Idu Mishmi Tribe

About Idu Mishmi Tribe:

• Who are they? The Idu Mishmi is a sub-tribe of the larger Mishmi group (the other two Mishmi groups are Digaru and Miju) in Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring Tibet. 
• They primarily live in Mishmi Hills, bordering Tibet in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Their ancestral homelands are spread over the districts of Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley, as well as parts of Upper Siang and Lohit. 
• They are known for their weaving and craftsmanship skills.
• They can be distinctively identified by their typical hairstyle, distinctive customs and artistic pattern embedded on their clothes.
• Population: The tribe is estimated to comprise around 12,000 people (as per the census 2011).
• Language: Their language, called ‘Idu Mishmi’, is considered endangered by UNESCO.
• Relation with nature:
  • Traditionally animists, the tribe has strong ties with the region’s rich flora and fauna. 
  • Tigers are especially important to the Idu Mishmis — according to Idu mythology, they were born to the same mother, and thus, tigers are their “elder brothers”.
  • While hunting has traditionally been a way of life, the Idu Mishmis also follow a strict belief system of myths and taboos — ‘iyu-ena’ — that restrict them from hunting many animals, including a complete prohibition on killing tigers.

Q1) What is the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)?

NTCA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC).It was established in 2006 under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

Source: Why the indigenous Idu Mishmis are protesting a proposed tiger reserve in Arunachal Pradesh