This is the first issue in Highlander Journal’s third volume, and it includes an editorial briefly celebrating the Highland Institute's 10th anniversary, and introducing a short but varied selection of scholarly genres in the issue, exploring diverse facets of culture, environment, and history. Christian Poske’s study illuminates colonial interactions in Nagaland, whilst Jop Koopman's article unravels sustainable practices and their transformative power in Lombok, Indonesia. A compelling photo essay captures the challenges faced by rural-urban migrants in Nepal. Moreover, the issue offers insights from the Southeast Asian Frontier workshop, a thought-provoking perspective in "Irfan’s Ghost", and an insightful review of cultural continuities in North East India. Join us in this multidisciplinary exploration of state, culture, and social formation.