Content Warning: This conversation includes racially and/or culturally derogatory language and/or negative depictions of Black and Indigenous people of color, women, and LGBTQI+ individuals. Rather than remove this content, we present it in the context of twentieth-century social history to acknowledge and learn from its impact and to inspire awareness and discussion.
A generation ago, the Iks displayed the human values of devotion to family, caring of the elderly, young, sick, and compassion for human suffering. With the loss of territory and increasing population coupled with limited mobility, the Iks suffered a reversal of compassion and in order to survive became mean, despicable, and inhumane. Examples are drawn from Turnbull's book, "Mountain People" as discussed with the author. Comparisons of the Iks to United States society are drawn.