Sankala Foundation in collaboration with Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya

presents

National Conference

on

Tribal Arts and India’s Conservation Ethos: Living Wisdom

A Dialogue on Heritage, Culture and Conservation

Date: 10 October 2025

Time: 9:30 – 14:00 hrs

Venue: Silver Oak, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

Programme

Conference Brochure

Why This Dialogue Matters ?

India’s conservation ethos, rooted in tradition and sustained by law, finds its strongest expression in the lives of its tribal communities. Their cultural and spiritual identities are deeply intertwined with forests, rivers, and wildlife, making them custodians of ecological wisdom.

This dialogue is not only about celebrating culture but about learning from it. It is about documenting and sharing the living wisdom of India’s tribal communities, whose art and traditions safeguard biodiversity, strengthen cultural identity, and chart pathways for sustainable livelihoods. In an era of biodiversity loss and climate disruption, their ecological knowledge stands as both a cultural treasure and a blueprint for resilience. This conference seeks to honour that wisdom, amplify tribal voices, and connect their heritage with policy and practice to inspire conservation, cultural continuity, and dignity for generations to come.

About the
Conference

India has long practiced a “Silent Conversation” with nature, an ethos lived daily by tribal and forest-dwelling communities. Their songs, art, pottery, dance, and storytelling reflect profound ecological wisdom that has been preserved across generations. Today, these traditions offer vital lessons in sustainability and resilience in the face of biodiversity loss and climate change.

The National Conference on Tribal Arts and India’s Conservation Ethos: Living Wisdom builds on Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre, Sankala Foundation’s flagship initiative that has become a national platform to honour tribal heritage and conservation wisdom. Now in its fourth edition (2025), the event also brings together policymakers, scholars, artists, conservationists, and community leaders for a national conference that connects culture, heritage, and conservation with inclusive policy thinking.

Our Vision

The aim is to bring voices from the margins to the centre, guiding India’s conservation through the creativity and ecological wisdom of tribal communities. We aim to reimagine conservation as both a cultural and ecological responsibility.

Conference
Objectives

Celebrate Tribal Art & Identity – Recognise and amplify the voices of tribal artists from tiger reserves and protected landscapes.

Advance India’s Conservation Ethos – Mainstream traditional ecological knowledge in conservation.

Foster Economic Empowerment – Create livelihoods by connecting artists with buyers, patrons, and policymakers.

Spark Urban–Rural Dialogue – Engage youth and urban audiences in eco-living, identity, and heritage.

Strengthen Cultural Exchange – Promote storytelling, live performances, and artist interactions.

Conference
Objectives

Who Should Attend

Policymakers

Tribal artists and community representatives

Conservation practitioners & NGOs

Academicians and students

Art critics & enthusiasts

Media