By Tarini Manchanda It is an April morning, and we head to Khonoma Village from Nagaland’s capital city, Kohima, along with two friends from the Highland Institute. Rita who was born in Khonoma has given us access. She is married Dr. Mekro. They are taking us to Rita’s ancestral family home. Despite being […]
Where Hunters Turned Conservationists – first visit to Khonoma village Read More »
By Tümüzo Katiry In the remote highlands of the North-Eastern region of India and the North-Western part of Myanmar, indigenous Naga communities have been compelled to live in an unimaginable predicament, oscillating between self-determination and a sense of belonging. This blog post is a reflection of my experience during the Earthkeepers’ preliminary fieldwork in
Bothered by the Border Read More »
By Kevide Lcho Introduction to Oil Palm – A Versatile and Controversial Crop: Oil palm, scientifically known as Elaeis guineensis, is an agricultural crop that has gained immense global importance in recent decades. Native to West Africa, oil palm is now cultivated across tropical regions worldwide, primarily for its highly versatile and valuable
The Oil Palm Dilemma: It’s a Catch-22 Read More »
By Lu Chi Introduction In Part I of this two-part blog series, we looked at the turbulent history of Machi Village and learned about the courage and dedication of the villagers, mostly women, who returned to rebuild their homes in the 1960s after a tragic event. At the end of Part 1, we
A Village Reborn by the Hands that Rock the Cradle. Visit to Machi- Part II Read More »
By Lu Chi The Journey Begins I am a Myanmar-born ethnic Naga who recently arrived in Kohima, Nagaland, India, to work on the MyClimate Project, jointly implemented by The Highland Institute (THI) and the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS). Although I am a Naga, this was my first visit to Nagaland on
A Village Reborn by the Hands that Rock the Cradle. Visit to Machi- Part I Read More »
By Christian Poske With the support of the Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research (USA), ethnomusicologist Dr Christian Poske conducted a research project on the Naga recordings of the German ethnologist Thomas Kaiser in collaboration with the Ethnographic Museum Zurich and the Highland Institute between October 2022 and April 2023. Comprising over 2,000 sound
Restudying Thomas Kaiser’s Naga recordings Read More »
By Saktum Wonti “We had to walk for two days to reach Noklak,” my mother would say when we were little and living in Nagaland, India. She belongs to the Khiamniungan Naga tribe and was raised over the border in Myanmar. Like many others, my mother came to India for education and eventually settled
The Call of Home: Rediscovering my Roots on the Indo-Myanmar Border Read More »
By Lu Chi, Sholu Movi and Joseph Venuh The Myclimate Research Team in Nagaland is conducting a project to study the experiences of local communities with climate change in the border region between Burma and Nagaland in Northeast India. The research focuses on how these communities adapt and coexist with climate changes, their local customs
Cross-Border Bonds: First Visit to Mimi Village Read More »
The Highland Film Club The Highland Film Club is an exciting addition to Kohima’s cultural scene. Based at The Highland Institute, close to Don Bosco School in Kohima Village, the Club will show diverse films by indigenous and non-indigenous filmmakers every month. Offerings will address themes of care, stereotypes, addressing trauma, environmental stewardship, preserving traditions,
From 23 April to 7 May 2022, the Highland Institute hosted the exhibition “Naga Ancestral Voices: Songs, Stories, Beliefs”, thematising the changing soundscapes of Nagaland. Based on the research project “Recirculating J. H. Hutton’s Recordings in Nagaland”, the exhibition was organised by interns from Kohima Science College, staff and fellows of the Highland Institute, and
Naga Ancestral Voices: Songs, Stories, Beliefs Read More »
