Theatre and Textile Art Bring Identity into Focus at first day of TribalFutures 3.0

TribalFutures 3.0, organised by the Tribal Design Forum, opened its conversations on Indigenous knowledge, contemporary creativity and the right of communities to define their own identities. In the opening two sessions held on 2 November, Atish Indrekar Chhara from Ahmedabad and Lepcha artist Alyen Leeachum Foning from West Bengal shared their experiences. Through theatre and textile art, both speakers explored ways of expressing their communities’ stories, memories and identities.

The third edition of TribalFutures is being held online from 1 to 30 November 2026. The programme comprises 60 sessions, with afternoon and evening discussions featuring speakers based in 12 countries, including India. Speakers will share their work, experiences, and insights, exploring tribal and Indigenous perspectives on art, design, language, film, ecology, education, architecture, and technology.

The first week’s speaker lineup was announced on the festival’s official website and social media platforms on 1 November.

Reclaiming Community Narratives Through Theatre

In the first session, titled ‘Taking Back the Stage’, Atish Indrekar Chhara discussed the struggles of Gujarat’s Chhara community and the efforts of Budhan Theatre to challenge negative social perceptions of the community.

Born in Chharanagar, Atish is an actor, theatre director and cultural activist. He is the researcher and director of the Budhan Video Podcast, which brings forward the voices and concerns of marginalised communities. His documentary Darudi received the Runner-up Documentary Film Award at the Nagari Film Competition in 2021.

Atish holds a degree in Theatre and has received a Junior Research Fellowship in Theatre from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. He is also the founder of Vimukta Trust. Through the Trust and the Vimukta Reform Centre, he works to create opportunities for education, cultural expression and community development among Denotified and Nomadic communities, particularly the Chhara community.

First Session of TribalFutures 3.0 : Atish Indrekar Chhara(Left), Shyam Murmu(Right), Sejal Rathwa(Center), Image Courtesy : TDF Instagram

The session centred on a question: what becomes possible when a community challenges narratives imposed by others and begins to tell its own story? Atish reflected on the experiences of the Chhara community as a Denotified community and the legacy of social prejudice dating back to colonial rule.

Screenshot from Documentary played during the session.Image Courtesy : TDF Instagram

He spoke about the inspiration provided by the early efforts of Mahasweta Devi and Dr Ganesh Devy. Through theatre and performance, community members sought to make their voices heard and challenge the negative perceptions surrounding them. His presentation highlighted theatre as a means of bringing community experiences into public discussion and asserting the right to self-representation.

The session was moderated by Tribal Design Forum members Sejal Rathwa, from Gujarat’s Rathwa tribal community, and Shyam Murmu, from Jharkhand’s Santal tribal community.

Expressing Lepcha Folklore and Ancestral Memory Through Textile Art

The second session titled- Connecting with Ancestors through Art featured Lepcha artist, designer and independent researcher Alyen Leeachum Foning, who shared her artistic journey and her process of connecting with her ancestral roots. Through The Story of the Muun, she discussed her exploration of Lepcha folklore using textiles and mixed-media art. The installation incorporates upcycled materials, giving used or discarded materials new forms of creative expression.

Alyen Fonning(Left), Dr. Anugrah Pandi(Right), Image Coutesy : TDF Instagram

Foning studied Textile and Apparel Design at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Her work draws inspiration from nature and Indigenous cultures around the world, while her artistic practice serves as a way of connecting with her own heritage.

Alyenn during her presentation, TribalFutures 3.0, Day 1, Second Session, Image Coutesy : TDF Instagram

Her presentation explored how contemporary art can create a dialogue with ancestral memories and community narratives. The session was moderated by Dr Anugrah Pandi from the Lepcha Tribe.

From Local Experiences to Global Conversations

In 2024, the first edition of TribalFutures celebrated contemporary tribal creativity across India. In 2025, the second edition expanded the conversation internationally, connecting tribal and Indigenous practitioners across countries and communities.

The third edition features speakers based in India, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, the United States, Canada, France and the United Arab Emirates.

Alongside India’s diverse tribal communities, the programme will bring together perspectives from First Nations and other Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island, Māori communities of Aotearoa, Aboriginal Australia, and Indigenous communities across Latin America and Southeast Asia.

By bringing together thinkers, knowledge keepers and creative practitioners, TribalFutures 3.0 creates a space for reciprocal learning and dialogue across distinct histories, languages and knowledge traditions. 

Tribal Futures, organised by the Tribal Design Forum, is a major international platform celebrating Indigenous knowledge, creativity, culture, and future-making. Interested People can watch session on official channel of TDF on Youtube or for interaction with speakers they can register on forum's website and join directly.