Yimkhiung Tribe

Yimkhiung Tribe Latest News

Recently, the Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) led a major protest in Pungro Town, Nagaland, against the Indian government’s plan to fence the Indo-Myanmar border and the recent abolition of the Free Movement Regime (FMR).

About Yimkhiung Tribe

• The Yimkhiung are one of the major Naga tribes, primarily inhabiting eastern Nagaland’s Kiphire district and adjacent areas in Myanmar. 
• Their society is organised around clan-based villages, and there is a strong tradition of oral history, festivals, and communal land ownership.
• The Yimkhiung community is divided by the international border, with some villages in Myanmar and the rest in India. The border, drawn during colonial times, is seen by the tribe as an “imaginary line” that splits families and ancestral lands.
• The Yimkhiungrü language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family and is spoken by over 100,000 people across more than 100 villages and towns.
• The tribe celebrates several traditional festivals, with Tsüngkamnyo being the most significant post-harvest festival.

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The Border Fencing Controversy

• In February 2024, the Indian government announced the end of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and plans to construct a border fence along the 1,643 km Indo-Myanmar border, including 215 km in Nagaland. 
• The FMR previously allowed border residents to travel up to 16 km (later reduced to 10 km) into each other’s territory without a visa for social, economic, and cultural reasons.
• In response to this development, Yimkhiung have submitted a memorandum for the reversal of the fencing plan.

Yimkhiung Tribe FAQs

Q1. What is the meaning of Yimkhiung tribe?

Ans. The term “Yimkhiung” means “the ones who have reached their place of choice” or “Searched, Arrived and Found”.

Q2. What are the 17 major tribes of Nagaland?

Ans. The 17 major tribes of Nagaland are: Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Kachari, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Kuki, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Tikhir, Yimkhiung, and Zeliang.

Q3. What is the new name of Yimchunger?

Ans. The Government of Nagaland officially changed the tribe’s name from “Yimchunger” to “Yimkhiung” in 2021.

Source: AT