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The Women Storytelling Project
Preserving and amplifying the ecological wisdom of Indigenous women across Northeast India through collaborative storytelling, illustrated books, and documentary films that honor traditional knowledge and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
Introduction
The Women Storytelling Working Group was born out of a desire to recognize and celebrate the often-overlooked contributions of women to environmental conservation in Arunachal Pradesh. Rooted in lived experience and shaped by collective reflection, this initiative aims to promote inclusivity, empathy, and dialogue - especially among young learners.
At the heart of this working group is the belief that storytelling can be a powerful force for change. By amplifying women's voices and perspectives - particularly those rooted in traditional ecological knowledge and oral history - we hope to challenge gender stereotypes, preserve cultural memory, and advance gender equality in the context of environmental protection.
About us
We are a collective of storytellers, coordinators, illustrators, and documentarians working at the intersection of gender, ecology, and cultural heritage. Each of us brings a unique lens to the shared goal of amplifying women's voices in environmental and cultural conservation.
Our work brings together educators, storytellers, illustrators, filmmakers, and community members to co-create resources that reflect the complex interplay of gender, culture, and ecology. We see storytelling not just as preservation, but as pedagogy - a way to educate and inspire the next generation to value the wisdom of women and protect our shared ecological heritage.
Women have always been a crucial part of the compendium of traditional ecological knowledge, preserved in history through folklores and folktales. They have an indistinguishable relationship with the environment, either via social inheritance (eco-feminism) or through material realities and connections (feminist environmentalism). However, the presence of their stories only in the form of oral records, low literacy, early marriages and other socio-economic problems are overshadowing their past and present contribution to nature conservation.
Current projects
The Women Storytelling Project
Crowdfunded by Green Hub & Sanctuary Asia
This project aims to document and celebrate the often-overlooked contributions of women to environmental conservation in Arunachal Pradesh through an illustrated nature-themed storybook. The methodology involves holding discussions with village elders, women groups and community members for collecting stories and conducting workshops on gender and inclusion with school children.
The chapters of the book will be orchestrated around female characters, both fictional and factual, who explore the relationships between nature and gender. While some chapters will be illustrated, others will allow students to submit their own drawings along with discussion questions to promote reflection and comprehension. Children between the ages of 8 and 14 are the book's main target age group because these are the years when values and perceptions are most likely to be formed.
Lost Legacies
Funded by the Zubaan Researcher's Grant 2025
Women have always been a crucial part of the compendium of traditional ecological knowledge, preserved in history through folklores and folktales. Their significance is reflected across Arunachal Pradesh in the form of specific cultural practices, beliefs and taboos. However, the presence of their stories only in the form of oral records, low literacy, early marriages and other socio-economic problems are overshadowing their past and present contribution to nature conservation.
The book under this project will be an attempt to gather narrations of female characters that have previously only been present in the community's memories, in an effort to bring about change and to emphasize the importance of their contributions to our understanding of forests and wildlife.
Meet our storytellers
What we plan to achieve
Through our documentation in the form of books and films, we wish to preserve and amplify the stories of female figures from different tribes of Northeast India, showcasing their insights into the environment and its conservation. Through illustrated narratives, we will explore the intricate connection between gender and nature, fostering inclusivity and awareness among primary school children.
We are hoping to gather a diverse array of stories and use them to break gender stereotypes and promote gender dialogue in classrooms. This project celebrates women's wisdom, empowering future generations to protect our shared ecological heritage.
Highlights
Fieldwork and Story Documentation
Locations covered include West Kameng (March-April 2024), East Siang & Lohit (May 2024), Longding (Nov 2024, March–April 2025), documenting stories across diverse tribal communities and ecological contexts.
Zubaan Methodology Workshop
Held in December 2024, this helped sharpen our feminist and ethical approach to storytelling, informed by Zubaan’s expertise in gender research and oral narratives.
Exhibitions and Showcases
Our work has been featured at:
Storytellers of the Forest at ORA Ideas Festival, New Delhi (Oct 2024)
Duhumbi Heritage Fair, Chug, Arunachal Pradesh (Nov 2024)
Green Hub Festival, Tezpur, Assam (Oct 2024)
Eaglenest Bird Festival, Khellong and Thongre (Jan 2025)
TEAM
People behind the project
Manisha Kumari
Team coordination, proposal writing, field coordination, communication, editing, transcription, writing
Manisha from Jharkhand has worked across Northeast India - particularly Arunachal Pradesh - since 2017 on projects exploring the human-nature relationship, community governance, and gender in conservation. Currently based in Amsterdam, working at the intersection of design, storytelling, technology, and sustainability. She believes women's ecological knowledge is powerful, and often invisible, and this project is about honouring that wisdom.
Yangchin Musabi
Field coordination, donor reporting, fund management, illustration, transcription, writing
Yangchin is an independent illustrator from Rupa in Arunachal Pradesh who works across projects focused on wildlife and community conservation, using art as a way to connect people with their environment. She contributes illustrations and writing that reflect the nuanced relationships between women, land, and culture, believing in amplifying unheard voices through visuals.
Sara Khongsai
Donor reporting, fund management, transcription, writing, video editing, videography, photography
Sara is a documentary filmmaker and Green Hub alumna engaged in cultural and heritage documentation in Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh, working through photography, storytelling, films, and local awareness programs. She believes in the power of visual storytelling to preserve fragile cultural knowledge and challenge gender invisibility.
