Kasuang, Mary

Scope and Contents From the Collection: The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...

Summary Prior to this short recording, many people had gathered in the house upon the request of the interviewer. Upon request, Dangma Kasuang sings multiple songs about the life of Puroik people in the past. She also recites Mabey, which is a lyrical narration of the oral history of the Puroik people. Time-stamped section headings (00:00:04) Song by Dangma Kasuang in a group setting, followed by a discussion and suggestions by other people. (00:00:51) Another song by Dangma Kasuang, followed by...

Scope and Contents From the Collection: The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...

Summary Mary Kasuang enumerates several plants that are most important to daily life in the village, including trees for firewood, the Palm, Jhum crops and forage plants from the forest. Her toddler accompanies her during the interview, as she tries to put him to sleep. She describes how the Palm is raised, how the groves are maintained, how jhum fields are prepared for sowing. We also discuss the harvest cycle, and jhum crops grown together, like rice, finger millet, maize, pumpkin, and several...

Scope and Contents The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...