Paper short abstract:

The paper looks into the traditional ecological knowledge of the Apatani tribes which is at risk of extinction and suggests possible solutions to the challenge. The issue of how can we preserve the subjugated knowledge systems in the face of modernization and thirst for progress is put to question.

Paper long abstract:

The Apatani community residing in the Northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh has been known for their nature conserving and environmentally friendly standards of living practiced for over thousands of years (Kumar and Ramakrishnan, 1990; Sundriyal et al., 2002). In 2015, the valley was also nominated to be one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. However, recent developments in their resident valley, known as Ziro valley, pose a serious threat to the valley’s natural habitat. Ziro valley has undergone several changes since colonialism in the socio-political and, subsequently, cultural fronts. Modernization, stigmatization as well as western influence played an equally important role in the changes. With young members moving out of the traditional farming and handloom practices, the hereditary lands are increasingly being reused for commercial purposes. Apart from suffering from serious loss of language, lifestyle, and overall cultural practices, this also implies that the traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is at danger of being lost. Using oral narratives and participant observation as the primary source of data collection, nine months of ethnographic research helped us understand the field and draw the conclusions. The narratives and folktales indicate how the traditional practices were aligned with nature and the conservation of resources. The current study suggests that proper research and documentation are a suitable way to preserve these TEKs from extinction.