tribal wars

[MarkD]

How bad could they get? I ask as in humans, some tribes in certain cultures would commit cannibalism to their enemies. would the na'vi also do this?

Oh yeah, just imagine Hannibal Lecter as a na'vi.

[FoxGhost]

I think it would depend on what the tribes would be fighting over and how stubborn they decide to be.Historically the worst kind of tribal warfare has been slave raids as those involve the entire civilian population of the defending side.Nothing suggests that the na'vi practise slavery though. Hunter-gatherers wouldn't have much resources to waste in warfare so i'd imagine any real na'vi wars would short, skirmish affairs with very few casualties unless they'd be fighting over something really important (like the tree of souls. I wouldn't rule out cannibalism as a possibility but it is pretty detrimental behaviour as far as the species is concerned which is why to most people it is instinctively revolting.But in tough times, beggars can't be choosers....

[ScottWashburn]

If the Na'vi are like human hunter-gatherers then warfare (and they must have it since they have a word for "warrior") is probably highly ritualized with few casualties on either side. Wars of extermination would be contrary to the ideas that Neytiri teaches Jake during his training. Of course Pandora is a big planet and we've only seen a tiny fraction of it. There could be places were conditions are much harsher and life harder where more serious warfare could exist as tribes try to survive.

[tm20]

i've thought of this for a little while and have come to the conlusion that it depends on the proximity of the tribes. we see that the Omaticaya roam around in an area that's quite large with no other clan (well atleast we don't see them) and i've been told in human tribes a common way wars start is by tresspassing so i'm assuming this isn't an issue with Na'vi clans since they have more than enough space to live in. however with the skypeople occupying or invading their territory i think the last thing they can afford is to wipe each other out, instead they would most likely cooperate with each other in getting rid of the enemies. i'm sure Dr. Augustine would know the answer to this question

[HufweMakto]

I believe it's actually touched upon in the guidebook and in the Pandorapedia on the blu-ray. There is some warfare, but the aim isn't taking out the most warriors on the opposing team rather. It's more of a contest on a level. I wouldn't necessarily rule it out as "ritualized" warfare (like with the Mayan and Aztec "Flower Wars").

[_Omaticaya_]

I'm sure Dr. Grace Augustine would know too TM20, well said , personally, i think it's a good question, difficult to answer, at least that's my opinion, i don't know much about this subject. But i think too, that if every other tribe on Pandora is like the Omaticaya clan, which i assume they are, only difference is maybe the way they hunt, what they hunt, what they use to hunt etc. So if all the Na'vi have a deep connection to the forest, and all living things, why would they have a reason to kill each other? I mean, here on Earth, in war people kill other people, not even knowing why, it's only orders by a superior in the army for example, and if you think of it, it's crazy... We lost our conscience... So end of the story, i think too, that tribal Na'vi wars, are not very big,or long and they find a solution quickly. Maybe i'm totally wrong, maybe they take war very seriously, i don't know, but the idea i got from the movie, of the Na'vi, is Perfect and spotless, so i find it hard to see Na'vi kill each other easily. Pandora is a heavenly place, no need to fight there, Na'vi is the way

[FoxGhost]

Oh, there would be plenty of reasons for the tribes to fight if they cross eachothers path.Hunger is a powerful motivator and upheavals that would uproot tribes would also cause hunger.Altruism is well and good but no society of hunter-gatherers can survive a sudden huge population spike.But like i said before, the wars would be short skirmish affairs with few casualties.

[HufweMakto]

Oh, there would be plenty of reasons for the tribes to fight if they cross eachothers path.Hunger is a powerful motivator and upheavals that would uproot tribes would also cause hunger.Altruism is well and good but no society of hunter-gatherers can survive a sudden huge population spike.But like i said before, the wars would be short skirmish affairs with few casualties.

I believe it's already been pointed out that there have been wars between Na'vi clans (as evident from the word for "warrior" and sheilds in Na'vi culture), this has been explained in both the survival guide and the Pandorapedia. Unlike the modern idea of warfare, at least from what I'm reading on the Pandorapedia, the Na'vi aren't aiming for a war of casualities, but rather putting forth two opposing teams and trying to figure out a solution. This may explain the staff fight in the deleted scenes on the CE.

[irseriaL]

That was interesting.

[ScottWashburn]

On further thought I'm wondering if perhaps some of the past appearances of Toruk Macto were to put an end to a war that had grown too large or too destructive (a time of great sorrow). Eywa IS watching after all