Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker, Sharingain Longkumer has called for renewed efforts to strengthen the State’s traditional and customary institutions, preserve indigenous identity and ensure that rapid development does not come at the cost of cultural roots.

Speaking at the observance of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Longkumer said the recognition of indigenous peoples by the United Nations was significant, but recognition alone was not enough. He stressed that the responsibility to preserve and perpetuate indigenous identity rested with the people themselves.

The Speaker said the occasion was particularly meaningful as it honoured indigenous midwives under the theme “Honoring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being.” Paying tribute to traditional birth attendants, he described their work as a “sacred calling” rather than merely a profession passed down through generations.

Recalling his own family connection with traditional midwifery, Longkumer said he was the grandson of a midwife and used the occasion to honour his grandaunt and all indigenous midwives who had helped generations of mothers and children through childbirth.

He said the Northeast was among the world’s richest regions in terms of cultural and ethnolinguistic diversity, with numerous communities possessing distinct languages, traditions, customary laws, festivals and worldviews.

“This extraordinary diversity is not a weakness, but it is our greatest strength, and a living testament to India’s pluralistic heritage,” he maintained.

Longkumer stressed that indigenous identity was inseparably linked to ancestral land. He said land was not merely an economic resource for indigenous communities but the foundation of their culture, spirituality, identity and collective existence.

Referring to constitutional safeguards, he highlighted Article 371A, which provides special constitutional protection to Nagaland’s unique history, customary practices and social and religious practices. He also referred to the Sixth Schedule in the context of Assam and the Inner Line Permit system as important mechanisms for protecting indigenous interests in the Northeast.

The Speaker disclosed that discussions were underway to explore the possibility of forming an Assembly committee within the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to address issues relating to indigenous rights.

However, he said the protection of indigenous identity could not depend solely on constitutional provisions. Longkumer urged communities to examine the effectiveness of their own traditional institutions, including village councils, customary courts, tribal literature boards and civil society organisations.

He questioned whether sufficient efforts were being made to strengthen these institutions so that they could remain relevant and effective amid rapid social and technological changes.

“Will our young generation find these institutions useful, or relevant for that matter, by 2040?” he asked, describing this as one of the questions that society must seriously consider.

Linking the issue to the national aspiration of Viksit Bharat by 2047, Longkumer said Nagaland and the Northeast would inevitably be part of India’s development journey. At the same time, he cautioned that development models based on uniformity could overlook the cultural sensitivities and distinct circumstances of indigenous communities.

He pointed to the expected generational transformation in India, particularly the growing influence of Generation Z and subsequent generations in the economic, digital and consumer sectors. With technological and social change accelerating, he said the next 14 years would be critical in determining whether indigenous institutions could adapt without losing their original purpose.

Longkumer observed that generations growing up in the digital era would have very different experiences from those who grew up with landline telephones, letter writing and older technologies. This generational shift, he said, made it imperative to prepare traditional institutions for the future.

Drawing from his experiences during international visits, including Australia and New Zealand, Longkumer said indigenous peoples in developed countries were often acknowledged through brief ceremonial references, while their traditional cultural practices had become less visible in mainstream public life.

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He questioned whether Nagaland could face a similar situation as it develops.

“Are we going to be in that state by 2040?” he asked, challenging the gathering to consider whether the cultural traditions and indigenous institutions celebrated today would retain the same relevance and vitality in the coming decades.

He urged the people of Nagaland to strengthen customary institutions and make full use of constitutional safeguards while simultaneously embracing development and technological advancement.

The Speaker also called for greater cooperation among the Northeastern states in protecting indigenous rights and interests. He urged communities to move away from an attitude of competing for individual interests and instead develop a collective approach towards the future.

Recalling the words of senior Naga leader K.K. Sema, Longkumer urged people to move beyond the mindset of “what is yours is mine, but what is mine is not yours” and instead focus on collective aspirations and responsibilities.

He further appealed to the younger generation to remain connected to their roots while preparing for the opportunities and challenges of the future.

