Handicraft skills of Yak Pastoralists in Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract

The Yak Pastoralists, known as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Brokpas</i>, of Arunachal Pradesh are expert craftsmen making all the items of their daily utility for processing and storing yak products by themselves. The wood and bamboo processing techniques, adopted by them are a complex set of processes embodying Traditional Indigenous Technological Knowledge. This Paper is an initiative to understand and document these handicraft skills of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Brokpa</i> community. The crafting patterns of bamboo milk churner, storing boxes, baskets, etc. adopted by them has become an art form passed on from one generation to another and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Brokpas</i> are the preserver of this rich culturally important craftsmanship. The workmanship of these artisans is of very high order and indicative of their rich cultural heritage. Crafting in their community, exclusively done by the male folk, has immense potential for being developed in commercial lines for obtaining economic returns.