Indigenous Knowledge As a Potential Solution for Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods: A Case Study of Lepcha Tribe of Sikkim

Tribal communities across the globe are notably known for their intimate connection with nature, and indigenous knowledge sustains their livelihoods. The availability and diversity of livelihood options are influenced by the complex reciprocity of natural and human-induced factors across different geographical regions. The Lepcha tribe living in and around the Dzongu region of Sikkim are still heavily dependent on natural resources, and of which indigenous knowledge is widely used to support their livelihoods through a plethora of strategies-forest foraging, farming, fishing, hat-making, bee-keeping and cultural tourism- despite the large-scale impact of modernization and urbanization. This paper explores the extent to which the indigenous knowledge is used and how it has been affected by government policies over the years. The results of the study indicate that the participation of indigenous knowledge holders in various grassroots-level activities can enhance the advancement of their livelihoods along with the promotion of their culture, traditional practices, conservation of knowledge and preservation of resources. At the same time, the pitfalls of livelihood options that are dependent primarily on natural resources have also been recognized and documented thereby, necessitating the communities to keep a strict vigilance on the overuse and misuse of natural resources.