ITANAGAR, Sep 20: Indigenous Affairs Minister Mama Natung attended the inaugural ceremony of the first-ever five-day Training-cum-Workshop for Indigenous Faith Volunteers (IFVs) at the Art of Living Centre, Jollang, near here on Sunday.
The initiative aims to strengthen grassroots efforts towards preservation, protection and promotion of indigenous faith, traditions and knowledge.
Addressing the volunteers, Natung urged them to work with sincerity and compassion and to listen to the experiences and concerns of elders, youth and women. He also emphasised the importance of documenting indigenous knowledge and encouraging communities to pass their traditions and cultural heritage on to future generations.
On the occasion, the minister also unveiled the logo of the upcoming Indigenous Youth Festival, which will be held at Seppa in East Kameng district.
The festival will bring together the diverse indigenous traditions, languages, stories, customs and cultural expressions of Arunachal Pradesh, providing a platform for young people to connect with their roots and carry forward the State’s indigenous heritage.
The festival is being envisioned around the theme “One Land, Many Peoples, One Identity”, with an emphasis on fostering pride in shared heritage and encouraging the younger generation to preserve and promote indigenous traditions, Natung said.
The workshop is intended to equip Indigenous Faith Volunteers with greater awareness and practical understanding to support community-level efforts for preservation and promotion of indigenous faith and traditions.