Staff Reporter
The second general conference of North East Indigenous People’s Forum (NEIPF) on the theme “Together in unity” was held at NEZCC Stone Park, 4th Mile here on Friday.
Speaking at the conference, minister for Higher & Technical Education and Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along emphasised on preservation and promotion of rich cultural heritage of indigenous people.
He said it was important to ensure that politics was pursued for the sake of preserving indigenous cultural heritage and identity in every North Eastern state. Along expressed joy at having seen indigenous people of the Northeast coming together to the event. “NEIPF is the best and the most important forum for the indigenous people of NE,” he remarked.
He acknowledged the forum for creating the platform to carry forward interests of indigenous people of the region and pursue the agenda of preservation and promotion of indigenous culture, tradition and identity.
Narrating how most North Eastern states emerged out of Assam, Along hoped that NEIPF would help overcome political boundaries to bind local people emotionally and culturally. The minister said people of the region were too friendly and hospitable, which was taken advantage of by a section of outsiders.
In this, he urged the locals not to shut their doors to outsiders. “If we close our doors, we will not grow and will remain backward”, he stated Along also called for more awareness among the people so that their friendliness was not taken advantage of by others. He said that many indigenous people of the region had become “endangered species”, with the population of some numbering even less than one lakh.
He cautioned that while one should be assimilative, one should also never forget his or her roots. Along advocated that indigenous communities of the region should increase their numbers to ensure they were not overwhelmed by outsiders.
“We are getting sparser and sparser. If we don’t survive, then how will our identity survive,” he questioned.
He hoped that the forum would connect indigenous communities for a united response to various challenges facing them.
In his brief speech, Manipur MLA Radheshyam urged the participants to be thankful to NEIPF founders for their dedication in creating the platform with the objective to safeguard the culture and identity of indigenous people of the Northeast. He hoped that the forum would help preserve these traits.
Delivering keynote address, NEIPF chief convener Anup Chetia said the forum was formed on September 7, 2017 with the objective of working for protecting the interest of indigenous people of the Northeast and preserve indigenous culture, language and identity. He informed that the main focus of the second annual conference on the second day would be discussion on border issues among the NE states.
Earlier, invocation was offered by Holy Cross Higher Secondary School principal Fr Phillip Yanpuvthung, welcome address by NEIPF president Dr Temsuwati Lkr and benediction by Nagaland Joint Christian Forum’s Rev N Paphino.
Highlights of the programme included welcome song by Nagaland Chamber Choir, special number by Tokhuli Yepthomi and cultural presentations by various groups. The programme was chaired by Esabel Solo and Neivinuo Dzüvichü.