International Indigenous Peoples Day at Wakha Village
- 09th August 2024 : Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur -

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International Indigenous Peoples Day at Wakha Village

The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur celebrated the International Indigenous Peoples Day at Wakha Village in Imphal East District, Manipur on 9th August 2024. The celebration was marked by the reflection of the situation of indigenous peoples in Manipur amid the multifaceted conflict situation, development aggression and climate crisis in Manipur.

Ms. Nganthoi Khumukcham, a cultural artist, shared how the forest, land, rivers of Manipur are source of livelihood and indigenous culture among the Meitei people. She emphasized the importance of recognizing community rights and to take their consent before pursuing unsustainable projects in their land and forest. She performed the ‘Leirol’, folk songs, “Songs of Flowers”, highlighting the historical, cultural and social significance associated with the flowers found in Manipur, and further stressed the importance of promoting the community rights and traditional management of forest land.

Mr. Jiten Yumnam, Secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur shared that indigenous peoples have intrinsic survival and cultural relationship with their land, forest, water bodies and resources. Indigenous peoples confront increased survival challenges due to increased targeting of their land and resources in pretext of economic growth and development. Indigenous peoples are also subjected to extreme forms of human rights violations with the land being heavily militarized for assert their rights over their land and territories.

Indigenous women are increasingly subjected to human rights violations for defending their land rights and for resisting militarization in Manipur. Mr. Yumnam highlighted the importance of promoting the fundamental rights of the indigenous peoples and to uphold women’s rights.

Bishma Mayanglangbam shared the cultural significance of Wakha Village and the forest areas in Nongmaiching Hllls, which is sacred and a source of sacred rituals, traditional dances and folk songs of the indigenous Meitei people of Manipur.

The “Lai Haraoba” ritual of the Meitei is incomplete without referring to bamboo species found in the forest of Wakha village. The proposed construction of Manipur Cultural University failed to take villagers consent and destroy the sacred forest and culture of the village.

International Indigenous Peoples Day at Wakha Village

Ms. Kiranmala Laishram shared the traditional role of indigenous women in promoting the land and forest in Manipur, such as within the forest land in Wakha village. The pursuance of infrastructure projects and conservation measures initiated by forest department has led to restriction on the rights and access of indigenous peoples to their land and forest, affecting the survival and cultural rights. She urged upon the Government to recognize the community rights over their forest land and to take the consent of communities before initiating any development project in their land.

The participants of the Indigenous peoples’ celebration urged upon the Government of India to recognize and protect lives the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples, especially to stop targeting indigenous women to all forms of violence in Manipur. The participants asserted that the land, forest, water are life for indigenous peoples, both for the present and coming generations and further called for the recognition of indigenous rights over their land and forest, especially self-determined development rights.

(L. Sanaton)
President
Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur
Imphal, Manipur 795001
www.cramanipur.wordpress.com