Idu Mishmi Tribe

April 8, 2023

The recent announcement by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) that the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary would soon be notified as a tiger reserve has caused disquiet among the area’s Idu Mishmi people.

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.