The Nagaland Tourism Department formally apologized to the Khiamniungan Union Kohima for omitting the Khiamniungan Tribe’s name in the Heritage Guide Map displayed during the Hornbill Festival 2024.
Acknowledgment of Oversight
- Letter of Apology: Tourism Director Veyielo Doulo expressed regret in a letter addressed to the President of the Khiamniungan Union Kohima.
- Impact on Community: The omission caused “deep discontentment and unhappiness” among the tribe’s members.
- Commitment to Cultural Sensitivity: The department emphasized its dedication to inclusivity and pledged to prevent similar lapses in the future.
Issues Highlighted by Khiamniungan Union
- Grievances:
- Tribe’s name omitted from the morung display board and cultural troupes’ introductions during the festival’s opening ceremony.
- Mispronunciations of the tribe’s name at subsequent events.
- Cumulative Neglect: The Union described these grievances as the result of longstanding neglect, not isolated incidents.
- Community’s Frustration: The community expressed feelings of dejection and considered boycotting the festival.
Demands from the Khiamniungan Union
- Immediate Apology: The Union requested a public apology for the oversight.
- Correction of the Map: The Union demanded the map be corrected before the festival’s morning session.
- Warning: Potential repercussions were indicated if concerns were not addressed.
Tourism Department’s Response
- Commitment to Rectification:
- The department assured the Khiamniungan community that steps would be taken to rectify the errors.
- Promised proper representation and acknowledgment of the tribe in future events.
- Strengthening Engagement: Plans to engage more closely with the tribe to ensure inclusivity and cultural sensitivity.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
1. What was the primary grievance of the Khiamniungan Union Kohima during the Hornbill Festival 2024?
a) Lack of participation in the festival
b) Omission of the tribe’s name in the Heritage Guide Map
c) Mismanagement of the festival’s schedule
d) Exclusion from cultural competitions
Answer: b) Omission of the tribe’s name in the Heritage Guide Map
2. Who issued the formal apology to the Khiamniungan Union Kohima?
a) The Chief Minister of Nagaland
b) The Director of Tourism, Veyielo Doulo
c) The President of the Khiamniungan Union Kohima
d) The Festival Organizing Committee
Answer: b) The Director of Tourism, Veyielo Doulo
3. What additional grievances did the Khiamniungan Union highlight?
a) Exclusion from food stalls
b) Lack of funding for the festival
c) Mispronunciations of the tribe’s name and omission from cultural displays
d) Poor accommodations for tribe members
Answer: c) Mispronunciations of the tribe’s name and omission from cultural displays
4. What action did the Khiamniungan Union demand regarding the Heritage Guide Map?
a) Removal of the map
b) Correction of the map before the festival’s morning session
c) Creation of a new map for future festivals
d) No action was demanded
Answer: b) Correction of the map before the festival’s morning session
5. How did the Tourism Department respond to the Khiamniungan Union’s concerns?
a) By dismissing the grievances as minor issues
b) By assuring rectification and stronger engagement with the tribe
c) By postponing the festival
d) By organizing a separate festival for the Khiamniungan Tribe
Answer: b) By assuring rectification and stronger engagement with the tribe