Indigenous Cultural Society

India

Contact: 91 9774006893 / 91 9774006595
Postal address: 2nd Floor Jakhalu Building City Tower junction Dimapur 797112 Nagaland
Geographic Coverage of NGO’s expertise: India

URL: https://www.indigenouscc.in



Year of creation: 1998

Safeguarding measures:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization



Main areas of work related to the Convention:

I. Language, Literacy and literary programme: Sümi Naga language course in association with Sümi literature Board, six months basic Certificate and one year advance diploma course is offered. This course is targeted to promote cross culture married couples, children, students, youth, research scholars and masses. So far ninety students in Advance and eighty students in Basic have successfully completed course and serving at different institute. At present 25 students are undergoing Advance course. II. Cultural Research Programme Focuses are on: Oral literature; folklore, myths, legend, wisdom sayings. Indigenous Culture: Customs & traditions, agricultural life & activities, festivity and festivals, rituals & rites, habits & diets, indigenous industries and economy. Cross Cultural Research on Naga customs and traditions is being carried out at selected villages/places for empirical studies. Documentary and tribe affinity analysis programme has begun with seminars and workshop in collaboration with government agencies (NECC). So far two days seminar on Naga Folklores was conducted in Nov. 2007 in collaboration with NEZCC in which 12 Naga tribe participated. Another research programme on ‘Sümi Naga folksongs documentary’, was conducted ‘at Lazami Sümi Naga ancestral village in February 2008, sponsored by NEZCC. This project has become an eye opener for awareness and promotion of cultural values. Under this project research on oral narrative is given more importance. Networking with reputed agencies such as Sahitya Akedamy and other regional universities has developed to the level of resource person and participation at research seminars and workshops. At present research on agricultural activities, festivity and festival are under the process. III. Documentary & Publication work: For documentation of oral tradition and promotion of cultural research work the society is also involved in publication work. At present the society has two research booklets in its credit, Sümi Naga work Folksong Songs book and video CD and Sümi Naga folksongs book, and video CD. Along with the documentation work the society is also engaged in literary work for further promotional work. Thus, publish translation work as well, currently revising Sümi Naga folksongs book and video CD and English version of Naga Folklores. Apart from culture information with a view to promote vernacular literature a book entitled ‘Apostolmi chighi kini shiküka (Didache)’ was also published in 2007. IV. Religious (Indigenous Theological) Studies: Nagaland state is the only Christian dominated states in India with 98% of population. Whereby influence of this group of people matters a lot for the growth of the societal life. On examining such contribution and effect ICS felt responsible to initiate some avenue to check such measure. This idea leads us to realize that laypersons are untapped resource of Church and social ministry that weights special concentration. Seeing the growing need of layperson in Church ministry equipping them Biblical and Theological knowledge is encouraged. Hence, to promote built indigenous Church ICS is offering Laity Bible courses in collaboration with TESPRO International UK.: Diploma and Bachelor of Ministry course (in English & Sümi vernacular medium). V. Human Resource Development Programme •Personality Development: counseling, career guidance to children and youth. •Imparting indigenous workable skill training to the unemployed youth, woman and self help groups; Handicrafts: card making, decorative items, wooden, bamboo & Cane crafts etc. Indigenous Arts, yarning, dying and weaving etc. •Organize different training programme, workshop and seminars on different life issues and impart leadership training to leaders, woman, and youth. •Act as consultant agency, facilitates technical and non technical trainings to national reputed Institutes for the underprivileged citizens; B.Tech. Biotechnology, B.Tech. Biochemistry, B.Tech molecular, B.Tech (food processing).B.Tech Agri. Bsc Agri., B.Sc Forestry.,Bsc. Nursing, Public Health, GNM. First aid & practical Nursing, Medical Lab tech., MCA, MA folklore studies, and Theological Studies etc. All together 78 students have been facilitated through youth empowerment programme. •Music & arts: to the underprivileged children. Western: Piano, Drum & drum. Indigenous: Flute & mouth organ, Folksong and Folkdance VI. Traditional hospitality: 1. Public Health: Care and support to HIV & AIDS victims; Mother and Child care; Aged and differently abled person. VII Social welfare & service; •Library cum mini cultural museum at present there are 400 members comprising of underprivileged students, researchers, scholars and general masses. •Tobacco control in collaboration with state Government and National tobacco control Programme. •Family counseling, technical and faith based moulding. •Human Rights for deprived, woman and indigenous people, associated with world mountain people’s organization. •Environment awareness & pollution control •Asylum a. Conference Hall (120 seat capacity) b. Guest room (Double bed) c. Meditation hall.

