August 6: Asufii Christian Institute (ACI) and University of California, Santa Cruz organised a two-day program titled Lithic Worlds: Indigenous Ecology and Pedagogy at Makhel Village.
Anthropologist Dolly Kikon (UC Santa Cruz), geologist Neivikhotso Chaya (Gauhati University), sociologist Daili Neli and political scientist Kaini Lokho (Asufii Christian Institute) organised the two-day event.
The meeting focused on the Indigenous People’s spirit of endurance. It showcased how the deep histories of land, geology, and time at Makhel village are intertwined through salt, stories, and spirits. The program started with a traditional blessing by the chief of Makhel village S. Pfokreni, followed by a welcome address by the chairman of Makhel Village Council Mr. Loli Kape. The Women Society of the village presented a special number.
The event consisted an art exhibition titled Old Ocean in the Eastern Himalayas and a fieldwork trip around the heritage sites of the village. The two-day exhibition and engagement was undertaken with residents from Makhel village, students, faculty members from ACI and village council members. The objective of this event was to underline the essence of being Indigenous people and celebrate the rich connection with our environment, ecology, and culture. The gathering of elders, students, cultural associations, and researchers at the event reiterated their commitment to maintaining ties with the past and present in order to envision a sustainable future. The art exhibition Old Ocean in the Eastern Himalayas explored these delicate connections by layering the geological history with the cultural relations in the Naga homeland.
Lithic Worlds is a research initiative to reflect and engage with Indigenous wisdom and life worlds. It combines ethnography, oral traditions, and geological knowledge. Updates and information on the initiative is available on the Instagram page @lithicworlds.
(Source: Asufii Christian Institute)