Learning in Na Communities

1. Learning in Na Communities Lugu Lake, China Tami Blumenfield (tamiblu@u.washington.edu) University of Washington Dept. of Anthropology Presented to Anthropology 470: Minority Peoples of China March 3, 2009

2. Background: Who are the Na? • 30,000 people living in Himalayan Foothills (northwest Yunnan, southwest Sichuan) • Sexual visit system and extended family households • Schooling since 1960s; compulsory schooling beginning in late 1990s • Tourism since 1990s

3. Background: Ethnic Diversity • Minority Region, but not just Na • Yi, Han, and Pumi are other significant populations in the region In Yongning Township: Na 　摩梭人 (37.6%) Han　　汉族 　 (25.5%) Yi 　　 彝族　　(19.3%) Pumi 　 普米族　(9.9%)

4. Four Forms of Learning • ‘Traditional’ village-based learning • Religious education • School education • Tourism and migration

5. ‘Traditional’ Learning • ‘Traditional’ learning: • Family-based • Peer-based • Apprentice-based • Knowledge transmitted: • Morals and manners • Skills • Ecological knowledge • Medicinal knowledge

6. Religious Education • Daba shamans • Gelugpa sect of ‘Tibetan Buddhism’ and another sect • Zhameisi Monastery in Yongning • Temples in Zebo, Luoshui, and Latadi

7. Religious Education • Funerals, ceremonies, and daily rites

8. School Education • State-run Chinese-language schools • Compulsory schooling through junior middle school (chuzhong)

9. School Education • Quality • Accessibility • Affordability

10. Tourism and Migration Local and regional tourism since 1990s changing the landscape and economy Interactions between tourists and Na as a form of learning Development of museums and exhibits to educate tourists about Na culture

11. Interactions between tourists and Na as a form of learning Lige Village

12. Lige Village

13. Strong emphasis on education by visitors Luoshui Village

14. Tourism and Migration: Creating a Tiered System

15. Wenquan Yanyuan County --> Yongning Lige Lugu Lake Tuozhi Luoshui Satellite Image Source: Google Earth

16. At the Scenic Overlook Platform with Young Vendors

18. Educational Aid • Educational NGOs, informal donations and volunteers • From the Moso Education Fund to “Edu-aid in YongNing” 永宁山区爱心助学行动 (www.luguhu.org) • Complications of ethnicity and education

19. Husi Chawu: Cafe and Guesthouse Luoshui Village

20. Site of an Education Fund (Since 2001) Luoshui Village

21. Bringing School Supplies to a Nuosu Village School (2002)

22. A Nuosu Village School

23. Volunteer Teachers

24. Where There Be Dragons Bulletin Board Posts “We also had the privelige of teaching English at a Muosu elementary school. The school had been destroyed the previous year by an earthquake and the children were still having to attend classes in tents. We were happy to give our time and even provided each child a pencil, a small token by our standards but not an insignificant gift in a region as poor and remote as this one.” Posted from Kunming, 10/22/02 9:42:53 AM http://www.wheretherebedragons.com/participants/participantstxt.asp?CID=100&s=1&artID=1489&artTop=2 (accessed January 22, 2004)

25. Employment Migration as a Form of Learning

26. “No matter how poor, don’t impoverish the children… No matter how bitter, don’t make it bitter for the children!”

27. Can the Four Forms of Learning be Complementary? • ‘Traditional’ village-based learning • Religious education • School education • Tourism and migration

28. Thank you! Questions or comments? Email tamiblu@u.washington.edu