|
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Ethnic Groups Research Database |
|
Record |
|
 |
Subject |
Yuan, Akha, Lahu, Paganyaw S'gaw Kanyaw (Karen), Mien, health care, natural resource management, northern region |
Author |
Yingyong Thaoprasert (editor) |
Title |
Ethnicities: Potential in healthcare and natural resource management in small river basins in the northern region |
Document Type |
Research Paper |
Original Language of Text |
Thai |
Ethnic Identity |
Akha, Lahu, Yuan, Mien, Iu Mien, Paganyaw,
|
Language and Linguistic Affiliations |
Sino-Tibetan |
Location of
Documents |
Sirindhorn Anthropology Center Library |
Total Pages |
147 |
Year |
1992 |
Source |
Northern Region Cultural Research Sub-Committee, Office of the National Cultural Commission |
Abstract |
This research project examined various ethnic groups in northern Thailand and investigated the fact that these ethnic groups have their own ways and potential to take care of their health. For instance, the Yuan or Lanna people in Phaya Mengrai District employed a holistic healthcare approach in accordance with their knowledge, beliefs and lifestyle. It was recommended that their healthcare wisdom be promoted as a healthcare alternative (pp. 29-30). The Akha and Lahu at Doi Tung also had their own healthcare system called traditional healthcare system. Their healthcare wisdom has been carried on, improved and innovated in accordance with current environmental changes. These adjustments have enabled the traditional healthcare system to become a healthcare alternative, because modern medicine has still been unable to bridge the cultural gap of the ethnic groups. Therefore, the potential of this traditional healthcare system should be promoted to serve their communities without any risks and to complement modern medicine in the healthcare systems of the ethnic groups (pp. 65-66). For the Karen community at Tambon Hua Muang, they used to allocate and manage their natural resources ingeniously. However, with the introduction of forest conservation measures by the state, materialism and consumerism, together with the gradual replacement of the ethnic culture and wisdom with new technology and external mainstream culture, the ethnic group has had to change their local socio-economy, politics and ecology; depriving them of their independence, abundant natural resources, and potential in natural resource conservation that had been ingrained in their beliefs and lifestyle. The changes have made them more dependent on the outside world, reducing their capabilities of managing their natural resources. The Mien at Lao Sip were facing the same destiny. Originally, their production system was exclusively for domestic consumption, implementing the integrated farming system, so that food sources were available all year round and land use was optimal. With the implementation of the policy of moving hill people to low-lying areas in 1967, there had been internal changes in the Mien society to accommodate the new socio-economic and environmental situations (pp. 146-147).
|
|
|