Recording of Raja Safdar Ali Khan and Jamsheed Ali discussing smoking in the Srinagar dialect of Burushaski.

Recording of Burusho children in Srinagar having a discussion. The children are speaking in the Srinagar dialect of Burushaski.

Recording of children having a discussion, speaking in the Srinagar dialect of Burushaski.

Recording of children having a conversation, speaking in the Srinagar dialect of Burushaski.

Recording of Burusho children in Srinagar having a discussion during playtime. The children are speaking in the Srinagar dialect of Burushaski.

Recording of Raja Majid having a discussion.

Recording of Raja Safdar Ali Khan (Master Ji) having a discussion with a group in the Srinagar dialect of Burushaski.

Recording of the Zulfin family having a discussion.

Field notes taken during linguistics research on the Burushaski language, including work on the Srinagar dialect of Burushaski.

Stephen Sankhil of Komsen introduces the elders and dignitaries present during the Lamkang Student’s Union Seminar [Lamkang Kurchuknao Kunpun]. All elders were invited to sing or tell stories, and dancers and other dignitaries of different Naga tribe leaders from United Naga Council, All Naga Students Union, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights and Deputy Commissioner of Chandel district, Nobert Disinang, I.A.S.

Photograph of the essay competition. The regular junior class session is going on in the background. During the winter season, teachers often teach classes in the open field.

Photograph of the essay competition with 9 total student submissions. The essay competition was organized by Rastogi and Jana Fortier with the permission of the principal of the school, Shri Sanjay Khanka.

Photograph of language consultants Kalavati & Bhanmati with their friends. They all got married at a very early age.

Photograph of Raji women at Jauljibi market while visiting a tailor. They wanted to give material for stitching. From hunter-gatherer to stability: this picture is a good example of a paradigm shift.

Beshot Tholung of Thamlapokpi talks about “Krei Klou” and others like “Arloo”, “Hol”,”Chavei” and “Changbom”.

Beshot Tholung of Thamlapoki discusses the Chaakhei Klou, the Harvest Festival. He explains the rituals that are followed in the process of harvesting of the crops. He shares about the feast called DilK’or, the festival of the harvest. He explains how they conduct a recitation to invite the crops from the field to the barns. A “Khulpuu” elder will call all the human spirits to also come back home from the fields to the homes.

Phamhring Sengul of Lambung Anal shares the importance of preserving the culture and how even just with our dress alone we are identified. As indigenous people we are deeply rooted in our environment and our culture, which is our identity. So we are the ones to preserve and promote and protect it from being lost.

Recording of the Deputy Commissioner of Chandel, Indian Administrative Services officer, Mr. Nobert Disinang, speaking about the importance of preserving culture. He talked about the need to preserve Lamkang traditional dress, ornaments, and dance as the observed the uniqueness of Lamkang cultural items when compared to other tribes. Mr. Disinang shared these thoughts at a seminar he was invited to by the Lamkang students.

Suungnem Bunghon of Leingangching explains how some of the months were named differently by the Lamkang Council, which he finds incorrect and wanted them to make corrections. He was sharing the different names given by people from different villages like the Mantri Pantha, which are different to what he knew. He shared how he requested the Lamkang Kver Kunpun to make the necessary corrections for future purposes.

Bunghon Suungnem of Leingangching explains how the trumpet is sounded to convey different messages to the community members. He also shares how the process of Chakhei harvest is done.

Bunghon Suungnem explains the meaning behind Totlang Kam and why they sing a particular song with the dance and also the dress they wear.

Thamnung Sankhil Tholungnu of Thamlakhuren shares a song about the names of the month in Lamkang. She explains the months of Lamkang, example how in the month of Purdun the cows came home from the jungle. They were discussing how some say or name it differently in some cases. Later they discuss about the elders from different villages trying to see who is from which village.

A group of men and women singing and dancing Archung Yunee Thxaaso

Men and women dance Chuungnii o Txuiva Mrsaal Le, led by elders Beshot Tholung of Thamlapokpi, Bunghon Suungnem of Leingangching, Belun Sankhil of Phaidaam, and Shangwar Dilbung of Khuibung