Changing Rites of Passage: An Ethnographic Study of Adolescence in Indigenous Communities

Abstract

This ethnographic research analyzes the story of the change of the traditional rites of passage
among Indigenous teenagers. Using participant observation, interviews, and document analysis
in three communities, the study exposes stark modern influences alongside attempts to preserve
culture. The study identifies a move towards more hybrid forms of ancestral practice with
contemporary practices. These findings have notable consequences for cultural preservation
strategies and the development of youth identity.