Idu culture and knowledge live in our ancestral stories (tajus). It is through our tajus that we learn how to live with animals and khinus, how to be a good person, what to eat, and how to procure food. This rich knowledge has always been passed down across generations. 

These stories also contain generations of knowledge about wildlife, seasons, forests, and the environment. Many of these observations can be understood alongside modern science, showing how traditional knowledge and scientific knowledge can work together to deepen our understanding of nature.

Today, however, many tajus and ekobe are disappearing. Young Idus — many of whom spend most of their time in boarding schools — no longer hear these teachings from elders. These narratives are central to Idu identity and have long guided sustainable relationships between humans, animals, forests, rivers, and spirits.

Our Approach

The Idu Mishmi Storytelling Programme brings ancestral stories directly into schools, helping children reconnect with their culture and heritage and understand how the ancestral knowledge and science together can learn from and strengthen one another.

• Visual aids, illustrations, and multimedia

• Artwork created by Idu Mishmi artists

• Information on local wildlife, forests, and conservation

• Discussions on Idu values, traditions, and worldviews

• Connections between traditional knowledge and modern science

A key feature of the programme is bringing together Indigenous knowledge and scientific understanding. Many tajus contain detailed observations about animal behaviour, seasonal changes, forests, rivers, and relationships between species. By exploring these alongside scientific concepts, children learn that traditional knowledge is not only cultural heritage but also a valuable way of understanding and caring for the natural world.

The programme is led by two Idu Mishmi women storytellers, ensuring that the stories are shared in ways that remain true to community traditions.

Through this effort, we help Idu children learn about their culture, understand their land better, and build a strong sense of identity.

Looking Ahead

With growing interest from teachers, parents, and students, we hope to expand the programme to more schools across the Dibang Valley - helping raise a generation of young Idus who carry forward the tajus, ethics, and ecological wisdom of their ancestors.

About Dibang Team 

The Dibang Team is a collective of Idu Mishmi people from the twin districts of the Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, India. We have been working to conserve the region’s bio-cultural diversity while creating sustainable livelihoods. We combine Western science with Idu knowledge, culture, and spirituality to strengthen our cultural and traditional institutions, ensuring that the region’s biocultural diversity continues to thrive for generations.