Nagaland Scholar Represents India at UN Indigenous Youth Conference

Kohima: Nagaland University sociology scholar Repakaba Tzudir traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal, to represent India at the United Nations World Indigenous Youth Conference 2026. Held on June 13 and 14, the event united 150 leaders and activists from across Asia. They met to talk about self-determination and cultural preservation.

Tzudir joined delegates from Bangladesh, Myanmar, and other regions to discuss the struggle of maintaining heritage in a changing world. He served as a panel speaker, zeroing in on the specific hardships facing Naga youth. He pointed out that joblessness often forces young people to abandon community advocacy for basic survival. "In Nagaland, unemployment often becomes the immediate concern for many young people, making it difficult to actively engage with broader Indigenous issues and rights," he noted.

The two-day forum focused on the tension between modern economic needs and deep-rooted traditions. Speakers addressed the loss of Indigenous languages and the pressure of migration. Despite these hurdles, Tzudir left the conference optimistic about regional solidarity. He believes that economic growth and cultural identity do not have to clash. The trip was made possible through backing from the Indigenous Peoples of Asia Solidarity Fund and YFIN Nepal.