Anthropologist Erik de Maaker in Dutch newspaper on ‘isolated communities'
A recent arrest of an American tourist who left a can of coke on North Sentinel Island has once again drawn attention to one of 'the world's most isolated communities'. Cultural anthropologist Erik de Maaker interprets this incident in an article published in De Telegraaf this week.
Events like this, and their exposure in the media, often reinforce the stereotypical, exotic and romanticised narratives that exist about ethnic groups, such as the North Sentinelese peoples. De Maaker argues for a more nuanced understanding of why these communities remain isolated and addresses the ethical, cultural, geopolitical and health dimensions of interactions with communities like these.