Karen Traditionally the hill people subsist on slash and burn agriculture which entails moving their villages periodically when the soil's productivity is exhausted. Karen Slash and burn agriculture becomes more and more damaging to the environment as the population density increases. Consequently, responsible governments the world over, attempt to stabilize tribal settlements, some with more success than others. Thailand's policy towards hill tribes aims at their gradual assimilation and integration into mainstream thai lifestyle through education rather than the coercion that has motivated these Karen to migrate from Myanmar. Akha Generally, hill tribes anywhere have devised distinctive traditional costumes that they wear with pride as the badge of their identity.
Traditional dress is encouraged in China.
The Akha have however discovered the tourist trade and have become skillful at producing what the market wants. The older lady wearing her traditional costume was shy and ran into her house when I made this photograph while the younger one wearing modern clothes advanced enthusiastically to offer me her Akha artifacts.