Section of participants at 2nd edition of ‘Mapumo Seta’ held at Chizami on August 9.
Kohima, August 11 (MExN): ‘Mapumo Seta,’ marking International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples at Chizami in Phek district on August 9. About 250 participants from Chizami SHHSS, Eastern Mission High School, Goyiepra Memorial Govt High School, teachers and well-wishers attended the second edition of “Mapumo Seta” (Morung Conversations).
The programme took place at Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School (SHHSS), Chizami.
The programme was organised by Chizami Students’ Union (CSU) in collaboration with North East Network Chizami to celebrate the United Nations initiative ‘International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples” to raise awareness on the protection of indigenous people’s rights and recognize the contributions and achievements.
The Morung (Kechuke), an institute of learning and education and education, was an indispensible part of the Naga way of life prior to the arrival of the white people and played a major role in educating the Naga Society of its rich value systems, wisdom and knowledge that were passed on from one generation to another. However, the rich traditional knowledge and values are eroding rapidly and under threat. Therefore, as indigenous youths are working agents of change and future custodian of the planet, it is important to have an inter-generational dialogue between youth and elders because youth represent continuity along the path already walked by our ancestors.
Khrolhiweu Tsuhah, president, CSU in her opening remarks mentioned that the ‘Mapumo Seta’ is an initiative to foster inter-generational conversations on traditional knowledge and value systems. The integration of modern education and traditional education is significant. This talk series is a platform for the students to learn and experience directly from the diverse speakers who are community knowledge holders and practitioners and celebrate our heritage’.
Wekowe-u Tsuhah, State Coordinator, North East Network stressed on the strong need to uphold ancestral values of solidarity, responsibility, balance, honesty and reciprocity. She stated that indigenous people comprise of 6% of the world’s population and 8.6% of the Indian population. In line with this year’s theme ‘Indigenous Youths as agents of change for self-determination’, she urged the students to value and respect the knowledge and values of the ancestors, to learn about nature, biodiversity and take actions to conserve it, to speak one’s own language which is our identity and to grow and eat our own local food and respect every grain we eat’.
The speakers for the event were community knowledge holders and folktale story tellers; Rev Mese Rhakho spoke on the topic ‘Identity, Values and Heritage: ‘Menge, Kenyi and Metha’, Kelhizulo Mero on ‘The Indigenous Water Distribution Systems (Terrace field and Village Area)’ and Zulhipe Chirhah on ‘Edimi Se.’ Commemorating the International Year of Millet, a talk on ‘Millets: Our Identity’ was delivered by Kezukhalo Lasuh while a much needed initiative to learn and preserve the local dialect, ‘Let’s learn Khuzhale’ was taken up by Kezukha-u Mero.
The programme was led by Wekhrode Wezah, General Secretary CSU while concluding remark was delivered by Ethulhi Tsuhah, Joint Secretary CSU.
