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Culture Change in Pemón society

In my diploma thesis, conducted with institutions in Venezuela and Germany, I studied "Culture Change in Pemón Society" through extensive field research in La Gran Sabana in Venezuela. 

Who are the Pemón

The Pemon, also known as Arecuna, Kamarakoto, and Taurepan, are an indigenous group residing in Venezuela. As the largest indigenous group in the Gran Sabana region, they are scattered throughout the Canaima National Park.
Despite external influences like Christianization by English Protestant and later Catholic missionaries, the Pemón have preserved many traditions.
Their culture encompasses beliefs in spirits, creation stories like the Makunaima, and traditional rites of passage. The Pemon's rich cultural heritage includes music, dance, and storytelling, while their livelihood revolves around slash-and-burn cultivation (conuco) farming, fishing, hunting, and crafts.
Today, they face challenges related to land rights and environmental threats, highlighting ongoing struggles for cultural preservation and autonomy.

Research Methodology

During my two-month stay in March and April 2014 in the Pemón Arecuna's main settlement, Kavanayén in the biogeographic area La Gran Sabana, Venezuela, I conducted extensive in-depth interviews with various community members, including local students, elders, and representatives from the Catholic mission.
These interviews, primarily in Spanish, provided valuable insights into the Pemon way of life, traditions, and challenges.
Additionally, I conducted ethnographic observations to complement the interview data, offering a comprehensive understanding of cultural dynamics within the community.
This combination of interviews and ethnographic observations formed the foundation of my research methodology, enabling a nuanced exploration of culture change within the Pemon society.

Nature-Culture Synergy

My ethnographic observations underscore the profound intertwining of culture and nature. Traditional cultures, emerging as a response to the natural world, serves as a vital tool for preserving the environment.
Through cultural traditions and rituals, indigenous communities maintain a harmonious relationship with nature and actively contribute to its conservation. This highlights the crucial role of traditional culture in environmental stewardship, prompting a deeper exploration of cultural practices beyond their surface, and emphasizing the role of cultural traditions as guardians of the natural world.

Outcome of the Study

The research aimed to understand the dynamics of cultural change within the Pemón community. Employing the Grounded Theory framework, I delved deeply into the data collected, leading to the development of a comprehensive model that illuminated three key pathways of cultural transmission: vertical, which involves transmission from generation to generation and emphasizes the preservation of traditional knowledge; horizontal, which occurs among peers within the same generation and facilitates rapid knowledge exchange; and oblique, which involves the influence of external factors such as media in introducing new ideas and messages.

How This Study Shaped Me?

My experience working with indigenous communities has been transformative, highlighting the crucial role of media in shaping cultural narratives and disseminating knowledge. This realization motivated me to shift towards documentary production, recognizing its power in amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities and preserving their cultural heritage.
Through documentaries, I aim to raise awareness about the challenges faced by vulnerable groups in the modern world while celebrating their rich cultural traditions.
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