Jamshedpur, 9th August — On World Indigenous Day, the ninth day of the Tribal Futures Fest 2.0 brought together four Indigenous creatives from across the globe for a powerful dialogue on design, sovereignty, and cultural preservation. The session, hosted by Angrah, delved beyond aesthetics to confront critical questions around ownership and protection of Indigenous knowledge in a rapidly changing world.

The panel featured:
1.Frida Larios (El Salvador) — Renowned for reimagining Mayan hieroglyphics for contemporary contexts.
2.Desna Whaanga-Schollum (New Zealand) — Artist and activist embedding ancestral narratives into cultural landscapes.
3.Rida Ghatphoh (India) — Founder of Dakti Craft, reviving traditional crafts through ethical design.
4.Sudhir John Horo (India) — Designer and cultural practitioner deeply engaged with land-based knowledge systems.
5. Dr. Anugrah Pandi of the Lepcha Tribe, member of the Tribal Design Forum, opened the session, followed by screenings of works celebrating human-nature relationships, including Kung Kung Go by Sofiyum, Rukom Ka Ri – The Many Lives of Land by Rida, and Ngāaho – Designing Māori Futures.

Teaching Indigenous Design: Between Preservation and Appropriation
The discussion examined whether Indigenous design can be authentically taught within academic institutions. Larios highlighted the contrast between teaching at a Black-led university and predominantly white institutions, questioning the sincerity of inclusion efforts within colonial frameworks.

Whaanga-Schollum emphasized that Indigenous knowledge is not abstract theory but a lived, land-rooted experience. “When separated from its origins, it ceases to be Indigenous,” she warned, urging institutions to respect the responsibilities tied to cultural knowledge.

Ghatphoh shared her experience at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, questioning the feasibility of teaching land-specific and language-specific knowledge in generalized urban academic settings.

Horo underscored the inseparable connection between “Indigenous” and its land and people, arguing that such knowledge must be learned through immersion and community participation rather than distant theory.

Owning the Narrative
Closing the session, Dr. Pandi stressed that Indigenous people do not need external validation: “We celebrate ourselves every day.” She urged reclaiming ownership of Indigenous narratives, highlighting the interconnectedness of knowledge, values, and identity.

A Living Practice Beyond the Festival
The session reinforced a shared vision of Indigenous design as a living practice intertwined with land, language, and community. It also cautioned against the detachment of aesthetics from the responsibilities and relationships that give them meaning.

As the panelists’ words echoed across continents, one message stood clear — Indigenous design is not just taught; it is lived, practiced, and carried forward by those who embody it.