The
Mlabri tribe—often referred to as the “Yellow Leaf People”—is an exceedingly
small, insular group of hunter-gatherers, who live in Laos and Thailand. Their
moniker is derived from their practice of abandoning their current dwellings
when the banana leaves, from which the huts are made, turn from yellow to
brown.
In
1985, anthropologists counted 24 members of the Mlabri tribe living in the
Phiang District of Xaingabouri Province (Laos), yet a combination of high
infant mortality rates, resource depletion, and epidemics have had an impact on
their population. Today, four families exist in this region—22 members in all.
Approximately 300 members of the tribe are scattered across the border of the Thai
Provinces Nan and Phrae. With our teeming urban centers and interconnectivity
between hundreds of people—sometimes on a daily basis—maintaining a culture of
such few people might seem unthinkable. But the current Mlabri population is
relatively large, compared to its genetic origins: they descend from two women
and four men. Thus, their mDNA (mitochondrial DNA) is replicated identically
from tribe member to tribe member.
This
nomadic lifestyle accounts for why there is so little known about these people—their
existence was discovered by Europeans as recently as 1936. Ironically, what we
do know about the Mlabri’s social organization and construction of romantic relationships
(i.e. serial monogamy) appears to correspond to our own Western social behaviors.
Because of the group’s size and their tendency to move frequently, serial
monogamy is required in order to keep their population level in stasis. If a
Mlabri woman were to remain married to, and reproduce with, one male for her
entire life, the variegation and number of the Mlabri population would be
jeopardized. I find it fascinating that, because culture is so enamored with
the idea of “soul mates” and “…’til death do us part,” we are resistant to the
idea of serial monogamy.
And yet, with a national divorce rate that has been on
the rise since the mid-20th century, shouldn’t we openly embrace the
type of relationships that the “Yellow Leaf People” have practiced for so long?
Tell
me what you think and join the discussion!
Next film: "Giraffe Women - what are you willing to do to be beautiful?" on Friday, July 3rd. Click on the follow button at the upper right to get informed about new films!
