Indigenous Lepcha Language and Identity: A Reflection on the Traditional Knowledge of Lepcha Community

ABSTRACT Indigenous peoples are traditionally understood as communities with longstanding relationships to their ancestral lands, distinct languages, cultures, traditions, and systems of knowledge. The Lepchas are an Indigenous community of Sikkim with a rich cultural heritage and a close relationship with the natural environment. Their traditional knowledge encompasses extensive understanding of flora and fauna, cultural practices, oral traditions and ways of interacting with nature. However, the growing influence of modern science and technology, along with changing social and cultural practices, has contributed to the gradual decline of the Lepcha language, traditional knowledge and cultural practices. These changes pose significant challenges to the preservation and transmission of Lepcha cultural identity. This study examines the role of traditional knowledge and oral traditions in preserving and strengthening Lepcha cultural identity. It explores how Indigenous Knowledge is transmitted across generations and how language , oral narratives, cultural practices, and the relationship with nature contribute to the continuity of Lepcha identity. The study adopts a qualitative, mixed methods approach, drawing on both primary and secondary sources. Primary data are collected through oral accounts, interviews, and observations, while secondary sources include books, articles and other relevant scholarly materials. The study argues that documenting, preserving and promoting traditional knowledge and oral traditions are essential for sustaining Lepcha cultural identity ensuring its transmission to future generations.