Customs

“We have a song for every situation. We feel money takes away from the enjoyment of life. But to earn a livelihood, people have to learn other languages.” – Santal teacher Pada Murmu interviewed by Nandini Nair (OPEN Magazine, 13 January 2017)
https://openthemagazine.com/features/dispatch/santali-talking-time/
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=21581

A landmark ruling on “loss of heritage values for the entire state”: Holding a company accountable for damaging an aboriginal sacred site – Australia

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Bridie Jabour and agencies, theguardian.com, Friday 2 August 2013 A mining company has been fined $150,000 for desecrating and damaging an Aboriginal sacred site in what the custodians are describing as a landmark ruling. OM Holdings, a subsidiary of OM Ltd, were found guilty of desecrating the Booto Creek Aboriginal sacred site known as Two Women Sitting … Read more

Traditional honey harvesting by the Kattunayakan in the Nilgiri mountains – Tamil Nadu

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Text and photo credits: Accord team, Tarsh and Tariq Thekaekara, Gudalur,  July 24, 2013  | Read the full blog here >> Listening to K. Chandran’s story, we ended up with muddled emotions. The story is about his grandfather and his love for honey. It is about the ancient beliefs of honey harvesting still followed by him … Read more

Silver had precedence over gold to maintain class equality within the tribe: Kolam and Gond Jewellery becoming obsolete – Andhra Pradesh

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The ethnic people of Adilabad no longer wear all their traditional silver even when the occasion calls for it. The continuing change in the lifestyle of the tribal population, especially the one impacting its sartorial customs, has rendered obsolete wearing of heavy jewellery by women. As more and more women from Gond, Kolam and other … Read more

Celebrations and deprivations: Experiencing summer at a Santal tribal village – Jharkhand & West Bengal

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11/06/2013 – by Boro Baski The hot season is the toughest time of the year in rural India. Adivasi communities struggle to cope […] In our Santal tribal villages of West Bengal, summer is a tough time. This season is marked by burnt grass in the fields, leafless trees, dried-up ponds, cracked land surfaces, hot … Read more

International Day for Biological Diversity 2013: Tribal school programme in Kanyakumari district – Tamil Nadu

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The Hindu, NAGERCOIL, May 23, 2013 The International Day for Biological Diversity was observed at Tholady [Kaani] tribal settlement in the Western Ghats of Kanyakumari district on Wednesday. The United Nations has declared May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase the understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Addressing the tribal people, … Read more