I carry my life experiences with me everywhere I go. It’s those experiences that give me hope for the future. If an Indigenous woman from humble beginnings can be confirmed as Secretary of the Interior, our country holds promise for everyone. Source: Deb Haaland in “Reactions From Indian Country to Deb Haaland’s Confirmation as Secretary … Read more
The first chaang, the first elephant, once had big eyes,Which the animals thought looked beautiful and wise.Then, along came a bird, a wagtail, and… Told in verse, this folktale from the Tai Phake people of India’s northeast is gentle and funny. Source: Why The Elephant Has Tiny EyesAddress: https://www.tulikabooks.com/general-picture-books/why-the-elephant-has-tiny-eyes-english.htmlDate Visited: 15 March 2021 “As kids, we … Read more
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS GALLERY Music plays an important role in the life and culture of most people in the North East. “Music is in their blood”, it is often said metaphorically. Most of the tribes of the region have a rich oral tradition and music is one way through which knowledge and folktales are transmitted through … Read more
Adivasis and alcohol Historically, ‘pioneers’ of ‘civilized’ dominant (‘mainstream’ is politically incorrect) society have used alcohol to enslave and destroy the indigenous communities they invaded. Like exploitative marauders, they credited themselves with finding ‘new’ lands, sweepingly declaring them Terra Nullis (occasionally even classifying indigenous people as ‘fauna’, making it legal to hunt them). I recently read … Read more
Make in India – with bamboos and leavesFarmers, labourers and shepherds in rural Odisha wear delicately woven ‘rain hats’ while working. Made by Adivasis, they’re sold by small vendors, who carry them on bicycles across long distances […] Source: P. Sainath in “Make in India – with bamboos and leaves”URL: https://ruralindiaonline.org/articles/make-in-india—with-bamboos-and-leaves/Date visited: 5 September 2020 … Read more