Workshop on Sustainable Management of Indigenous Knowledge - A North East Perspective

Background
TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) North-East and Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA) is organizing a three day workshop on "Sustainable Management of Indigenous Knowledge: a North East Perspective" during March 1-3, 2016 at Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram. Mizoram University has joined as the Knowledge Partner in this workshop.

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) refers to the knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous groups in matters related to agriculture and environmental management, medicine and health, and art and language. Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs) are also part of IK. Like IK, TCEs have also been passed from one generation to the next (orally or by tradition) and are an integral part of a culture’s identity and heritage. These expressions include, but are not limited to: music and songs, stories, symbols, dances, rituals, architecture, arts, and crafts.

Indigenous knowledge has been noted to make a significant contribution to sustainable development of local communities, as it is seen as a set of perceptions, information, and behaviour that guide local community members to use the land and natural resources. The goal of managing indigenous knowledge is to provide the right information to the right people at the right time.

Objectives
The objective of the workshop is to understand the management and preservation of traditional cultural knowledge and expressions. Further to this, the workshop would highlight and share unique and invaluable knowledge practiced by the indigenous people for folklore and cultural management. Moreover, the workshop is expected to raise research interests among the students, academicians, practitioners and policymakers in indigenous traditional knowledge. The workshop is open for around 80 participants (first-come-first-basis) with knowledge and interest in cultural resource management.

Workshop Topics:
The workshop will include lectures, presentations, and best practices, case study demonstrations, and will cover following topics:

• Preservation and Curation of Culture of North-East
• Research Literacy with Special Reference to Indigenous Knowledge
• Preservation of Cultural Knowledge Resource: Documentation, Archiving, and Knowledge Management
• Workshop on Writing Skills
• Academic Integrity: Copyright, Plagiarism, Digital Rights Management
• Tools and Techniques for Reference Management
• Presentation and Communication Skills

Participation:
The workshop is expected to draw professionals from a wide range of disciplines. The registration for participation is free of cost on first-come-first-basis for 80 participants. The workshop will have great benefit for stakeholders such as:

• PhD, M Phil and Research Scholars from Arts, Sociology and Culture, Science disciplines
• Academicians, Practitioners, and Policy makers