Household Number,Interview Date,Interviewer(s),Local government?,"Who, how?",Function level?,Feud history?,When/why?,Solved?,Kanun use?,Important?,Women?,Tradition?,Elsewhere?,Where?,Life better?,Economic development?,Tourist development?,International park?,Additional Comments
HH009,06/18/2005,"AY, MM",NO,,,YES,"Last feud was about 100 years ago and it was settled in 1935 through a third party mediation.  A Thana women was married to a man and together they had two kids.  Following her husband's death she left the kids and married another man, thus offending her husband's family who, in turn, took revenge by killing a five year old male member of her family.  Later, a Thana family member took revenge by killing an adult male member of their daughter's former husbands' family.  This feud was settled as even.",This feud was settled as even with the help of a third party.,"YES, but there is a conflict between the Kanun and the modern law.","Religion-since nobody can touch one's soul ""ndergjegja shpirterore qe s'mund ta prek kerkush""; and the fis is very important (patrikin).",,Since I am staying in Theth for pleasure and to look after the house and land I am of the opinion that old traditions must be preserved for centuries.,,,"Roads, schools, and hospitals",Tourism,A collaboration of local and outside specialists.,,"Originally the informant allowed us only 30 min for the interview as he was working the fields when we arrived to his house.  Nevertheless, his interest in the questions and our conversation grew as we were talking and we were able to complete the interview, after which he showed us the interior of his house.
In this particular inteview, note that the question about what is most important in Northern Albania was mistakingly addressed as ""what is the most importat to you personally?"", i.e, fis, village, region etc."
HH022,06/30/2005,"MM, EB",NO,,NO. They don't function well and it is apparent in the lack of employment in the village.,YES,"About six generations ago, the family of the interviewee lost their workman to an attack by a member of a fis whith whom they had a history of feuds.  The fis was obligated to take revenge since the victim lost his life while under their protection.  Therefore revenge was taken.",As the count was even the feud did not continue any further.,"YES. We refer more to the Kanun than modern law regarding engagements, conflicts, feuds, etc.","""nderi, besa, dhe mikpritja""
honor, truce, and hospitality are most important since once you have one you also have another.  To be hospitable, you also have to be honorable.",The role of women has changed considerably.  The only right for the women in the Kanun was to look after the house and the value of one woman was that of one cow. Today women enjoy many more rights and freedoms and are in many ways equal to men.  Today men consult with their wives about many  household decisions.  Their role today is to educate the kids and relatives as well as to keep up the house.,,YES,In Vrak Shkoder,Investments from abroad.  A well-maintained road that functions normally in winter and summer; perhaps a tunnel would be useful.  An antenna for cellular phones or a phone line is crucial for emergencies in the village as well as for communications around the world.   The road however is crucial.,Tourism,"Control should be from the natives as well as the maintanence of safety.
The investements and touristic development should be the role of the foreigners.",Yes,"1. Additional fis information:
The five neigborhoods claim ancestry to five brothers, son's of Ded Nikaj, who is the son of Nikaj.  The five brothers are Vuk Canaj, Gjecaj, Alicaj, Ndreaj, and Mark Dedaj.  Ndrek, the founder of the Ndreaj neighborhood, is known to be the oldest of the five brothers.  The informant is able to trace his paternal links to Ded Nikaj who appears to be the apical ancestor or the founder of the village.  The links are as follows:
Nikaj
Ded Nikaj
Gjeci (Gjecaj)
Buci
Martini
Lulash
Deda
Ndue
Preka
Gjoni
Ndue
Gjon
Viktor

2.  Additional religion information
The respondent considered himslef a cryptobeliever. They practiced religion secretly and did not intermarry with muslims.  Presently, while the church is being rebuilt, they do their prayers Sundays and as the tradition goes, the neighbors help work the fields of those who do not have enough manpower in their homes.  This is charity work without pay.  As the tradition has it, the hosting family puts together a lunch for all those who helped work their fields.

While religion separated people from one another, i.e. Muslims vs. Catholics, the state wanted to bring them together and that is why the church was closed during the communist regime.  Interestingly, how in the previous response it was mentioned rather proudly that we did not marry with Muslims, and to this particular inquiry the respondent's reasons why the church was closed by contradicting his initial response.

Religious symbols like icons and crosses were concealed and the religious holidays were celebrated secretly without ceremony but always by a family prayer.  There were some elderly in the village who still kept their strong religious convictions.  They enjoyed the respect of others as such but did not really have any role beyond that.

Yes, we taught our children about religion and secretly baptised them with a ""kumbar"" (godfather) as a witness.  This happened at home where a priest was brought secretly.

In terms of the religious symbols like the sun and the crescent, they have no meaning to the respondent.  They may also be seen engraved in wooden furniture and other wood work and are just decorations.  Perhaps the sun is a representation of the world.  The only meaningful symbols for us are the cross and our icons of saints.  

I resumed my religious practice out of sincere belief and as an embrace of the religion.

In terms of Albanian vs. Catholic, I don't want one without the other.  I want to be Albanian and religious.  A harmony is best and to get along with all other believers of other faiths."
HH024,07/05/2005,MM,NO,,"NO. The local government can not function properly since the village has voted democratic the last 15 years and because the 
Shkodra government system, like the national government, is socialist the local governments receive no help from the central government.  There are no funds available to local governments to put to use for the betterment of the village.",NO,,,"NO, we have not had the need to use the Kanun as we have never killed and were never targeted by others.","Religion in Dukagjin is most important as it teaches one not to kill or steal, and because it is against all vices.  The Kanun is mainly about the house and the women but I haven't had a problem with any one of them.  There is nothing but all the best in religion.",The change is like night and day.  Women are modernized and free and now they work side by side with men.,,NO,But if I leave I would go to Shkodra,"Telephone or an antenna, a functioning road and work opportunities even if they are seasonal would greatly improve life in Theth.","Toursim including alpinism (i.e. climbing, hiking) both summer and winter.","It is better for it to be controlled by outside specialists because we are not able to support such development.  Natives can play a big part too, but they need to be trained so that they are qualified to sustain such a development.",,Religion and Communism: Survey Questions