grocery store, no electricity to run their household. They said, sure we could live off the land. I found that answer to be sad and amusing at the same time. Living close to the land without modern means is a lost art. Neither of these two could hunt or fish, without modern means. Nor make clothes or grow there own food. I imagine that the vast majority of people wouldn't be able to survive without modern means. It is sad that what few groups of people who are capable of surviving off the land and one with nature are forced to go modern.
  • I respect any beastie that can be both lunch and a cool hat. Saaaaay, Pallas, send us a photo of your ears, wouldja?
  • Yeah, it's hard to make a decent hat out of a bologna wrapper.
  • Foolish Underpant creature, 'tis easy to fashion a hat out of a bologna wrapper. OK.. not a decent hat.
  • ...but, fish tick, then the world would find out that I have pointy elf ears.... Damnation! What have I revealed?
  • Go nice with a long wool robe, they would.
  • Very handsome folk. They bear a strong resemblance to the indigenous people of northern Canada and Alaska, who are facing similar challenges with respect to the preservation of their culture. Great post, Abiezer!
  • /fills out Ear Donor Card with fish tick as beneficiary
  • Lovely post, Abiezer.
  • nice one, ab_c. fascinating as always.
  • )))!!! What islander says. These links have some wonderful photos, thanks, Abiezer_Coppe. One of the arts practised by the Orochen would appear to have been sewing, to judge by the remarkable costumes and headgear. O to be a hunter-gatherer and live along the shallow river knowing the land will always deliver deer, and everything we need, forever
  • You have to be good at sewing to make a hat that will accommodate your antlers.
  • Should we lose all the mod-cons, I don't foresee any problem in living off the land, BratCat. You simply have to be willing to hunt and kill the most prolific source of meat in your locale. Hold still so I can take aim, please. Ummmm, pass the Pete and potatoes with gravy, please.
  • Beautiful stuff. The Orochen, that is, not the Pete and potatoes with gravy. Although that does look pretty good, actually.
  • Pics of China's ethnic minorities. Includes demographic info and images of each group.
  • Thanks for another interesting link, ian would say! *wonders if the Miao should look more like cats*
  • What islander said. My first reaction was amazement at the strong similarities to native North Americans, which makes it all the more puzzling that many NA native peoples don't believe that they are related to nothern Asians.
  • They don't? What do they think instead?