Paper short abstract:

Here, we intend to project, through visual projections, the indigenous perspectives of Naga –Apatani tribes as spread in folk-oral worldview, sacred beliefs, folk knowledge of agriculture, and resulting symbiotic relationships, which proved an impartial picture. Author’s presentation includes depiction of still photos from black and white era and a ten-minute ethnographic film. Film depicts insiders’ perspective on agriculture system, sacred landscape and indigenous knowledge, and people’s agenda of protection of their culture and language.

Paper long abstract:

The intent to romanticize 'indigenous tribes' (for instance, Naga and Apatani), a potent deal of non-Asian scholarship, by way of producing and publishing pictorial anthology on tribal cultures seems more of commercial venture and less of academy. Distortions and cultural genocide thus impinged on the tribespeople through value-loaded writings and 'prejudiced' photography, showing 'primitiveness', needs to be remedied. Here, we intend to project, through visual reflections, the indigenous perspectives of Naga -Apatani tribes as spread in folk-oral worldview, sacred beliefs, folk knowledge of agriculture, and resulting symbiotic relationships, which proved a impartial picture. It may be argued that indigenous knowledge and folklores, based on the sustainable use of environmental resources using sacred landscapes, are dying fast. Unless these resources are documented, the indigenous peoples and the humanity as a whole may never have the authenticated account of the indigenous heritage. Author's presentation includes depiction of still photos from black and white era and a ten-minute ethnographic film titled 'The Apatani: Sacred landscape and Indigenous Agriculture in Eastern Himalaya' (scripted and directed by author, 2009). Film depicts insiders' perspective on agriculture system, sacred landscape and indigenous knowledge, and people's agenda of protection of their culture and language.