Welcome to Ethnomad
& the Fading Cultures Project
We work alongside tribal, Indigenous, traditional, and minority communities in hard-to-reach regions, documenting their way of life and resilience against displacement, exclusionary conservation and development pressures.
Through ethnographic research and storytelling, we bring you Fading Cultures Magazine, our flagship publication dedicated to capturing the voices, traditions, and artistry of communities facing cultural erosion.
Beyond documentation, funds from our magazine allow us to actively support projects from livelihoods, environment and education to land rights, ensuring that these communities' way of life continues to be respected and thrive on their terms.
"ALWAYS EXPLORING"
OUT NOW
Begin with "50 Years in Exile", a powerful look at the Saharawi people and their struggle in the Sahara. In "Beyond Vows", discover wedding traditions from around the world. "Finding Our Way" explores how humans have navigated across land and sea, from stars to satellites. Dive into the healing wisdom of Ayurveda, and journey through the vibrant markets of Cyprus to uncover the stories they hold.
The June 1st ETHNOMAD Newsletter offers readers a glimpse into the next edition of Fading Cultures Magazine, highlights a new educational partnership with Village Book Builders, and shares powerful field reflections from interns in India and Indonesia. It introduces the ETHNOMAD Field Handbook for ethical and reflective ethnography, profiles heritage guide Laxman Ram, and spotlights cultural events around the world. The newsletter closes with an invitation for subscribers to shape future experiences.
Join us on a visual journey into the heart of living heritage. From the remote forests of Rajasthan to the disappearing art of Rogan painting in Pakistan, our short films and field stories bring you face-to-face with the communities who keep tradition alive. Watch behind-the-scenes moments, artisan interviews, cultural rituals, and updates from our global ethnographer interns. Subscribe to follow our journeys—and help keep these voices heard.
A guide for students, interns, and researchers working with communities across cultures, Ethnography: An ETHNOMAD Field Handbook blends practical tools with deep reflection. It encourages ethical storytelling, cultural sensitivity, and reciprocity in research. Grounded in real-world experience, the handbook explores fieldwork methods, visual storytelling, decolonial practice, and the importance of giving stories back to the communities who share them. More than a method, ethnography is a way of listening—and this handbook is your guide.
AVAILABLE JULY
In this poignant field article, Camila Torres Coto Aguilar journeys to West Sumatra in search of a fading tradition: the topi ekor kuda, a horsehair hat once worn with pride by Minangkabau elders. Guided by whispers and local contacts, she meets Inel, the last known woman still practising the intricate craft. Through vivid observation and quiet reflection, the story captures the fragile beauty of the handmade hats and the quiet burden carried by women tasked with preserving traditions in a fast-modernising world.
"Bringing Heritage Stories to Life Through the People who Live Them"
