The Mountain Crafts is founded by Seeta Giri in 2021, as Bhutan and the entire world is confronted by the global pandemic – COVID19 which has affected, among others, tourism, economy and livelihoods of the rural artisans.
Born in a small village in the south-eastern part of Bhutan, Seeta’s passion to work with local communities and indigenous knowledge system blossomed during her career with the Global Environment Facility/Small Grants Programme (SGP) in Bhutan from 1998 to 2001. Since then, she has been deeply involved in understanding and documenting indigenous wisdom of the remote communities in Bhutan. Seeta’s book “The Vital Link: Monpas and their Forests” captures her interest in the field of indigenous knowledge system in Bhutan and beyond. She also shares these indigenous knowledge and practice with youth in Bhutan and abroad through seminars and lectures.
While maintaining her deep personal interest in culture and environment, Seeta has worked progressively, for over twenty years, in various policy advisory and programme management positions in the United Nations and NGO sector. She comes with a comprehensive background in the field of environment, climate adaptation, disaster preparedness and response. Seeta has over fifteen years of field-based experience leading post crisis response and recovery with the United Nations in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Nepal, Pakistan and Timor Leste. After over a decade of international career with the United Nations, Seeta returned home to Bhutan in 2018 to pursue her dream – travel and spend time in remote villages nourishing her desire to further deepen her knowledge of mountain cultures, communities and ecosystems.
Through the Mountain Crafts, Seeta seeks to promote environment friendly production and documentation of handcrafted products, and empower the local/indigenous communities through the sustaining of indigenous arts and crafts.
Partners of the Mountain Crafts
SABAH Bhutan is an NGO established in 2011. It aims to promote the welfare of the home-based workers in Bhutan by enhancing and marketing their skills and thereby, reviving traditional art, skills and designs.
Tribal Trust Foundation (TTF), since 1996, has been identifying sustainable grass roots cultural preservation projects to support indigenous people around the world. The TTF partners with local organizations whose experience and existing relationships with specific tribes can sustain joint initiatives over the long-term to help preserve the living arts and traditional wisdom of indigenous peoples. The focus is on capacity building and empowerment processes wherein communities are able to initiate the holistic change they wish to see manifested.