International Day of the World’s Indigenous People (IDWIP) was observed in North Lakhimpur on Friday by Nawa Bihan Samaj (NBS) on Friday.
NBS secretary Godfrey Hereh explained the importance of the day and spoke at length about it.
Hereh informed that 2019’s theme of IDWIP was ‘indigenous languages.
“The focus this year is on the present situation of indigenous languages around the world,” informed Hereh.
He also said that languages of Adivasis are dying at an alarming rate.
He also expressed the concern for neglecting their languages would lead to the end of identity and culture of Adivasi people.
Alphonse Kerketta, one of the speaker spoke on the rich and unique cultures of indigenous people and their importance in the present situation.
“The language of each tribe was important and they percolate down the cultural heritage to the coming generation,” he said.
In the programme, participants of various tribes exhibited their traditional food items, costumes, ornaments, and agriculture and fishing tools in different stall for the public to taste and see the tribal items.
The participants expressed happiness over the programme and pledged to learn and teach their younger generations about their languages.