Which people is most like the Na vi?
 

Which people here on Earth do you think is most like the Na vi?

I think one of the candidates must be the Sentinelese on Northern Sentinel island in the Andaman islands, Indian Ocean. They are Hunter Gatherers, they are one of the most isolated peoples in the world and they vividly defend their freedom, their land and independance against modern society and exploitation. They live in a non destructive manner in harmony with the nature. They have lived in the area for more than 30 000 years (some say 60 000) and for some people their island and life style can nearly be seen as a life on another world, in another time.

Perhaps one can consider them as one of the last free peoples on Earth.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hRYIuxVfHi...entinelese.jpg
Sentineli men aim their bows at foreigners

Sentinelese people - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There was a thread here or on AF about the book "Original Wisdom" - well worth reading - which describes the Sng'Oi of Malaysia. They are (or were) so Na'vi-like that it was painful to read.

Indeed they were (which makes it even more sad), since by now they have been assimilated into the Malay culture. They are still referred to as "Orang Asli" (Malay for "the ancient ones" or "the original people"), but have adopted more modern lives, compared to the hunter-gatherer days of the early 1960s, when Robert Wolff visited them. But even back then, they knew about the civilized world - but just wanted to live their life.

Having come to know the books by Sabine Kuegler recently, the Fayu of West-Papua (New Guinea) are another small indigenous tribe that used to live a neolithic life and thus were quite close to Na'vi on Earth, too... But since Indonesia occupied Papua, they and other natives are in danger of becoming extinct, too, this time due to atrocities done to Papuans who protest the occupation and wish for independence.

http://www.indonesiatraveling.com/tr...ua/Fayu-01.jpg

Young Sabine Kuegler growing up with the Fayu (she's the pale one... ;) ):

http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-...uegler-007.jpg

Wiggling bare toes,

~*Ganesha*~

I honestly think you can't compare the two. There are quite a lot of humans who live in a traditional way, but it isn't like thee are any who have a neural network, hometrees and ikran... :(

Read Orignal Wisdom. You might be surprised.

So humans have ikran and a neural network?
Did you even read my post? :P

The Sng'oi don't need a neural network. They just... know.

Again, read Original Wisdom. You might be surprised. :)

That seems like a really interesting read. :D

Just ordered that book from Amazon. Must be good. :)

It is, as long as you're also prepared to feel a similar spectrum of emotions as may have been triggered by Avatar, and rage that we have now lost this culture. The sheer rightness of their way of living, the abundant caring for each other and the harmony with nature, just choked me up. No wonder that in that culture mental illness was simply nonexistent. Zero incidences. Period. Can you imagine?

Dammit, I do not usually get this emotional...

I bet I'll be emotionally lured into the book. Can't wait to read it!

Is there a link for this book? You've got me interested now.

Amazon.com: Original Wisdom: Stories of an Ancient Way of Knowing (9780892818662): Robert Wolff, Thom Hartmann: Books

I ordered from swati21:
Amazon.com: Used and New: Original Wisdom: Stories of an Ancient Way of Knowing

Placed my order this morning and it already shipped via USPS and I got my tracking number lol. Very quick shipper!

irayo. I will check this out.

Sorry, had a quick look about that book, but I can't say I see the similarity. They have a different way of thinking, certainly - but I think that people are saying someone is 'Na'vi-like' when I wouldn't really describe it as such. It takes more than living in a forest and being happier than most humans.