The Sherpa of Nepal Essay -- Culture Economy Papers

The Sherpa of Nepal Sherpa, a term derived from words meaning people and east, refers to a ethnic groupthat numbers roughly 35,000 and whose members occupy parts of India, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan (Sherpa Friendship Asscn,19991), though well-nigh groups ar found in Nepal (Stevens 1993 31). It is generally understood that the Sherpa came to Nepal from eastern Tibet about 500 years ago (www.rip.physics.unk.edu/Nepal/NPE 19992). This research paper will focussing on the Nepalese Sherpa. It will explore socio-ecological aspects of their lives, including their cultural and ecological adaptations. In addition, it will highlight changes in Sherpa culture and the relationship brought about by outside influences. Nepal is a relatively small country, 100 miles wide by 500 miles long. The southern border is tropical with rich soils, flora and zoology making this region of Nepal densely populated by humans (Bishop 199810). The mountainous region, however, is more sparsely populated. It is t he Sherpa who populate these mountains, specifically the middle Himalayan frame (Bishop 199811). Most Sherpa settlements are found at altitudes of 3,000 to 6,000 meters. These high altitude environments are prone to unpredictable climatic and geomorphological conditions. Growing seasons are short, and at that place is often the risk of early frosts or snowstorms. The slopes are steep and land and grazing is often difficult (Stevens 1993 57). However, despite these challenges, the Sherpa have managed to subsist in their environment by employing a system of agro-pastoralism. This method combines stationary colony agriculture with a nomadic system of herding (Bishop 199825). This way of life has been of the essence(p) to Sherpa survival. The Sherpa prac... ...olyandry Kinship, Domesticity, and Population on the Tibetan Border. Chicago and London The University of Chicago Press. Ortner, Sherry B. 1989. lofty Religion A Cultural and Political History of Sherpa Buddhism. Princeton, NJ Princeton University Press. Ortner, Sherry B. 1978. Sherpas by dint of their rituals. London Cambridge University Press. Savada, Andrea Matles. 1993. Nepal And Bhutan Country Studies. Washington DC US Government effect Office. Sherpa Friendship Association. Sherpa Facts. . February 17, 1999. Stevens, Stanley F. 1993. Claiming the Higher Ground Sherpas, Subsistence, and Environmental Change in the Highest Himalaya. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA University of California Press. Stonor, Charles. 1955. The Sherpa and the Snowman. London Hollis & Carter. Unreached Peoples Prayer Profiles, The. . February 17, 1999.