Advisor of Industries and Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu said the government was aware on the challenges and issues faced by the artisans in the state, including limited market access and resources.
However, she said due to limited funding and central government policies, many of the specific needs in the northern eastern state like Nagaland could not be addressed.
She was speaking at the Living Heritage of Nagaland Exhibition and Symposium held at the Heirloom Naga Centre, Chumoukedima on November 6.
Despite the challenges, Hekani said the government was committed to support artisans and creative entrepreneurs, to tune the state’s heritage into a thriving economy, creating sustainable opportunities while preserving traditions.
She therefore called for collaboration among government, private sector, NGOs, and local communities to build a creative economy that showcases Nagaland’s craftsmanship globally. Hekani also highlighted the importance of continued partnerships and collaboration to ensure that the state’s creative economy continues to grow.
Speaking on preserving and promoting Nagaland’s rich cultural heritage, Hekani mentioned that state’s creative potential lies not only in its beautiful landscapes but more importantly in the people, their stories, and traditional skills passed down through generations. She emphasized the importance of leveraging these cultural assets to create sustainable livelihoods and economic growth.
Hekani also underscored the role of individuals like Jasmina Zeliang, who have been a trailblazer in placing Naga heritage on the global stage, and praised the impact of partnerships with international collaborators like the German Consulate.
She highlighted that such collaborations, built over time, foster the kind of collaboration needed to boost the state’s cultural economy, citing the example of programs that support artisans, designers, and other cultural practitioners.
She said it was disheartening to realize that much of Nagaland’s rich heritage has been shared by outsiders. She suggested that while learning from others was valuable, it was equally important to embrace and share own culture. She therefore encouraged everyone to be inspired by others’ efforts and work together to preserve and present the traditions with pride and unity.
The event was held as a part of the year-long project, “Documenting and Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Nagaland”, funded by the German Consulate General Kolkata under the Cultural Preservation Program of the German Federal Foreign Office.
Contact Base, alongside community-based organisations, NGOs, and tourism stakeholders, educational institutions from Mokokchung, Kohima, Phek, Mon, Chijmoukedima, and Dimapur, is working to document, preserve, and revive the cultural heritage of indigenous Naga communities.
Speaking on the topic of documentation of textiles of different communities of the state, Managing Director, Nagaland handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation (NHHDC), Y Lipongse Thongtsar highlighted the need to preserve and document Nagaland’s intangible cultural heritage, particularly its traditional attires, motifs, and ornaments, noting the challenge of relying on oral traditions due to the lack of written records. He also pointed out that the Naga people, comprising 18 tribes, have distinct cultural identities reflected in their attires, motifs, and languages.
He underscores the need for legal instruments like Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Geographical Indications (GI) to protect these cultural elements, ensuring their proper use and shared benefits. He also mentioned on the documenting project by the Nagaland Handloom Handicraft Development Corporation, in collaboration with Tribal Hohos to record traditional attires, motifs, and ornaments, excluding modern designs.
Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Heirloom Naga, Jesmina Zeliang, vote of thanks by contact Base, Nirmalya Roy. A panel discussion was held on topics, “living Heritage, innovation and Market”, with speaker Urra Designs, Aku Zeliang, Bamki kevichusa – Windfall and Runway Nagaland, Neigneithem Hengma moderated by Madhura Dutta.
Other highlights of the program included, fireside chat “Cultural tourism and living heritage” by association of conservation and tourism, Raj Basu and Explore Nagaland, Nino Zhasa and sharing of the project experience by Contact Base, Ananya Bhattacharya and Madhura Dutta and Basketry for sustainability by Hege Asadal, a basketry artist from Norway.