14-19 December 2023

Kohima, Nagaland

11th ANNUAL HIGHLAND GATHERING

EKOLOGOS DEEP COLLABORATION IN THE ANTHROPOCENE

New Methodologies for Intersubjective, Interrelational and Interdependent Worlds

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

The Highland Institute in Kohima, Nagaland, in partnership with Ekologos – a project aimed at strengthening higher education for a sustainable future, and funded by the Norwegian Directorate of Higher Education and Skills, is proud to host the 11th Annual Highland Gathering with the theme ‘Ekologos: Deep Collaboration in the Anthropocene’ a multifaceted event slated for 14-19 December.

This event converges a call for scholarly papers, a winter school for junior scholars, and a summit for senior scholars and community leaders, fostering a synergy of knowledge and experience. The Gathering seeks to explore new research methodologies and collaborations in a rapidly transforming world, strengthening institutional partnerships as well as with local communities, and catalysing transformative educational policies and approaches in response to rapid climate changes affecting critical regions including the Arctic, Amazon, South Asia, and the Himalayas.

LEADERSHIP AND WORKSHOPS

Esteemed leaders and workshop facilitators will engage participants in participatory research methods, ethnographic film, and more, underscoring the importance of arts and ethics in research.

  • Dr. Meera Baindur, RV University Bangalore, India
  • Dr. Rodrigo Bulamah, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil
  • Prof. Thomas Bøhn, Institute of Marine Research, Norway
  • Ms. Catriona Child, The Highland Institute, Nagaland
  • Ms. Anna Ziya Geerling, Artist / Arctic University of Norway
  • Dr. Sahana Ghosh, National Singapore University
  • Dr. Antonio Guerreiro, State University of Campinas, Brazil
  • Dr. Michael Heneise, Arctic University of Norway / The Highland Institute
  • Dr. Soundarya Iyer, RV University Bangalore, India
  • Prof. Tiatoshi Jamir, Nagaland University
  • Dr. Jutta Kapfer, NIBIO Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
  • Mr. Tümüzo Katiry, The Highland Institute
  • Prof. Jonathon Keats, Artist / The Highland Institute (online)
  • Mr. Shyamal Lakshminarayanan, Independent researcher
  • Dr. Edward Moon-Little, University of Cambridge, UK (online)
  • Dr. Velina Ninkova, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway
  • Mr. John Paulraj, Geneva Graduate Institute
  • Prof. Piyush Roy, RV University Bangalore, India
  • Mr. Athul Sarala Nanu, Visual Designer & Filmmaker, National Institute of Design, India
  • Prof. Omar R. Thomaz, State University of Campinas, Brazil (online)
  • Mr. Evan Tims, Fulbright Research Scholar / In 100 Years Project
  • Ms. Meziwang Zeliang, Nagaland Climate Change Cell

PROGRAMME SNAPSHOT

  • Field excursions to local communities.
  • Development of a Research Ethics Manifesto.
  • Special events, including the 11th Annual Highlander Lectures and Fellowship Convocation.
 
 

FIELD EXCURSIONS

The staff is preparing three possible travel itineraries for Saturday, December 16, which include three villages outside of Kohima that participants can visit. Participants will be asked upon registration to give their first, second, and third choices. Each tour will leave Kohima in the early morning and will include a village tour, a packed lunch with refreshments, and an opportunity to meet community leaders, artists, and students. More information will be posted shortly.

Field Excursion One

Khonoma-

Khonoma village, bestowed with the title of India’s first green village since 2005, is a well-known and respected Western Angami Naga village in Kohima district. Perched strategically on a hill, it is historically known for its resistance against British colonisation, and currently for its exemplary efforts in community conservation through the Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS) initiated in 1998. Through the pollarding of Alder trees in the Jhum fields, the villagers have furthermore practised a form of slash and burn cultivation which retains soil fertility, and allows for the sustainable harvest of wood for fuel. As such the conservation area is part of a larger integrated landscape management aiming for sustainable resource use. The village is furthermore known for the remarkable stone terraced rice paddies in the valley, and increasingly an eco-tourism hotspot.

Field Excursion Two

Mezoma-

Mezoma offers a fine example of a traditional hill-top Angami village. Besides hosting a stone village fort, in the surrounding jungles, a cave can be found that offered shelter to hunters, as well as to those fleeing from violence during the Indo-Naga war. Additionally, Mezoma’s monoliths offer a glimpse of the pre-Christian spiritual practices. Down a steep winding zig-zag path, also called the ‘lovers path’, the paddy fields are found flanking the valley on both sides, while from the top of the mountain up to 200 villages can be seen, if, as they say, the mountain is not shy that day, and dressed in clouds.

Field Excursion Three

Kigwema-

In the foothills of Mt Japfu, the 4th highest peak of Nagaland, we find one of the oldest settlements of the Angami Nagas. It served as the headquarters of the Japanese army under General Sato, during the Battle of Kohima – which proved decisive for the 2nd World War. Living among the villagers, Elders from Kigwema reported on their respectful conduct.

&

Mima-

Equally nested in the bosom of Mt. Jafpu, close to Kigwema, this Angami village is the abode of bee-keepers and well known for its traditional honey production. The village therefore offers a dedicated honey tour where participants get familiar with the knowledges involved in bee-keeping and honey extraction.