Ban Tham Lod Community was established in 1969. In those days, intra-community relationships were tight knitted. The people believed in superstition and Buddhism with strict adherence to their traditions. Their livelihood depended on subsistent agriculture and natural resources. Later on, the community expanded rapidly, resulting in drastic social and cultural changes. The changes were due to internal and external factors. External factors included developments by state and non-governmental organizations and individuals as well as immigration by outsiders. Internal factors included population increase, the need to become Thai citizens, material needs, ethnic and cultural proximity with the Thais, and geographical conditions. Socio-cultural assimilation and shift stemmed from community members having a habit of adapting to or accepting socialization practices, imitation, new values, universality and cultural borrowing from the outside into their daily life. The assimilation and shift affected their socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions. The impacts did not take place in a particular aspect of their socio-cultural system, but in all aspects of the system. To balance the system, conventional forms considered good and useful were maintained while good external cultural traits were assimilated. This ongoing assimilation and shift was an attempt by the Shan community to maintain its livelihood in accordance with the current situation, which was different from the past situations, in order for them to survive.