Tribal Design Forum
First Roundtable Report

11^th July • ZOOM • 5pm to 7.30pm

• WhatsApp Group set up on 1^st July
• People invited to the WhatsApp Group
• 48 listed members on WhatsApp Group before 11^th July
• 78 listed members on WhatsApp Group as on 13^th July
• 55 registered to participate for the Roundtable
• 5 refused due to prior commitments
• 11 did not show up

Objective of the Roundtable

• To get all the designers and design students of tribal origin together.
• We managed to have a good start through the Roundtable 
• To set up a database to create a directory of tribal designers.
  We managed to do this through the Google Form registration
• To create an online community of tribal designers and design students.
  We have set up the WhatsApp group and LinkedIn Group We will be compiling profiles of every member and creating a website of tribal designers similar to what has been done in www.indigenouscreativitymatters.com
• To start a conversation on how tribal designers can help design for tribal communities; to identify opportunities; to explore how we can be of help mutually. We managed to make a good start with the Zoom Breakout Sessions.
• To arrive at a consensus that a body of Tribal Designers is required or not. We managed to get the consensus with a 98% YES response through the google form feedback
• To deliberate on the mission, vision and other facets of the body that needs to be established.

We made a good start. But the mission, vision, form, objectives, scope of work and other modalities will evolve once there are regular meetings and sincere interest in this initiative and the willingness for people to honestly contribute.

Brainstorming during the Breakout Sessions

A more filtered summary shall be shared at the next meeting

Inputs from Group 1
(Deborah Zama, RidaGatphoh, LinokaShiku, MagaretZinyu, EmiroliShitiri)

• How do we work together? Formalize this body. When & How? How can we support it? Education and awareness- Formally and informally, can be through R&D, vocational trainings, Informal traditional skills events and sustainability, hand-on workshops.
• Economically empower other designers and our community through grassroots development and helping to create “an economic& awareness” to future proof market.
• Branding: Our storytelling through our indigenous products, which reflects a powerful united front for ethicality, sustainability, quality and tribal empowerment.
• Proposal for advocacy and budget to the government (public sector) for funding our activities and efforts- from design awareness to community development in the areas of health & sanitation awareness.

Inputs from Group 2
(Mahindra Tudu, Suruchi Soren, Atul and Zorampari Pachuau)

• Social – Learning language through more interactive, audio-visual methods. Also having a website or knowledge base.
• Cultural – Promotion of culture through the celebration of our caste and culture with the use of craft, festivals, clothing, songs, etc. Using social media tools for these.
• Economic – Creating a bigger market or higher reach for tribal craft and Indigenous knowledge. Have a platform for education, skill-building, and job opportunity.

Inputs from Group 3
(Ravi Roshan, Sanjay Samir Kullu, Wilson Soreng, Reny Rabina Soreng, Ajit Rita Kullu )

• Tribal Art Graffiti
• Barter system as exchange of goods.
• Design festival to share experiences and learn from each other.
• Including textile handicrafts and creating employment for the community, promoting and keeping the craft up to date.

Inputs from Group 4
(Alok Toppo, Anurag Ekka, Uttam Beck, Shreyashika Bhagat and Kanishtha Kujur)

• Documentation of tangible and intangible aspects of culture (including stories, music, skills, crafts) and promotion for the same through workshops and sessions with schools and higher education centres.
• Bringing together the artisans and the customer group in a platform, along with product innovation so that the traditional crafts caters to the present market better.
• Education on a broader level that is specific to the community and region including topics like policies, laws, rights, schemes, etc.

Inputs from Group 5
(Allen Shaw, Sumangal Nag, Kinshuk Kujur, DIvya Ekka)

• Uplifting the tribal women in all sector as in education, working etc. 
• Creating a market or branding a culture or a tribal art form and creating recognition.
• Creating systems or visions to enable funding to the artisans related to the craft or the brands.
• Creating an information store house for the reference and the use knowledge exchange for the tribal traditions and culture.
• Academic projects – Workshops on market orientation for the artisans and collaboration on projects.

Inputs from Group 6 
(Sobharani Lakra, Nishant Minj, Tarini Minz, Varsha Mario Kachhap)

• Tribal design awards- tribal design forum will put the light on the contribution of the indigenous designers, will give recognition to this designers, platform for people to come together
• Academic project – Educating the young generation which would make them aware and sensitive to their culture and way of life. Doing it on a continuous basis.
• Systematic implementation of commerce for the tribal artisans and craftspeople. This would help to document the craft and keep it alive. Also would give recognition to the community and what exactly that craft is.

Inputs from Group 7
(Anupam Purty, Peter Marbaniang, Sabya sanchi and Archana Kongari)

• Educating the communities about the Tribal communities (both tribal communities, present generation and younger ones and external communities) so that we gain social recognition, cultural awareness, and conservation and for economic growth, while preserving the culture and nature.
• Teaching the tribal languages.
• Creating opportunities for the economic growth as well as enrichment program for the cultural growth by utilizing our rich culture.
• We can invest in documentation, social media, visuals etc. Also, we need to bring people together and develop a sense of pride towards the communities and embed an attitude of togetherness and sense of growing while uplifting others.

Inputs from Group 8
(Usha Barla, Nilima Topno, Sneha Mundari, Usha Barla, Vipul Barla)
Needs, design intervention and contribution through:

• Documentation (visual, text, video etc.) of tribal art and culture, accessibility of research for community and general public. This will preserve and promote the culture.
• Development of tribal products and platform for better aesthetic, sale ability and marketability.
• Design studio/ incubation Centre for tribal artisans and designers.
• Design educational and incubate plate design thinking for tribal (especially for youth and kids to improve livelihood.

Suggested Projects

• Product development for the new-age market – Apparel, textiles, lifestyle products, home furnishings, jewellery and tattoos.
• Tribal Pakhwada – A space to showcase and exhibit culture, art, dance and textile
• Art form restoration example – Using Paitkar painting of Jharkhand for creating new products and one art one week.
  Documentation and preservation is very important to save the culture.

Questions to be addressed:

• What is the role of each one of us in the community and in the society as a whole?
• What do we wish to achieve for our communities? What is the Goal?
• How do we achieve our goals as a community and as an individual?
• What is the vision of our community on migration of women and design Intervention?

Positive Developments

• Designers from Jharkhand have created a local chapter of the Tribal Design Forum to explore the possibility of creating a state local body which can be used to connect with the local state government to participate in design projects. If successful, this activity may help us chart a how-to-do steps which can be of help for other state chapters as a ready reckoner and guide.
• PeterMarbaniang and RidaGatphoh, who run Dak_ti Craft in Meghalaya
• (https://www.facebook.com/Dakticraft/) has offered paid internships to interested and eligible members in the collective.
• A younger group of designers, students and fresh graduates, have formed another subgroup to discuss the needs of tribal design students and identify themes of suitable and relevant classroom and graduation projects. The student group will be organizing zoom sessions for the community regularly to create a vibrant platform of sharing of the members’ work. The first such edition is being planned for the 25^th of July, Sunday evening with an interactive presentation session with few of the designers who have worked with tribal communities.

Participants

Next Steps

The next meeting is scheduled for 25^th July.
The flow and agenda of the meeting shall be informed in advance.
We hope to have newer members on board.
And also the ones who missed the first meeting join us then.

Thank you once again in giving us your valuable time and support.
Let us make this thing work! 

PS. Please excuse any omission or commission in this documentation