Kohima: The North East Indigenous Peoples Forum and the Nagaland Indigenous People’s Forum will mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9. Organizers set the event for the Dimapur Town Hall. They plan to focus on the 2026 theme of honoring indigenous midwives. This theme centers on safeguarding life and wellbeing.
NEIPF Secretary General N Ibungochoubi spoke at a press conference on August 7 in Dimapur. He wants to advance the 2025 Jokai Declaration from Dibrugarh, Assam. The declaration urges state governments to start dedicated Directorates of Indigenous Affairs. MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu previously pushed for such a department during the 2025 monsoon session of the Nagaland Assembly. Ibungochoubi hopes other states will follow this lead.
He expects the move to help control illegal immigration. He fears demographic shifts in Tripura, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland threaten native rights. Regarding the regional push, Ibungochoubi noted, "All the states are looking forward to the Nagaland chapter in leading this very aspect of opening an indigenous people's department."
NIPF President Dr T Lima Jamir warned that local communities contribute to these shifts. He blames a reliance on cheap, undocumented labor. Jamir urged landowners to stop hiring outside workers to protect the region's economic security. He added that locals must learn to survive through self-reliance and internal cooperation.
NIPF General Secretary Kikito Sumi confirmed the group invited various organizations to an August 8 conclave. The sessions aim to bolster the preservation and protection of indigenous populations.
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