Zo Indigenous Forum

25/07/2025

2025 Indigenous Fellowship Program application deadline 15 September 2025

02/06/2025

Read our founder article on 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝑫𝑮 13 𝒊𝒏 𝑴𝒊𝒛𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒎: 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑲𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 at https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.90500090

29/05/2025

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐭𝐲: 𝐌𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐦'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟗 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥

In 2019, the Government of India introduced Draft Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, aiming to overhaul the colonial-era Indian Forest Act of 1927. While positioned as a step toward modernized forest governance, the bill triggered widespread concern among Indigenous communities reliant on forests for their livelihoods and cultural identity. Mizoram, a tribal-majority state with constitutional safeguards under Article 371(G), emerged as a stronghold of resistance. The state government, supported by Zo Indigenous Forum, opposed the bill on grounds that it infringed upon tribal rights and bypassed constitutional procedures. This paper analyzes the bill's provisions, the legal and political grounds for Mizoram's opposition, and the implications of the bill's eventual withdrawal. It highlights the strategic synergy between constitutional authority and grassroots mobilization, offering lessons for forest governance and indigenous rights in India.

In 2019, the Government of India introduced Draft Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, aiming to overhaul the colonial-era Indian Forest Act of 1927. While positione

10/05/2025

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2025 emphasizing Non-Negotiable Rights and Indigenous Leadership

https://zoindigenous.blogspot.com/2025/05/united-nations-permanent-forum-on.html

12/04/2025

Zo Indigenous Forum participated in the recently concluded AIPP South Asia Sub-Regional Meeting held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

As the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact General Assembly approaches, various important organizational matters were discussed, including the strategic plan for the coming years.

06/04/2025

Mr. C. Lalremruata, the Founder of ZIF, was invited to and attended the 1st Assam State Level Hun Festival on April 4, 2025, in Guwahati. On the evening of April 4, he served as the functional president of the event. His speech is included below.

1st ASSAM STATE LEVEL HUN THADOU FESTIVAL 2025

4th April 2025 @ Rukmini Nagar Socio-Cultural Centre, Dispur, Assam

Theme: "A Celebration of Identity; A Journey of Peace"

Honorable guests, respected elders, dear brothers and sisters,

K*t Chibai

It is truly a joy and privilege to stand before you on this auspicious occasion of HUN Thadou Festival 2025 — a day that resonates deeply with our identity, our history, and our collective hope for the future. This is not just a festival. It is a living testimony of who we are – our stories, our songs, our roots. It is a celebration of the spouting seeds our ancestors sowed with hope, courage, and vision.

The theme for this year, “𝐴 𝐶𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦; 𝐴 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑒”, beautifully captures the essence of who we are and what we strive for. Today, as we gather in unity, we are not just celebrating a festival. We are celebrating our roots, our people, and our shared destiny.

𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙄𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙮: 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙨
We, the IPs a rich heritage, filled with customs, traditions, and languages that reflect our deep connection to the land and to one another. In a world that often tries to dilute indigenous voices, today is a proud reminder that our culture still thrives — in our dances, our music, our stories, and in our hearts.

Let us never forget that our identity is our strength. Our unique customs are not just relics of the past — they are living treasures. They must be preserved, practiced, and passed on to future generations with pride and purpose.


𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙕𝙤𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚: 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚, 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩
As we celebrate HUN, we are also reminded of the broader family we belong to — the Zofate, the sons and daughters of the hills. Whether we are called Thadou, Hmar, Lusei, Lai, Mara, or any other name — we are one people, branches of the same tree.

Let us rise above divisions and come together in the spirit of brotherhood. The dream of unification — politically, culturally, and spiritually — is not impossible. It is a journey. And it starts with recognizing each other not as strangers, but as family.

When we embrace our shared heritage, we take a bold step towards healing, unity, and strength.

𝑷𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔
No journey of identity is complete without peace. Peace is not just the absence of conflict — it is the presence of understanding, respect, and harmony. As a people, we have known hardship. We have experienced conflict. But we have also known resilience.

Let us choose peace — in our homes, in our communities, and in our aspirations. Only through peace can we truly grow — economically, socially, and spiritually. Peace is the soil where our identity can flourish.

𝑨 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝑨𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
To our youth — you are the torchbearers of tomorrow. Learn your language. Know your history. Wear your traditional clothes with pride. Sing your songs. Respect your elders. And above all, remember where you come from.

To our leaders — let us work hand in hand, across borders and boundaries, to bring unity and harmony among the Zofate. Let us build bridges, not walls.

And to each of us here — let this HUN be a reminder that our celebration is not just about tradition, but about transformation. About going forward, together.

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
On this beautiful day, as the sun shines on our people and our land, may we remember this. We are Zofate. We are one. And we walk this journey — of identity, of unification, and of peace — not alone, but together.

𝑀𝑎𝑦 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑚.
𝑀𝑎𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑡ℎ.
𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑏𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑐𝑦.

Ka kipah e.

Hun - Thadou Cultural Festival

05/11/2024

https://zoindigenous.blogspot.com/2024/10/mizoram-launches-sdg-and-project.html

Zo Indigenous Forum (ZIF) is an Indigenous Peoples' community based human rights organisaiton in Mizoram

05/11/2024

https://zoindigenous.blogspot.com/2024/10/mizoram-experienced-substantial-forest.html

According to recent data from Global Forest Watch, Mizoram has experienced substantial forest loss and environmental degradation. From 2001 to 2023, t

15/10/2024

Zo Indigenous Forum and Fill Life Access Trust organised Empowering Indigenous Women Leaders with the support of Global Greengrants Fund, more than 20 Indigenous Women Leaders learnt about recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples Rights and Climate Change and conducting effective advocay works

09/08/2024

International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples chibai u le.

12/03/2024

ASIA PREPARATORY MEETING ON UN MECHANISMS AND PROCEDURES RELATING TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 2024

From 3rd to 6th March 2024, Ms Lalmuanpuii, Director, Zo Indigenous Forum (ZIF) actively participated in the Asia Preparatory Meeting on UN Mechanisms and Procedures Relating to Indigenous Peoples 2024, held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This significant gathering was organized by the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), with a key focus on developing a joint advocacy strategy along with an actionable plan for engagement in crucial UN mechanisms, platforms, campaigns, and procedures, collectively by Indigenous Peoples.

The increasing number of mechanisms and processes concerning the rights of Indigenous Peoples underscores the necessity for strategic engagement. The Asia preparatory meeting served as an invaluable platform to address this need. Furthermore, it played a pivotal role in strengthening cooperation among Indigenous Peoples’ organizations across Asia. It also contributed significantly to enhancing their capacity for engaging at regional and international levels, fostering awareness-raising efforts, and advocating for Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

31/12/2023

Kumthar 2024 Chibai