By Felix Anthony –
Ziro: Sister Dulley Yakang became the first Religious Nun from the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh when she made her First Religious Profession as the member of the Congregation of the Mother Carmel (CMC) at Mount Carmel Parish, Dimapur on 17 April 2021.
“It is indeed a matter of pride for all of our Apatani community that one of our own became a religious sister”, said Nani Yase Teresa, the President of Apatani Catholic Women Association of Itangar Diocese. “I used to pray for her daily during my family prayers and I pray that many more youth from Arunachal Pradesh become fathers and sisters like Sister Yakang”, she added.
Sister Yakang is the daughter of Dulley Buda and Dulley Adii of Hapoli Parish. She is the third among the nine siblings and started her formation for religious life after completing her bachelor degree.
She made her religious profession together with four others in the presence of their Provincial Superior, Sister Emilin, and Bishop James Thoppil of Kohima Diocese.
Congratulating Sister Yakang, Bishop John Thomas of Itangar Diocese said, “It is a matter of joy for the young Church in Arunachal Pradesh to get a vocation to religious life. We are very proud of her and we wish her happy and fruitful religious life”.
Sister Yakang is the tenth religious nun of indigenous origin from Itangar Diocese.
“I hope she will be a source of inspiration for many more young people to come forward to offer their lives in the service of the people”, said the Bishop. Sister Celine CMC, superior of the community working in Ziro too expressed hope that the first Apatani Sister will become a shining example for many Apatani youth to take to religious life.
The Apatani are a special tribal group of people living in the Ziro valley in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. Unlike the other tribes, they are a non-nomadic in nature. They practise permanent wetland cultivation in hilly terrain by slicing the hills. According to 2011 census there are 43777 Apatanis living in the state.