Incident on The man was attempting to make contact with an isolated tribe. Last month, an American Sentinel BASIC man named John Allen Chau Island, but was killed by the native people of North the Indian Sentinel Island, pictured here. Where is government this island? (West of .) It is illegal for does not have 6 outsiders to go to North Sentinel Island. any contact But Chau went anyway, because he wanted with the people. Because they to teach the Sentinelese people about have no contact with outsiders, we know Christianity. However, this tribe has had no very little about the Sentinelese. Some contact with the outside world. They had estimate that their population today is no idea why Chau was coming onto their around 100. Experts think they came to island, and they reacted with violence. Do the island 50,000 years ago, from Africa. you think they should be punished or What do you think their lives are like? left alone? India is responsible for North NEXT GENERAL Last month, an American However, India protects the island and man named John Allen has made it illegal for outsiders to visit Chau was killed by the native people of the island because it could be dangerous North Sentinel Island. From the map, for outsiders and for the Sentinelese. where is this island? (In the Bay of Why would it be dangerous for the Bengal, west of India.) Chau went onto Sentinelese? (The Sentinelese are not the island because he wanted the native likely to have immunity from germs that people to accept Christianity. What is the outsiders could bring.) Even a common term for someone who tries to spread cold could wipe out the entire tribe. religion in this way? (Missionary.) But The Sentinelese are thought to be the this tribe has had no contact with the most isolated group of people in the world. outside world. They had no idea why Chau Very little is known about them, but some was coming onto their island, and they experts think their ancestors may have reacted with violence. Who do you think migrated from Africa tens of thousands was in the wrong in this situation? of years ago. Today, the population is The incident brought a lot of attention estimated at no more than 100. They to this tribe, who are referred to as the are the only inhabitants of the island, Sentinelese. Although India is technically and they have resisted contact with the responsible for the island, its government outside world for hundreds of years. What has no contact with the people there. do you think their lives are like? NEXT ADVANCED The death of an American that country’s government has no contact man named John Allen with the Sentinelese. However, India has Chau made international news at the protected the island for decades to keep end of November. Chau was a Christian outsiders out. Why? (To protect outsiders missionary who was killed by members from harm, and to keep the Sentinelese of an isolated tribe as he was attempting from being exposed to diseases.) In fact, to make contact with them. Chau’s death the Sentinelese are considered the most created a lot of controversy. Some were isolated group of people in the world. Even appalled by the islanders’ violence against a common cold could wipe out the whole Chau. Others were upset that Chau was tribe. Almost nothing is known about trying to access the island, knowing it them. Some experts think their ancestors was illegal and dangerous. What is your migrated to the island from Africa about reaction to this event? 50,000 years ago. Today, the population The incident brought a lot of attention is estimated at no more than 100. They to the tribe, which is referred to as the are the only inhabitants of the island, Sentinelese. Why do you think they’re and they have resisted contact with the called that? (They live on North Sentinel outside world for hundreds of years. Do Island.) Where is this island? (It is part of you think it is important to protect the a chain of islands that lie between India and Sentinelese people? Why or why not? , in the .) Although NEXT these islands are administered by India, 6 NewsCurrents Week of December 10, 2018 Copyright 2018 Knowledge Unlimited Incident on North Sentinel Island (cont'd) Where do the world’s uncontacted tribes live? Tribes that have little or no tribes than BASIC contact with the outside world anywhere are referred to as “uncontacted.” Today, else on Earth. there are about 100 uncontacted tribes Because of in the world. Most of them are located in this, the area the islands near North Sentinel Island or has earned 7 in two other regions. One of these is New the nickname Guinea. From the map, where is this “The Uncontacted Frontier.” Which three island located? (In the Pacific Ocean, north countries are included? (Brazil, Peru, and of Australia and west of Indonesia.) But by Bolivia.) What threats might outsiders far the most uncontacted people live deep pose to these tribes? (Outsiders can in the Amazon rainforest, on the continent bring in diseases that the tribes are not shown here. What is it? (South America.) immune to; they also threaten the land The region that is highlighted on the map they live on, often through agricultural of South America has more uncontacted development.) END GENERAL Tribes that have no tribes than anywhere else on Earth. Some communication with the estimate the population of uncontacted outside world are often referred to as people in this part of the world at around “uncontacted.” Around the world, about 3,000. Why do you think there are 100 uncontacted tribes continue to exist so many uncontacted people there? today. Besides North Sentinel and its (Probably because they live in the Amazon nearby islands, two other regions hold rainforest, which is extremely dense and most of the world’s remaining uncontacted hard for outsiders to get to.) However, peoples. From the maps here, where are the amount of land available to these they? (New Guinea, which is the island tribes, especially in South America, is north of Australia and west of Indonesia; shrinking. Some parts of the Amazon also, parts of South America.) Why do you rainforest have been cut down for farms think these people reject contact from and other types of development. Why are outsiders? outsiders a threat to these tribes? (In The region that is highlighted on this map addition to bringing in diseases that could of South America is called the Uncontacted be dangerous to the tribes, outsiders may Frontier. It covers parts of three South also take over land for their own use and American countries. From the map, bring environmental pollution.) In your which countries are they? (Brazil, Peru, opinion, is it important to preserve and and Bolivia.) The Uncontacted Frontier protect native tribes like these? Why or is believed to have more uncontacted why not? END ADVANCED Tribes like the Frontier, but some estimate the population Sentinelese that have no at around 3,000. About a third of that communication with the outside world are population has made some contact with the often referred to as “uncontacted.” Today, outside world. However, this is often forced about 100 uncontacted tribes survive in on tribes from outsiders who have invaded the world. Besides North Sentinel and its their territory. Why do you think these nearby islands, two other regions hold tribes have rejected contact? most of the world’s remaining uncontacted Outsiders pose many threats to the world’s peoples. From the maps, what are they? . Can you guess (New Guinea, which is the island north of some of the biggest? In South America, Australia and west of Indonesia, and parts especially, tribes have lost much of their of South America.) land due to deforestation, as well as illegal The region that is highlighted on this map logging, mining, and fishing activity. Some of South America is called the Uncontacted of these activities have caused pollutants Frontier. It covers almost 33,000 miles to enter their pristine environments. And, and straddles the borders of Brazil, Peru, as we’ve discussed, uncontacted people and Bolivia. It is believed to have more may have no immunity to diseases from uncontacted tribes than anywhere else on the outside. How should the world’s Earth. It is hard to know exactly how many governments deal with uncontacted indigenous people live in the Uncontacted tribes? END Copyright 2018 Knowledge Unlimited Week of December 10, 2018 NewsCurrents 7