EMN
Dimapur, October 18
Indigenous Women’s Forum of North East India (IWFNEI), in collaboration with the Henry Martyn Institute (HMI), Hyderabad, has held a two-day workshop on October 17 and 18 on “Leadership and women in decision making” in Guwahati.
Participants from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Tripura including representatives from the Naga Women’s Union Manipur, Kuki Mothers Associations, Zemi Mothers Association, Karbi Women Organization, Naga Indigenous Women Association, and the Eastern Nagaland Mothers Association attended the programme.
One of the important features of the workshop was the story telling sessions. An inter-generational group of women participants shared their personal experiences as activists, educators, students and practitioners in their respective communities.Emphasizing on the importance of establishing a strong culture of solidarity among the indigenous communities of Northeast India, IWFNEI secretary general, Kesheli Chishi, encouraged the women to play an active role in their respective communities and take leadership roles.
The resource persons of the two-day workshop were Ms Grace Shatsang and Dr. Dolly Kikon, who shared their experiences as practitioners and educators and stressed on the importance of creating autonomous spaces for women to share their intellectual and political visions.
“It is important to strategize to bring a change in society,” Grace Shatsang underlined adding women have to learn how to strategize and negotiate for power. She reflected on her experiences with the Naga Women’s Union Manipur and their successful campaigns on violence against women and indigenous women’s experience with customary law.
Dr. Kikon said the practice of indigenous tribal societies in Northeast India, which prohibits women to become members in the traditional councils, was not unique to the region. He said terms like “traditional” and “culture” continues to operate as a legitimate force to maintain the status quo of power, social hierarchy, and patriarchy.
The IWFNEI secretary general, Ms. Chishi, stated that the objective of the workshop was to mentor young indigenous women to become future decision makers and leaders.
