NU–UCSC joint workshop explores indigenous knowledge

Nagaland University (NU), in collaboration with the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), conducted a one-day workshop titled Ecologies of Care on August 18 at Kohima, drawing over 150 participants including scholars, students, and Indigenous knowledge-keepers.
According to a press release issued by NU, the programme was inaugurated by NU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik, who commended the Department of History and Archaeology for its continued efforts in advancing research and fostering global academic partnerships rooted in Naga cultural heritage and Indigenous epistemologies.
Prof. Dolly Kikon, director of the Center for South Asian Studies, UCSC, introduced the workshop as a platform for collaborative dialogue on care practices and ecological relationships in the Himalayan region. She urged participants to embrace Indigenous philosophies and reflect on the transformation of natural landmarks such as the Chathe river, once central to Naga life.
Prof. Tiatoshi Jamir of NU emphasized the need for reparative and community-driven research. He encouraged students to revisit traditional metaphors like the “hearth” and explore folklore, such as the origin of rice, to inform archaeological understanding of early agriculture in Northeast India.
Director of Art and Culture, Government of Nagaland, Adela Moa, formally launched the Naga Lithic Worlds exhibition curated by Kikon and Jamir, featuring stone artefacts from the Naga homeland currently housed at the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford University.
The workshop also featured presentations by village elders and scholars. Kenienuo and Thalü from Hutsu village demonstrated ancestral brine-making techniques, while Tenosenuo Angami shared salt production practices from Matikhru village.
Prof. Pangersenla Walling highlighted the ecological depth of Indigenous languages, and Dr. Limasanen Longkumer discussed the geological significance of Jangjanglong.
Myingthunglo Murry, PhD scholar and faculty at Mount Tiyi College, spoke on Oha, the luck stones of the Lotha Nagas, traditionally placed in Morungs and homes for health and prosperity. Dr. R. Chumbeno Ngullie noted the historical value of pottery among Nagas, stating that peace treaties were once forged with pottery-producing villages to secure wares.
Throughout the day, academic panels were interwoven with insights from Indigenous practitioners, reinforcing the importance of community-led knowledge systems and cultural preservation.