Objectives

•To revitalize unique and fundamental cultural values through developing and promoting cultural values of human society. •To function all its activities in line with traditional Naga Morung institute model (philanthropic institute concerns in lessons of community living, leadership, discipline, hard work and spirit of services, sports, art, music and health etc.). •Undertake survey, research and evaluation of socio-economic, culture and religious problems and to publish documentary sources, books, periodical journals, monographs, pamphlets, souvenirs, film, videotapes, audio visual aid and CDs etc. to educate the general public. •Provide relief and rehabilitation. •Take up various health programme; family welfare, child welfare and help the destitute, handicapped, victims of unexpected circumstances and calamities, and economically backward people. •Take up integrated development programme; plantation, poultry, piggery, duckery, cattle, rearing bee keeping, goat, sheep etc. for rural and village upliftment to enhance their income with proper guidance and as per geographically and climatically suitable places •Run scale industries (small) such as food processing, yarning, dying, and handloom. •Impart training such as cutting, weaving and knitting, handicrafts, carpentry, computer, mechanical and technical, typing and shorthand, in suitable places i.e. rural, backward and tribal areas. •Empower women in order to bring them to the level of men-folks and to share equal privilege. •Take up environment and ecological development activities. •Promote games and sports among the tribals and others to provide recreational facilities and to bring about social integration. •Open schools, colleges of different streams, Arts, Agricultural Science, Commerce, Theology and Language and cross-cultural college including adult literacy for the illiterates. •Open care center and training centers for de-addiction cum rehabilitation, counseling, awareness center, HIV/AIDS, population control, orphan, aged and uncared by providing accommodation for such people. •Have ecumenical set up in concept and nature in all its endeavors through networking, unity, cooperation, collaboration, and ministry. •Advocate Human Rights for social justice, through training and motivation of the poor, and to support the cause of the poor before the government and the world community. •Promote Right of information Act to the masses.

Cooperation

The project begins with a humble beginning. No state or central government nor any private agencies came forward to help neither encouraged. However, with all humility the society began the work. The method adopted for the safeguarding of cultural heritage is fourfold; research, documentation, coding and implementation. This process began with identifying the village community through survey report and analyzing the findings. Lazami village which is believed to be the first ancestral village of Sümi Naga tribe was then selected for the said project. This village is not only the First Sümi Naga village, but also said to have been where many other Naga tribes ie: Lachepumi and Nethophumi village of Angami tribe, Zülhami and Khutsami village of Chekhasang, Longkumer clan of Ao, Kent clan of Rengma, Lotha, Sangtam, and Yimchungrü tribe are said to be immigrated from this ancestral village. Their Language spoken is the original unpolluted language of Sümi soil, unlike any immigrant Sümis. Lazami language also has affinity with Chekhasang, Mao, Zeliang, and Rongmei. 80 percent of Sümi Cultural life is still intact, which is comparatively higher and better than any other Sümi villages or Nagas in general. Those integral characters are; language, folksong, folklore, diet, agricultural practices, household items, and furniture etc. Largest village of Sümi tribe, of 950 household (present 2008 record). Lazami village is rightly a ‘cultural village’. Be it Naga migratory history, village topography, villager’s nature, beauty and scientific art of Sümi language, folksongs, jhum cultivation method, product of agricultural crops and dietary habits of the people, and monument of ritualistic stone platform at Iyinu khel etc. all speaks volume of the same truth. If dreamed of having such an idol Naga cultural village, Lazami village should be the model. Their cooperation and response to our action plan is immensely contributing a lot. Reciprocal participation is a source of encouragement and growth for our project. Such impact of restoration is even better outside the community people. Their natural goodness instead of being good is the key factor of influencing others to assimilate and restore lost cultural values.
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