Douglas Goodall 1

Assignment One, Part three

Analysis of an Ethnography

Hugh Brody, Maps and Dreams.

146.101

Introductory Social Anthropology

12 point font.

Double spacing

Date submitted 07.12.2010

Word count approximately 1100

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Hugh Brody’s Maps and Dreams is a remarkably powerful ethnography. It looks at the

importance of land use for the economy of Beaver Indians where they gather, fish and

hunt. It also looks at the impact of land use and development by the oil and gas industry, as

well as non-Indian hunters on the natural resources that are available in the foraging

grounds of the Beaver Indians. According to Brody (1982, xviii) this ethnography started life

as a commissioned five week research project. The Research project eventually spanned

over a period of almost three years.

By writing this ethnography Brody has forced the reader into a dialogue that looks at

particular aspects of a culture from a number of perspectives including science, and

humanism which aim to lead to objectivity. Brody also used a ‘Cultural relativism’ approach

to give the reader a perspective on the culture in a clear and holistic manner. Marcus. G

and Fischer.M.J (1986, p1) assert that anthropology allows the participant to look at views

and beliefs that they take for granted and revisit them. The reader can look at the culture

that is being explored, and also look at aspects of their own culture by looking at the

behaviours of other cultures.

Brody’s research relied extensively on field work. By engaging in participant observation,

and analysing events he was able to obtain a greater insight into the behaviours and

culture of the Beaver Indian people. (Omohundro 2008,p68) States “Field workers like

Brody and Malinowski often succeed in getting in close and minimizing their interference

with life in its usual patterns”. (Brody 1982 pp76-77) Demonstrates a participant

observation experience where he was assisting in the preparation of a cemetery for a

funeral. He realised that the task he was engaging in took control of the moment. The

thoughts of research at that time were not at the forefront. He also noted that the Beaver

Indians that he was assisting were not concisely taking notice of him. He was able to

engage in participant observation whilst minimizing interference.

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Brody used key informants. (Brody 1982,p3) Highlights that the approval of one key

informant in particular would allow him access to almost all of the Indians where he was

conducting field research. This approval would also grant him access through this informant

the most comprehensive and accurate topographical data of Indian land use in the area,

produced by the key informant himself. Brody named this man Joseph Patsah in his

ethnography. (Omohundro 2008, p66), Highlights that it is not uncommon for a key

informant to become a research assistant, language tutor, guide, host and friend. Joseph

was a guide, friend, and host to Brody whilst he was on hunting trips with members of the

community.

Hugh Brody also applied a scientific approach to his field work. He used topographical maps

extensively through this ethnography. (Hugh Brody 1982, pp238-245) takes topographical

data from reliable resources. Brody obtained these maps through research associates.

These maps were according to the ethnography from the British Columbia government,

and its associated departments, therefore are valid. These maps set out to look at

provincial land use by people other than Beaver Indians. It looks at the sales of land as well

as the use of land for forestry, oil and gas and sports hunting. This gives the reader an

understanding of how Beaver Indian hunting grounds are used by non-Beaver Indian

peoples. A representative was chosen by each Indian band to obtain maps from the Beaver

Indian hunters on their reserve. According to Brody (1982 pp154-173), Maps indicating

Indian land use are verifiable because they were all completed independently by each

hunter. They all showed statistically similar use of the land where the Indian bands hunted

(Brody, p153).

Brody also studied existing historical documents covering the behaviour of Beaver Indian

bands since European contact. He discovered a culture that has been forced to evolve over

time because of displacement, and the abuse of resources traditionally used by Indians by
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Europeans. (Brody 1982, p56) notes that George Simpson’s journal alludes to the Beaver

Indians being a bunch of alcoholics that have disease of the lungs. He also notes that they

could be accomplished fur traders.

(Brody 1982, pp100-101) looks at trap lines registered for Indians living on the reserve.

(Brody 1982 pp65-68) Looks at a treaty that would allow Indian’s that ceded their lands in

that treaty to continue to engage in hunting, fishing and trapping on any of the land they

ceded to the crown. This information is regarded as reliable and scientific because it is

taken from Legislation and legal documentation, held by particular bodies of the British

Columbia Government.

Hugh Brody has written up his account of the culture and people he has researched in a

rather unique way. He is self-reflective about this ethnography being based on what was

originally a research project (1982, p,xvi). To portray this to the reader, Brody has used the

odd chapters to draw the reader to the outcomes of field work he completed with beaver

Indians. This covers some aspects of their culture, their hunting and land use. It also looks

at their beliefs and what they would like to gain from the research project. The even

chapters incorporate the research project he completed on land occupancy and use. It also

highlights the history of British Columbia as well the Indian bands in British Columbia. It

highlights the effects of Indian and European contact on both parties.

One must conclude that this ethnography has used a comprehensive array of research

methods. By using a humanistic and scientific approach, he has completed an ethnography

that allows the reader to engage in a self-reflective look at the research material being

covered. This is referred to as critical Cultural relativism. The humanistic aspects of Brody’s

ethnography have been weakened somewhat by the scientific aspects. The community

being researched were aware that the outcome of the research would have an impact on

their land use. It can be assumed that some if the information that he has gathered from
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the Indian bands may be questioned. It could be argued that the humanistic approach

augments the scientific approach. Although by its exact nature is flawed by the

community’s expectations surrounding the research. However by incorporating both

scientific, and humanistic approaches Brody has produced what can be perceived as a

complete and well researched document.( Barbra Miller 2008, p53) highlights that to

survive only quarter of a million people today rely on a foraging economy. This means that

the Beaver Indians are part of a culture that is at risk of global extinction.
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References

Books

Brody.H (1982), Maps and Dreams

New York, United states of America, Pantheon Books, Random House.

George Marcus and Michael M.J. Fischer 1986 Anthropology as Cultural Critique:

The Experimental Moment in the Human Sciences, Chicago: University of Chicago

Press.

Miller.B(2008) Cultural Anthropology in a globalizing world (2 nd ed.)

Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458, United States Of America, Pearson Education.

Omohundro.J.T(2008), Thinking Like An Anthropologist, A Practical Introduction to Cultural

Anthropology. Avenue of the Americas, New York, United States of America,

McGraw-Hill.