Why mothers in Meghalaya take children along on forest walks

Women in Meghalaya’s Umsawriang village have been sharing their ecological wisdom with their children for generations now. They take their children to the forest and help them identify the plants they can eat, the wild greens that can be used as medicine, and the herbs they should never touch.

This sharing of generational knowledge has not only helped in preserving cultural history but also taught community members how to care for the soil and farm sustainably.

For this video, we interviewed four mothers who spoke to us about why they continue to carry on the tradition.

Samme Massar is an IDR Northeast Fellow, 2025–26.

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Know more: Learn how an oldeducation system is helping conserve Nagaland’s forests.

Do more: Connect with the author at wanmi0007@gmail.com to learn more about and support his work.