The Department of Tourism has apologized to the Khiamniungan community for misinterpretation of Khiamniungan tribe during Hornbill Festival 2024.
In an apology letter to the Khiamniungan Union Kohima, the Director Veyielo Doulo formally apologized for the oversight and failure to include the name of the Khiamniungan Tribe in the Heritage Guide May displayed at the Arena.
“In this regard the department understand that the non-inclusion of your tribe’s name in the display board has caused deep discontentment and unhappiness among the members of your tribe. The department would like to sincerely express our regret for this mistake and assure you that it was never our intention to exclude or overlook the importance of your tribe. We acknowledge the significance of recognizing and respecting the cultural heritage and identity of all indigenous communities, including all the sub-tribes of the State,” stated the Department.
As a department, it expressed its regret to the offense caused by oversight, and expressed its commitment to rectify such situation in the years to come to ensure that the Khiamniungan Tribe is properly represented and acknowledged.
“The department truly valued the relationship we have with the Khiamniungan Tribe and want to assure you that we are dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusivity, and cultural sensitivity within our department. Your feedback and concerns are important to us, and we will strive to do better in the future to avoid similar oversights. Please accept our most sincere apologies for any distress or disappointment that this oversight may have caused. We hope that this letter serves as a genuine gesture of our commitment to rectifying the mistake and improving our communication and engagement with the Khiamniungan Tribe,” added the Department.
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Earlier, the Khiamniungan Union Kohima had written to the Director, Department of Tourism seeking clarification on the misrepresentation of Khiamniungan Tribe. The Union requested the authority to rectify the matter and tender immediate apology before the starting of the morning session programme, at the same time replacing the Map representational Board with new and correct one.
“It is with utmost disappointment the Union office have come to the knowledge that Khiamniungan Tribe is nowhere to be found in the Map representational Display Board of the Morungs pasted at the opposite of the main arena gate unlike all other Naga Tribes Morungs which are found to be correctly represented. As we all know it serves as the Heritage Village guide map where every visitors first glimpse and seeks for access,” mentioned the Union in its letter.
To aggravate the matter, the Khiamniungan Tribe’s name was not call out during the opening programme while introducing the Cultural Troupes which was later announced after requesting in the announcing booth. Further, on the 5th Day it was observed that Khiamniungan name was pronounced as ‘KHIAM’ not KHIAMNIUNGAN which was later pronounced in full that too after behest by Troupe leaders, informed the Union.
“The Hornbill Festival mega event is culminating and the feeling of dejection lingers in the minds of the community which the concerned authority of the day had overlooked and neglected. It may be stated that the grievance is not a sudden outburst rather cumulative one, an outcry whereby the community is on the verge of boycott which the Union finds difficult to diffuse,” added the Union.
