Indigenous Juang Language: How Audio-Visual Documentation Preserves Culture

Global Voices highlights the resilience of Indigenous languages and cultures through its August 2026 Spotlight series, “Indigenous Rights.” A key focus is the Juang language, a vulnerable Indigenous language with approximately 30,000 speakers primarily in Odisha, eastern India. Kshetrabasi Juanga, an educator, writer, and speaker of the Juang language, discussed the importance of audio-visual documentation in preserving Indigenous knowledge and traditions.

The Juang language faces challenges due to globalization, urbanization, and limited written documentation. While some efforts have been made by government bodies such as the Odisha government’s Mother Tongue Education (MLE) program, the Academy of Tribal Language & Culture (ATLC), the Eastern Regional Language Centre (ERLC), and the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), much of the Juang culture remains undocumented. Traditional practices, festivals, and oral histories are at risk of fading without proper records.

Juanga emphasized the significance of audio-visual documentation in safeguarding the Juang language and culture. He noted that such documentation provides a visual and auditory reference for future generations, including children aged three to twelve, who can learn languages and cultures simultaneously. For Juang speakers living in urban areas, these recordings serve as a connection to their heritage, fostering pride and self-respect. “These videos will remain on Wikipedia and beyond,” Juanga said, highlighting the long-term value of preserving oral knowledge in accessible formats.

Subtitles and captions play a crucial role in making documented content accessible to wider audiences. Juanga explained that traditions, such as the unspoken moral codes within the Juang community, are difficult to capture in writing but can be preserved through audio-visual means. For example, the tradition of collecting firewood carries deep communal values that outsiders can learn from. “Such traditions carry meaning that cannot easily be written down,” he noted.

Juanga has contributed to this effort through his YouTube channel, Majang Studio Vlogger, where he shares videos on traditional practices such as igniting fire with stones and taking shelter under palm leaves during the rainy season. His work is part of a broader initiative by Rising Voices, a Global Voices project, to support citizen media and documentation of Indigenous languages. Despite challenges, Juanga remains committed to preserving the Juang identity and culture through accessible media.

Global Voices, a pioneer in multilingual and community-focused journalism, continues to advocate for the rights and visibility of Indigenous communities. The organization relies on reader support to sustain its ad-free, multilingual journalism, ensuring that voices from marginalized communities are heard and preserved.

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