That type of life goes on in many parts of the world, from Africa to the forrests of South America (like the Matto Grosso forrest and the Amazon region).
Of cource there are that kind of people. And the worst is that we can't help them to advance - they are not ready to accept oru culture and way of life.
What do you mean by "that" kind of people? Help them to advance? It's a cultural thing. You will be surprised who is in fact more "advanced" them or us.
I ment only that if they are not so advance as we are in technological aspect, it will be a big shock for them (may be - I'm not sure) to go in the big city, start useing computer or something like that. Of cource they may have cure for cancer, but we won't be abel to use it (because it is not a pill). Sorry if I hurt s.o. feelings. But think that is true, and stand my words.
If a transition is made carefully, such tribes are definately capable of saving their cultural heritage, while at the same time using modern technology to make their life more comfortable. The bad thing is, that often such tribes meet the worst side of our culture first, and then they get poor, and are expelled from their land. About that cure for cancer: If they have it, we'll use it. I don't think it matters to cancer patients whether it's a pill or not.
Well i think you know that some tribes arent suffering from cancer, no matter are they cureing or just preventing themselves from that curse for humans. Yes - if we try to give them some technology they will start useing it. After that they will be in debt, selling their land (wich is actually what they have) and they will be lost. They will skip the evolutionary path we were trough, so a lot of things they are "learnig" wont be natural for them. Since they are in unfriendly (even hostile) environment (our society do not like intruders of any kind, no matter how harmles they are), they will have to live lives they are not used to, and they are uncomfortable with (i think it will be quite a big shock and stress for every single human being to stop his highly valued job (like huter for that single case) for toilet cleaner, or McDonalds sandwich maker). There are a lot of examples in history where one unevolved tribe get hi-tech (for the time it happens) and use it for itself - like The Holly Roman Empire - they take the structure from Rome Empire, change it to their habits, and then are ruined by it's own ignorance. This will happen if our advanced civilization controls a lot more complex technology it is even imagined only by the science fiction writers.