Lisha Umpo

Lisha Umpo, the first female documentary filmmaker from the Idu Mishmi community of Arunachal Pradesh, engages in the documentation and preservation of indigenous ecological knowledge through interdisciplinary methods combining visual media, ethnographic documentation, and community participation.
Her work in Dibang Valley focused on documenting over 50+ indigenous medicinal plant species in collaboration with more than 20 knowledge holders, including traditional healers and elders. The project facilitated intergenerational knowledge transfer by engaging 100+ youth through workshops, screenings, and a participatory framework titled “Back to Roots,” which integrates field documentation, oral narratives, and visual storytelling.

The initiative resulted in the production of a documentary film and a community-oriented knowledge booklet. Challenges included geographical inaccessibility, limited documentation infrastructure, and the ethical considerations of working with sensitive traditional knowledge systems.

Through collaboration with IMCLS,MLA Anini, Northeast Narrative,Forest Department, Project Butterfly and Biodiversity Trail,Local Schools and local youth organizations, the project establishes a model for integrating indigenous knowledge into broader climate discourse.

Lisha’s ongoing work aims to institutionalize this knowledge through digital archiving and to replicate the model across similar indigenous contexts, contributing to culturally grounded approaches to biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.