The Khiamniungan Naga tribe is a fascinating, vibrant material culture and highly skilled craftsmanship among the people residing mostly in the Noklak district of Nagaland and certain parts of Myanmar. Their most iconic traditional tool is the dao-a broad machete-like blade-and its uniquely crafted dao holder. This dao holder takes on a rectangular shape and features engraved designs on its dorsal surface, which signify the deeply rooted tradition of the Khiamniungan in symbolic ornamentation. The carvings represent more than decoration-they often evoke tribal motifs, ancestral narratives, or social identity of the community passed through time from generation to generation.
Weaving closely strips of cane around the periphery would not only hold the structure together but also serve to enhance the aesthetics of the holder. The bark fiber strings by which the dao gets hung or tied around the waist of the person are also a significant resource given the sustainable use by the tribe from the forest. A twist at both ends of the bark fiber strings added the uniqueness, implying the Khiamniungan's ability in textile and fiber manipulation. This quite effigy is not merely a scabbard containing a weapon; it is a cultural artifact giving an image of how closely the Khiamniungan people are intertwined with their environment but developed refined crafts in making such materials.