International Day of World's Indigenous Peoples observed in Senapati
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, August 09 2025: Naga Women's Union (NWU) on Friday observed the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples under the theme "Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights and Shaping Future" at SM Sha Hall, Senapati.

The event, sponsored by Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), was attended by leaders from various Naga civil society organisations.

In her welcome note, NWU president Priscilla Thiumai said that Nagas are indigenous people who were never colonised by conquest.

While the gathering was small, she termed it significant, noting the presence of dignitaries from Naga CSOs.

Citing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), she stressed the need to respect land, territorial, natural resource, and cultural rights.

International Day of World's Indigenous Peoples observed in Senapati

She lamented that the term "indigenous" does not appear in the Indian Constitution despite the country being a signatory to UNDRIP, with "tribal" and "Adivasi" used instead.

She called for a larger programme in future to express solidarity with indigenous peoples worldwide.

United Naga Council (UNC) general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang said that the day honours indigenous cultures, resilience, and rights, and the struggles of ancestors to preserve heritage, identity, land, history, and languages.

He addressed the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI), questioning whether it will serve or exploit communities.

AI learns from patterns and data that may carry biases, and urged that it be shaped to respect indigenous rights and amplify voices.

He called for using AI to revitalise languages, record histories, and engage youth.

Shatsang warned of the alarming rate of language extinction, with one indigenous language disappearing every two weeks.

Of around 6,000 indigenous languages spoken globally, nearly half are endangered, he said, citing the extinction of a Tangkhul village language as an example.

He stressed that colonial and global languages have contributed significantly to this decline.

In his greetings, ANSAM social and cultural secretary Makan Zebulun said that Na-gas are fortunate to live on their ancestral land with a unique history and identity.

He urged the community to live in harmony and peace as "one people, one nation, and one Naga without borders".

Resource person Ching-ya Luithui of Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) explained that indigenous peoples are original inhabitants of a region with a cultural, social, and economic identity deeply connected to ancestral lands.

He reminded that August 9 was declared as the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples by the UN General Assembly and urged the protection of rights, land, and people.

He also called on Naga women to document cultural and traditional attire.

The programme featured a panel discussion with Morung for Indigenous Affairs and Just Peace chairman Nepuni Piku, and NP-MHR-South convenor Joyson Mazamo.

A presentation on indigenous women was delivered by Zeme Pui Baudi president Hejeilungle.