DIMAPUR/Longkhum: The INTACH Nagaland Chapter on Saturday installed a Tourist Information and Heritage Installation in Longkhum village, aiming to deepen community participation in tourism and raise awareness of the village's cultural and natural legacy.
Community-led signage to aid visitors, encourage youth engagement
The programme opened with an invocation led by Rev. Aka Jamir of Longkhum Baptist Church. INTACH State Convener Sentila T. Yanger and co-convener Mefutiba Longkumer were present for the handover, which was made to Longkhum Village chairman Longkhumbo Jamir in the company of Village Council members, the Village Tourism Committee, teachers and students.
In his introductory remarks, Mefutiba Longkumer emphasised that readily available tourism information at village level helps visitors navigate and appreciate local sites while motivating young people to learn about their own history, traditions and environment. INTACH said the installation is intended to promote responsible and respectful tourism by making the village’s cultural and natural assets more accessible to outsiders.
Educational materials target language preservation
Alongside the signage, INTACH Nagaland Chapter distributed a colouring storybook in the Ao vernacular titled Tenemmozü Nokinketer (The Hornbill Warrior) to schoolchildren. The organisation described the book as a simple, engaging tool to familiarise young readers with local legends, practices and cultural knowledge while strengthening use of the Ao language among the next generation.
INTACH said these educational materials are intended both for residents and visitors: to foster pride and continuity within the community and to offer context to tourists seeking to understand Longkhum’s distinct heritage.
Signage part of wider effort in Nagaland
This marks the second heritage signage project by INTACH Nagaland Chapter; the first installation was completed in Khonoma village in 2019. INTACH conveyed hope that Longkhum’s installation, combined with school resources and local cooperation, will strengthen collaboration between the village, educational institutions and tourism stakeholders.
The handover underscores a growing focus among heritage organisations on village-level interpretation and language-based pedagogy as complementary tools for conservation.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Longkhum village |
| Project | Tourist Information & Heritage Installation |
| Organisation | INTACH Nagaland Chapter |
| Educational material | Ao vernacular colouring storybook: Tenemmozü Nokinketer |
| Previous signage | Khonoma (2019) |
- Audience: local community members, students, tourists.
- Objectives: promote responsible tourism, preserve language and folklore, engage youth.
- Stakeholders present: Village Council, Village Tourism Committee, teachers and students.
Representatives of the village and INTACH highlighted the complementary roles that community bodies and educational institutions play in safeguarding intangible heritage. The installation is expected to act as an on-site reference for visitors and an encouragement for residents to document and celebrate Longkhum’s history and traditions.
Local tourism committees in Nagaland have increasingly emphasised low-impact, community-managed interpretation as a way to both diversify visitor experience and ensure that benefits reach village economies. While INTACH did not disclose further rollout plans in its statement, the group expressed a desire for sustained cooperation between civic groups and tourism stakeholders to support similar projects in other communities.
For Longkhum’s students, the Ao-language storybook is designed to make cultural knowledge accessible in the mother tongue, thereby aiding intergenerational transmission of local tales and values. Organisers described the colouring format as a deliberate choice to engage younger children and initiate conversations about heritage at home and in school.
The handover concluded with calls for ongoing collaboration to ensure the signage and educational resources remain useful, up-to-date and integrated with village tourism activities.
