Advocating for Indigenous Knowledge in Anthropology
Victoria Gingley Leyri belongs to the Pochury tribe of Nagaland and is a PhD research scholar at the University of Delhi. She completed her bachelor’s degree from Kohima Science College, Jotsoma, Kohima, Nagaland, with Anthropology honours. She earned her M.Sc. in Anthropology, specializing in Psychological Anthropology, Tribal India, and Medical Anthropology, as well as her M.Phil. from the Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi. Her M.Phil. work investigated the ethnoarchaeology of the pottery-making tradition among the Lüruri community of the Pochury tribe of Nagaland.
Victoria’s areas of interest include material culture, museum studies, and indigenous archaeology. Her research explores the intersection of Indigenous knowledge systems and archaeological practices, focusing on how material culture reflects and preserves the heritage and identities of Indigenous communities. She is passionate about advocating for the inclusion of indigenous perspectives in museum curation and the preservation of cultural heritage. Through her research, she aims to contribute to a broader understanding of indigenous material culture and its role in shaping and sustaining community identities.
Outside of her academic work, Victoria is engaged in various cultural studies initiatives, collaborating with local communities to document and preserve their traditions in the rapidly changing global landscape.