About the Tribe
Humans evolved in tribes. As Daniel Quinn put it, “The tribal life and no other is the gift of natural selection to humanity.” To rewild means rewilding not only in body and thought, but in relationship even more importantly—to rebuild the broken web of mutual relationship that not only bound the human world, but the more-than-human world, as well. The first step in that is to recreate the tribe. Wild tribes were families; today, civilization tries to posit itself as a great big family, but it is dysfunctional. The tribe is the original family, lving free and healthy on the land.
In our rewilding, family is important: Jason & Giuli are husband and wife, Mike & Jason brothers. The Tribe of Anthropik is quite literally a family. We are rewilding to our land, and the Anthropik Network is here to share our experience.
A tribe is not built around ideas. Daniel Quinn was quite explicit about this, when he wrote about the comparison of tribes and communes. Tribes are built around a goal: making a living. They have a characteristic means of pursuing that goal—egalitarianism and reciprocity—but it is a goal-based group, not a philosophically-based group. Cory’s concern about our tribe’s philosophical basis is misplaced: we do not have one. We merely have a goal: to escape civilization, and to live instead as humans.
— Jason Godesky, “The Tribe of Anthropik“
But for another, the people you know you can count on for support do not generally stop supporting you just because things get rough. In fact, such are the times when people pull together and support each other all the more. And that seems to be what we’re really trying to get at when we talk about tribes—an extended social support network. Just like the kind you’ve been a part of your whole life.
— Michael Godesky, “On Tribes“
In that respect, the Tribe of Anthropik isn’t just a group of blog authors who dabble in role-playing games on the side. In a very real way, we are role-playing our own compensatory character: the tribe that we eventually wish to become. That, more than anything else, guarantees to me that we will someday reach our goal.
— Giulianna Lamanna, “We are not a Rock Band“
About the name. The name “Anthropik” derives from the Greek ἀνθρωπος anthropos, meaning “human,” as in “anthropology” or “anthropomorphic.” It was originally chosen to denote the opposite of misanthropy, and to underline the fact that ecology and rewilding do not place humanity at odds with the more-than-human world; on the contrary, our seperation from the more-than-human world that nourishes us and sustains us is ultimately the single most misanthropic force in the world, something that threatens to destroy humanity entirely. Of course, most tribal societies refer to themselves with names that translate to such things as “Human beings,” or “the Real People,” so the name “Anthropik” in that regard is certainly appropriate.
this is what we are doing
how can I get a copy of Yu Koyo Peya ?
It gave me a clear vision of my favorite film: BARAKA !
couldn’t figure out how to copy it on my hard disk.
thank you so much for being there
and widening our goals !!
email me back so I can send pictures of our family ecovillage in quebec.
Comment by claude — 19 September 2006 @ 10:05 PM
Their is a book I would like to send you that might be of interest. To where might it be sent.
Comment by guy — 30 September 2006 @ 11:38 AM
Email me. You’ll find my contact info on my profile page, linked to my name above.
Comment by Jason Godesky — 30 September 2006 @ 12:45 PM
Pardon, this is off-topic but I just noticed something in this theme: when I hover over a #, it says “Permalnik to this comment” but I think you mean “Permalink”! =D
Comment by Torley — 17 December 2006 @ 6:42 PM
Where do you project is the safest city to move towards in the next few years. I live in Houston! Rivers, coastline…not good!
Can you email me a projection map of 2012? thanks,
Yogini Jennifer Buergermeister
Comment by Jennifer — 29 December 2006 @ 4:41 PM
JG
when it goes kaput, stop by on yr way to higher ground. i am now part of yr tribe.
Varisco
Comment by Anonymous — 28 March 2007 @ 7:13 PM
You might as well try to declare yourself family, Varisco! I’m not saying it’s impossible, but really, I’d need to get to know you better to join you for a drink, much less adopt you into my family. Now’s the time to build up those relationships, so it’s all in place when it all goes kaput. We’re happy to try to provide an example so others can learn from our mistakes and be spared the problems we muddle through, but you might be better off taking that knowledge to help strengthen your own tribe.
Comment by Jason Godesky — 28 March 2007 @ 9:05 PM
Very interesting! Good luck to you guy’s! As for me and my wife, we’ll head out into the “unknown” together. Sadly leaving behind family and friends, however I’m a realist, and know it has got to be this way to insure our survival. I cannot provide for many people.
Hopefully you’ll choose you’re members wisely, like preparing for a trip up Mount Everst, this is EXACTLY what it’ll take, rest assured. Primitive skills only become easy after many years of practice.
I hope that the land you’ve choosen can support the members of your tribe. Always remember, the land owns you, if it cannot support you, you’ll surely die. This kind of land, is very, very hard to find. The land I’m going to has supported people who have lived on the fringe for over 100 years, however, times change and so does the land. It too is ever evolving. I expect to eek out a meager living here and people describe this land as “God’s Country”. At least we’ll be alive and isloated from society. Any land that is not isolated, is worthless………………………
Again, good luck on you’re adventure and perhaps you’ll find happiness under the rainbow!
Comment by yooper — 20 June 2007 @ 10:27 PM