Tribe Switch

A **tribe switch** was the first game-changing twist of *Survivor CAN*. This twist sends members from one tribe to the rival tribes and vice versa.

## About

The tribe switch is a twist that can happen at any specific point during the game. This reassignment of tribes is effective until the tribes merge or a new opportunity to switch tribes occurs (e.g. a mutiny or a second switch.) This is denoted by contestants wearing a newly-supplied buff in the colour of their new tribe. They then drop their old buff on the ground and start wearing the new one.

Normally, a switch would send half of the members of a tribe to the other when both tribes have an equal number of members.

## Classifications

A tribe switch could be classified as one or more of several types:

* Swap - Typically done during early seasons, it happens when the switch is done in a way ensuring that each tribe exchanges the same number of castaways. Among Survivor fans, all tribe switches are commonly referred to as "swaps" regardless of the specific type.
* Shuffle - A shuffle happens where each tribe could have a different number of new members. Many times, however, the number of castaways coming from a particular gender is considered, making sure each new tribe has good gender balance. A shuffle could be a random draw or be systematic, typically through a Schoolyard Pick.
* Mutiny - A mutiny happens when castaways from both tribes are offered an option to join a rival tribe.
* Absorption - An absorption happens if one tribe gets dissolved, with its members being the only ones eligible to switch and are distributed to the remaining tribes.
* Kidnapping - When one member is kidnapped and officially becomes a member of the opposing tribe.
* Conquering - A conquering happens when the remaining members of a losing tribe get absorbed by the other tribe, and only one tribe is left (i.e. no merge).
* Disband - Typically a variation of the shuffle, it happens when a tribe gets dissolved, then a shuffle is done to put the castaways on the remaining tribes.
* Expansion - An expansion happens if an auxiliary tribe is introduced in a two-tribe season. Typically, a shuffle is then done after.

## Twist History

### *Tanzania*

* Type: Swap

The first time a switch occurred was on Day 13 in *Survivor CAN: Tanzania*. Both the Arusha and Morogoro tribes were instructed via Tree Mail to send three representatives to meet the host for reasons still unknown at the time. Once the representatives arrived at the meeting place, the host informed them that they would be joining the other tribe.

 MorogoroArthur, Bernice, Crystle, Jin, and Mike

### *Borneo*

* Type: Shuffle

On Day 10, castaways would step on random discs with buffs underneath, four members would swap tribes, resulting in original tribe members being the minority on the new tribes.

 RamisChris, Frankie, Irvin, Jody, Madeleine, and Roy

### *India*

* Type: Mutiny

On Day 14, the castaways were offered to have a mutiny, switching them to the rival tribe. Larry Santiago accepted the offer, switching them from Ajagar to Kachhue.

 KachhueArlette, Jane, Joe, Larry, and Will

### *Greece*

* Type: Swap

After twelve days of competing as tribes defined by gender, both tribes' youngest member, Neda Jaksic and Neville Faubert for Athena and Zeus respectively, went to an overnight paradise with food, bedding, and a bath on Day 13. The next morning, Day 14, the host revealed that they would decide which members were staying on each tribe and which were being sent to the other tribe.

 ZeusAgnes, Christina, Huma, Neville, Ray, and Yemane

### *Madagascar*

* Type: Swap

On Day 11, both tribes were approached by Malagasy tribesmen and tasked to select one person to become their "chief" (denoted by holding a tribal staff). Gidro chose Tessa Sylvester whilst Tana chose Barth Wise. At the Reward Challenge, the host announced that the tribes would be switched, with Barth selecting the tribes and Tessa deciding which one to lead. The person who was not picked, Kasia Jaworska, chose which new tribe she would join. This method of choosing tribes meant that six of the thirteen remaining castaways would be switched, three to each new tribe.

 TanaAngela, Barth, Becca, Daniel, Nathalia, and Ted

### *All-Stars - Solomon Islands*

#### Switch #1

* Type: Swap

On Day 12, the two losing tribes go to Tribal Council. At the Double Tribal Council, each tribe was told to vote without knowing that the person with the most votes would be sent to the other tribe attending the session. The person sent over also gets to pick one member of their original tribe to join them on his new tribe. Kagaba votes out Madeleine Allakariallak and she picks Selma Alho to join her at Tahaanuku. Tahaanuku votes out Arlette Alcock and she picks Clara Wesson to join her at Kagaba.

 TahaanukuAjay, Frankie, Kat, Madeleine, Mike, Neda, and Selma

#### Switch #2

* Type: Aborption

On Day 19, the tribes met for a Reward Challenge. Kagaba won, and were given the right to individually choose which tribe they want to stay on and collectively choose the members of the other two tribes to join the new Kagaba tribe. Kagaba decided to all stay together and picked Harry Calderon to join them and Selma Alho to rejoin them. The nine who were not picked formed the new Niupani tribe, and Tahaanuku was disbanded.

 NiupaniAjay, Carmeno, Charlotte, Frankie, Harrison, Kat, Kyle, Mike, and Neda

#### Switch #3

* Type: Kidnap

After winning the Day 29 Immunity Challenge, Kagaba was given the right to send one of their tribe members to observe Niupani's Tribal Council. They sent Jonathan Cheechoo, and he was given the right of picking one of the Niupani tribemates to join Kagaba, and the Tribal Council ended with no elimination. Jonathan kidnapped Carmeno Atwood.

 NiupaniCharlotte, Frankie, Harrison, Kat, Mike, and Neda

### *Jordan*

#### Switch #1

* Type: Absorption

The season started with three tribes and was the first time a starting tribe was dissolved. The tribe that lost the Reward Challenge on Day 13 was dissolved and its members absorbed into the remaining two tribes. Khazali lost the challenge.

 RakhabatAiko, Denis, Hazel, Jason, Khaled, Timur and Victor

#### Switch #2

* Type: Shuffle

On Day 22, the two remaining tribes convened at a Reward Challenge after receiving a cryptic Tree Mail instructing them to paint their bodies. They learned that they would not be competing but would, instead, be paired off with the person from the opposing tribe painted with the same color to enjoy a picnic. Host Jeff Probst revealed a vase containing buffs. Presuming that they would merge at this point, they were surprised when the familiar red and green buffs emerged, signaling a tribe switch. In a rather odd coincidence, nine of the ten castaways switched tribes: all four members of Mogo Mogo were switched to Chapera, while five of the six Chapera members were switched to Mogo Mogo. The only contestant to not switch tribes, Amber Brkich, was left on Chapera with none of her old tribemates.

 File:Mogomogofont.pngFile:S8 alicia t.pngFile:S8 jennal t.pngFile:S8 robm t.pngFile:S8 rupert t.pngFile:S8 tom t.pngAlicia, Jenna L., Rob M., Rupert, and Tom

## Trivia

### Number of Castaways Switching Tribes

These totals exclude the absorptions of *India*, *Bahamas* & *All-Stars - Solomon Islands*, as the members of the existing tribe(s) were not eligible to switch.

* *All-Stars - Solomon Islands* had the fewest castaways switch tribes, with only four people switching tribes in each case.
	+ *All-Stars - Solomon Islands* had the lowest percentage of castaways switch tribes, with 4 out of 20 switching tribes.
* *Borneo* had the most castaways switch tribes, with 8 switching tribes.
	+ *Borneo* had the highest percentage of castaways switch tribes, with 8 out of 13 switching tribes.

### Number of Members Retained by a Tribe

* Ramis had the fewest of its original members following a tribe switch, with only two original castaways.