“Without our roots, we are nothing,” Longkumer said, stressing that development and preservation of identity must move together.

‘Progress shouldn’t mean amnesia’: Neinu calls for preservation of traditional Naga midwifery

Speaking on the occasion, MLA & Advisor, Science and Technology, Kuzholuzo Neinu, called for greater recognition and preservation of traditional Naga midwifery, stressing that modern healthcare and indigenous knowledge should complement rather than replace one another.

Neinu said the annual observance should serve not only as a celebration of indigenous heritage but also as a reminder of the continuing responsibility to protect indigenous rights, ancestral land, culture and traditional ways of life.

Reflecting on traditional Naga society, he said the birth of a child in a Naga village was never merely a private family occasion but a continuation of the community’s collective story, bloodline and way of life. In this context, he paid tribute to traditional midwives, whom he described as the “quiet guardians” of that continuity.

He recalled a time when remote villages had limited access to roads, ambulances, health centres and modern medical equipment. During those years, traditional midwives stood beside mothers during childbirth, often working in difficult conditions and under the light of lanterns, candles or firewood.

According to Neinu, these women relied on knowledge and experience passed down through generations, serving their communities without expectation of recognition, financial reward or applause.

He said traditional midwives should not be viewed merely as birth attendants, describing them instead as elders, trusted confidantes and pillars of community life who understood not only the physical needs of mothers but also their emotional and social circumstances.

“They are our elders, our secret keepers, and the backbone of our communities,” he said.

According to Neinu, traditional midwives possessed not only knowledge of childbirth but also a deep understanding of the emotional and social needs of mothers and families. Their knowledge of indigenous herbs, traditional practices and community relationships represented a holistic body of indigenous wisdom.

While acknowledging the contribution of modern doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, Neinu said modern medicine should not lead to the disappearance of indigenous knowledge.

 “Progress shouldn’t mean amnesia,” he said, arguing that traditional wisdom and modern science should not be viewed as competing systems.

He suggested that modern healthcare professionals could contribute clinical expertise, while traditional caregivers could offer cultural understanding, community trust and generations of experience. Greater cooperation between the two, he said, could create a more culturally sensitive and effective healthcare environment.

The Advisor also called for collective action among the indigenous communities of the Northeast to protect their rights, land, culture and traditional way of life. Referring to developments in Tripura, he cautioned that the region needed to support one another to prevent indigenous communities from facing similar challenges.

Neinu further advocated for the continued observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day across the Northeastern states, saying such platforms were important for strengthening solidarity and raising awareness of indigenous concerns.

Our objective is to build bridges, not walls’: NEIPF President Anup Chetia

President of the North East Indigenous Peoples Forum (NEIPF), Anup Chetia called for greater cultural exchange, youth interaction and civil society engagement among indigenous communities of the Northeast to reduce mistrust, prevent conflict and promote peaceful coexistence.

“Our objective is not to create a wall between communities, but to build bridges,” he said while stressing that increasing human-to-human contact through cultural exchange, youth interaction, academic programs, and civil society dialogue can reduce mistrust, prevent conflict, and save lives.

Chetia informed that the NEIPF had been undertaking various initiatives to strengthen interaction among communities, including organising a folk dance drama festival in collaboration with local organisations in the Mariani and Titabor areas of Assam.

He said the forum was also carrying out various social activities in the region and was considering organising similar programmes in the Merapani area in the coming days.

He said such initiatives were particularly important in a region marked by ethnic and cultural diversity, where stronger community-level engagement could help address misunderstandings before they escalated into conflict.

At the same time, Chetia maintained that harmonious coexistence must go hand in hand with efforts to safeguard the political, economic, social and cultural future of indigenous peoples.

He identified illegal migration and unauthorised cross-border movement as among the forum’s major concerns, particularly against the backdrop of continuing instability in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

According to Chetia, unregulated and unplanned influx could place additional pressure on indigenous communities and gradually alter the demographic balance of the Northeast.

Representatives of Indigenous People’s Forum of Meghalaya, Manipur, Assam, Tripura and Mizoram also spoke on the occasion.