Crafts & visual arts

“During our biggest festival ‘Sorhai’ there were decoration on the walls with flower designs, bird and animal figures. I saw my mother and sister drawing red and blue lines on the walls by climbing on the bamboo ladder. [C]enturies-old traditional knowledge and art of building low-cost-no-cost mud-houses and the related skills and crafts, like wall paintings die out.” – Boro Baski in “Is ‘brick house’ the only sign of development?” (translated from an article in Bengali Anandabazar Patrika, 21 July 2019)
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=29829

Unique craftsmanship maintained by the women of Idukki district: Coping with the changing socio-economic conditions of the Mannan community – Kerala

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Giji K. Raman, The Hindu, September 28, 2010 Making bamboo products is one of most creative work undertaken by the Mannan tribe of Kozhimala in Idukki district. But today this exclusive work of craftsmanship is on the verge of extinction, thanks to the changing socio-economic conditions of the community. Unique work The unique work undertaken … Read more

Video | In search of new tools to rediscover First Nations culture: Popular music that connects American and Canadian artists – Canada

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Montreal film director Mathieu Favreau’s most recent video on Canadian native rapper Daybi is a tribute to the artist and his community. Currently residing with his son on the Kahnawake Mohawk reserve on the outskirts of Montreal, Daybi grew up in Vancouver and Winnipeg, where he began rapping at an early age. His music brought … Read more

Video | An Ethnographic film by Sathya Mohan: The economy, social organization, religion and mythology of the Koyas – Andhra Pradesh

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Watch this and other video documentaries by Sathya Mohan on Vimeo: THE KOYAS (Parts 1 & 2) >> This award-winning ethnographic film in two parts made by Sathya Mohan deals with the nature-man interaction and the associated belief system. It examines the features of the environment and ecology in relation to the Koyas economic system – the interaction … Read more

Village artist Sanyasi Lohar – West Bengal

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“Sanyasi Lohar, though not a Santal himself but spending his life in a Santal village, Bishnubati, has developed naïve Santali designs into a sophisticated art-form” – Martin Kämpchen Photo: Sanyasi Lohar (standing on the right side) during the inauguration of murals on the life and the seasonal celebrations of the Santals in Bishnubati village. Learn more >> Tips For … Read more

The Baha Parab “flower festival” of the Santals: A large mural created by village artists to express their cultural identity – West Bengal

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  Baha The Baha Parab is the Flower Festival of the Santals, celebrated in the beginning of spring. The ritual observed revolves around man’s communion with nature and the celebration of beauty. The Naike (Santal priest) and other villagers offer a Sal flower to every family of the village. A Santal woman receives flowers in … Read more