“Naga territories have been managed under the village customary tenure systems for generations. Under these systems we have managed and conserved our lands and resources, and we demand that the government recognise our system and respect our rights to manage our lands and resources. Our customary systems are not static, and change with the needs of our people and the surrounding environment. We are committed to developing our system in line with international norms and to meet the needs of all of the people that reside in our territories.”
All the indigenous peoples live under their own customary tenure systems, with customary rules, justice and governance systems. Naga peoples manage land, forest, and resources under the customary system, and we call upon the Union government to fully recognize customary tenure as a whole system, and not divided into parts.
We urge all the concerned stakeholders be it government, companies, or civil society organizations wishing to operate in Naga territories to respect and recognize the rights of the indigenous peoples to land and forest, and the right to self-determination as enshrined in UNDRIP 2007.
Companies wishing extract timber, minerals, or other natural resources from Naga territories must obtain permission through our tribal bodies and customary structure. It is important that local people benefit from business projects that take place. Where community members engage in business activities on household land plots, they must take care not to negatively impact others in the community.
NGOs and INGOs wishing to implement projects in Naga territories must meet with the relevant customary organizations and local communities and work together to design the project. Projects must receive FPIC and permission from the concerned customary authorities and local communities, and must benefit the local community. We also urge upon the INGOs and NGOs to advocate for the recognition of Naga customary tenure system at all levels of government.
The Naga peoples are the traditional caretakers of the forests, waters, and wildlife within their customary land. Environmental conservation activities proposed in the Naga region must support these traditional conservation practices, and only activities that recognize and respect customary systems of the indigenous peoples will be accepted. Mt. Saramati, which has been proposed as a national park, is already protected under customary tenure and the efforts of Naga communities and tribal bodies.