The National Geographic show is called "Cannibal Island", and focuses on interviews with Papua New Guinea natives who claim to have eaten people in the past.
What is important to note, for sake of clarity and for correct information, is that this practice is generally a ritual, sacred practice that is not practiced for subsistence in any way.
From Wikipedia:
Endocannibalism (from Greek Endo- "internal" or "from within" and cannibalism) is the term which describes the practice of eating dead members of one's own culture, tribe or social group. The practice may have a variety of purposes, including an attempt to absorb the characteristics of the deceased, the belief that by eating human flesh there is a regeneration of life after death,[1] the incorporation of the spirit of the dead into living descendants, or to ensure the separation of the soul from the body.
Exocannibalism (from Greek Exo-, "from outside" and Cannibalism, 'to eat humans'), as opposed to endocannibalism, is the practice of eating human corpses from people outside one's own community, tribe or social group—most notably their flesh and some organs such as the heart. Generally it takes the form of ceremonial sacrifices or the ritual consumption of the rival's flesh in order to absorb their vitality or some other valuable trait[1], as well as a symbolic expression of the domination of an enemy in warfare[2]. Such practices have been documented in such cultures as the Aztecs from Mexico, the Carib and the Tupinambafrom South America.
Generally, it was a practice put to use on social offenders who perpetrated a bad enough crime that it merited death (such as a rape or bewitchment), or used for enemies. Even then, humans were still NOT used for food, and only barely ingested. More often than not, the ritual involves taking a bite out of the human meat to signify the degradation and disrespect, or the act of ingesting some character or trait or strength of the person ingested.
From Wikipedia:
Endocannibalism (from Greek Endo- "internal" or "from within" and cannibalism) is the term which describes the practice of eating dead members of one's own culture, tribe or social group. The practice may have a variety of purposes, including an attempt to absorb the characteristics of the deceased, the belief that by eating human flesh there is a regeneration of life after death,[1] the incorporation of the spirit of the dead into living descendants, or to ensure the separation of the soul from the body.
Some Indigenous Australians performed such practices as acts of respect for the dead person (presumably as a sign of the dead person's worth),[2] as well as some Native American cultures such as the Mayoruna people.[3] Ya̧nomamö consumed the ground-up bones and ashes of cremated kinsmen in an act of mourning. This is still classified as endocannibalism, although, strictly speaking, "flesh" is not eaten.[4] The Aghoris of northern India consume the flesh of the dead floated in the Ganges in pursuit of immortality and supernatural powers.[5]
Such practices were generally not believed to have been driven by need for protein or other food.
Exocannibalism (from Greek Exo-, "from outside" and Cannibalism, 'to eat humans'), as opposed to endocannibalism, is the practice of eating human corpses from people outside one's own community, tribe or social group—most notably their flesh and some organs such as the heart. Generally it takes the form of ceremonial sacrifices or the ritual consumption of the rival's flesh in order to absorb their vitality or some other valuable trait[1], as well as a symbolic expression of the domination of an enemy in warfare[2]. Such practices have been documented in such cultures as the Aztecs from Mexico, the Carib and the Tupinambafrom South America.
Generally, it was a practice put to use on social offenders who perpetrated a bad enough crime that it merited death (such as a rape or bewitchment), or used for enemies. Even then, humans were still NOT used for food, and only barely ingested. More often than not, the ritual involves taking a bite out of the human meat to signify the degradation and disrespect, or the act of ingesting some character or trait or strength of the person ingested.
This may be a good program to discuss with your local Cultural Anthropologist. :)
PS: There's also a good paper by Jared Diamond on the archaeology of the Donner Party (which is actually a form of scavenging)!
