Indigenous Ecology and Pedagogy at Makhel village

Asufii Christian Institute (ACI) and the University of California, Santa Cruz organised a two-day programme titled ‘Lithic Worlds: Indigenous Ecology and Pedagogy at Makhel Village.’ Interaction and interviews with the community at Makhrai Rabu in collaboration with Asufii Christian Institute.

The Lithic Worlds team with some elders and students from Makhel Village

Dolly Kikon (UC Santa Cruz), Neivikhotso Chaya (Gauhati University), Daili Neli and 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 programme 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, 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.