SHILLONG: The second day of the ITM 2015 on Wednesday saw a number of sessions and workshops including the ‘Theatre of Taste’ designed to highlight various subjects and the plenary sessions on various key themes to be discussed over the two days of the conference.
Topics such as Temple Foods of India, Sinchu Tea of Assam, Honey, Fermented Foods and Butchery Workshop or ‘Slow meat’ will find centre stage in the ‘Theatre’.
The Institute of Hotel Management, Shillong is the venue for the Slow Meat workshop, a two day programme which aims to bring out the various methods of slaughter, butchery and processing.
On Wednesday, the Navajo tribe from USA displayed their butchering style. Members of the Khasi Butchers’ Association also showcased their slaughter and butchery techniques.
Jürgen Kroeber, master butcher from Germany, will bring his skill on processing meat and utilizing all parts to make diverse artisanal products on Thursday.
Kroeber expressed how impressed he was with the butchering style of both the Navajo and Khasi tribes. “I appreciate this healthier, cleaner, economical and traditional style of butchery. It is economically sustainable by way of using traditional methods and tools which also provides livelihood for the people who make the tools used in slaughtering,” said Kroeber.
Following the butchery session, a chef from Navajo tribe demonstrated various dishes cooked by his community. The students of IHM who were also present as observers took the opportunity to interact with the butchery experts.
Representatives of the Khasi Butchers’ Association later expressed their happiness at the workshop which gave them the opportunity not only to learn from experts of other countries but also to showcase their own styles.
The meat coming out from these sessions will be used to cook various dishes from each of the participating countries.
Exhibition cum presentation
NESFAS in collaboration with Synod College organized an exhibition cum presentation titled ‘Conversations with the Earth: Indigenous Voices on Climate Change’ on November 3-4.
The guests included Aiban Swer, Director, Meghalaya Basin Development Authority. Dr. Gleb Raygorodetsky, a conservation biologist with expertise in resource co-management and traditional knowledge systems, Nick Lunch, an experienced participatory video facilitator.
The exhibits portrayed the stories of the unintended consequences of imposed mitigation efforts on local livelihoods, and examples of traditional knowledge and its value in developing appropriate responses to climate change.
A presentation on the exhibits was presented by Dr. Raygorodetsky. He conveyed local accounts of the impacts of climate change on indigenous communities like the Kichwa of Equador, Atlai of Russia, Gamo of Etiopia, Gwitch’in of Arctic etc.
