 \Participants during the Adivasi Awaaz Training held at Morung Kitchen, near Oking Hospital in Kohima. The training was held from May 30 to June 1. Adivasi Lives Matter (ALM) held its first digital media training workshop in Nagaland, aiming to equip tribal youth with storytelling skills rooted in their cultural identities and lived experiences. Nagaland tourism packages The Adivasi Awaaz Training took place over three days, from May 30 to June 1, at Morung Kitchen, near Oking Hospital in Kohima. Participants came from communities including Karbi, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Ao, Sangtam and Angami. Founded in 2016, ALM is a grassroots media platform focused on amplifying the voices of Adivasi and tribal communities across India. Through storytelling in text, video, and photography, ALM supports first-generation content creators in challenging stereotypes and sharing narratives shaped by their own perspectives.  Nagaland tourism packages The Kohima workshop included training sessions led by a team of facilitators from diverse professional backgrounds. Filmmaker, Deepak Bara conducted sessions on documentary filmmaking and visual storytelling. Drawing from his work on indigenous issues, Bara introduced participants to the conceptual foundations of terms such as indigenous, native, and tribal, guiding them through the historical and contemporary contexts of India’s tribal communities. “He helped us see where our stories come from and why they matter in a larger picture,” said one participant following a session that traced the evolution of indigenous representation in film. Bara also reviewed participants’ short videos produced during the workshop, offering feedback on structure, technique, and clarity of message. “I realized that each clip needs to follow a structure to convey the story effectively,” said Yamukam from Tuensang, who noted that the training helped him identify and correct long-standing gaps in his filmmaking approach.  ALM Acting Project Manager and Managing Editor, Nitesh K Mahto led modules on writing and digital content strategy. His sessions focused on how tribal communities can use accessible tools to shape authentic online narratives and participate meaningfully in digital spaces. Tongpang Alingri, a peacebuilder associated with Initiatives of Change facilitated several of the sessions in local dialects. His interventions enabled greater interaction and helped participants express ideas in familiar terms, making discussions on social change and storytelling more grounded and accessible. Coordinating the workshop was Tosangla C Chang, a social worker with a background in Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies. Known for her cultural documentation work among the Chang community, she helped structure the program to encourage learning exchanges and peer support.  The workshop included screenings of Adivasi-themed films, followed by discussions on content ethics and cultural sensitivity. Practical sessions on smartphone photography, videography, and editing were paired with assignments that encouraged participants to create stories drawn from their communities. For some, the workshop also underscored the challenges of access and representation. “In today’s world, opportunities are hardly given, especially to people like us from remote districts,” said Tonpha from Mon. “This workshop gave us the chance to learn and become creators without having to pay for it.”The event concluded with a content showcase where participants presented their work and received guided reviews. Many shared that it was their first time working with structured storytelling formats and receiving professional feedback. ALM conducts inaugural digital storytelling workshop in Nagaland | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
