The indigenous peoples around the globe comprise 6.2 percent of the population with 476 million living in 90 different countries. According to the U.N. Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities (1971), indigenous peoples are a distinct and non-dominant sector of the community with a historical continuity of societies from pre-invasion and pre-colonial. They are established to preserve, develop, and transmit their cultures, identities, and territories to the future generation. Despite their unwavering dedication to protect and conserve their heritage, they are frequently subjected to violence and discrimination. Some issues they face in the contemporary world are threatened culture, judgments with their way of living, inhabitation in remote places that are inaccessible to essential facilities and services, and interests not being aligned and considered in the creation of national policies (African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, 2017). It is vital to protect the rights of the indigenous peoples as they are part of the modern free world, and their cultural identity and ethnicity are as equally important as the identity of the dominant society.
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated annually every 9th day of August. This year 2021, the theme for the celebration is “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract” which calls to include the participation and approval of indigenous people in building a system that constitutes social and economic benefits across the global population. Throughout the years, indigenous peoples are generally tossed to the sides since the interests of the dominant population are given much more importance. According to the United Nations (n.d.), over 86% of indigenous peoples around the world work in the informal economy and they are approximately three times more likely to experience extreme poverty compared to the non-indigents. IP groups are continuously exploited by displacing them from their lands that greatly affect their efforts of cultural continuity. Although recent efforts such as legislative and constitutional reforms, and the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are very much welcome, these are not enough to ensure inclusivity to the indigenous peoples. We must push for a new social contract that promotes the cooperation of the social interest of all sectors of the society and the common good of humanity and nature (United Nations, n.d.).
In the Philippines, there are 14-17 million indigenous peoples from 110 ethnolinguistic groups situated mostly in Northern Luzon, Mindanao, and some areas in Visayas (United Nations Development Programme, 2010). The major indigenous peoples’ groups include (1) Mindanao Lumad, considered to be the largest IP group in the country situated in Davao, Bukidnon, Agusan, Surigao, Zamboanga, Misamis, and Cotabato, are comprised of Subanen, Manobo, B’laan, T’boli, Mandaya, Mansaka, Tiruray, Higaonon, Bagobo, Bukidnon, Tagkaolo, Banwaon, Dibabawon, Talaandig, Mamanua, and Manguangan. (2) Cordillera Peoples, collectively called Igorots concentrated in Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, consist of Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankanaey, Tingguian, and Yapayao. (3) Caraballo Tribes, living in Caraballo mountain range, are composed of Ibanag, Ilongot, Gaddang, Ikalahan, and Isinai. (4) Agta and Aeta or Negrito, regarded as the earliest occupants of the country and are mostly concentrated in Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga. (5) Mangyan of Mindoro, primary occupants of Mindoro and are said to continue the pre-Spanish writing practice, are comprised of Batangan, Iraya, Hanunoo, Alangan, Ratagnon, Buhid, and Tadyawan. (6) Palawan Hill Tribes, which inhabits Palawan, are composed of Tagbanua, Batak, Kalamianes, Cuyonin, and Ken-uy. And (7) Muslim Groups, consist of Maranao, Maguindanao, Tausug, Samal, Yakan, Sangil, Palawani, Badjao, Kalibugan, Jama-Mapun, Ipanun, Kalagan, Molbog, and Muslim.
The country has a relatively large population of IP groups with rich cultural traditions and heritage. As previously stated, indigenous peoples are a distinct sector of society. According to a study conducted by Jose Mencio Molintas (2014), a general agreement of four IP group characteristics involves the “preservation of language, culture, and religious practices, self-identification as distinct societies, subsistence-oriented economies, and special relation with ancestral lands”. The land is regarded as the basis of their existence and indigenous peoples are determined to protect it. However, the political interests of the government are not aligned with their principles. A case in point is the impact of the Kaliwa Dam project on the community. A large part of Daraitan in the Sierra Madre will possibly be submerged as it will function as the reservoir for the dam. This will affect farms, hunting grounds, potable water sources, hiking trails, and other tourist attractions of the IP community and tourists (Conde, 2019). Another government project called the Build Build Build program that aims to develop infrastructures causing indigenous people from being displaced in their ancestral lands. IP groups like Lumad are forced to flee from their homes as they are frequently under the attack of state forces with the purpose of land grabbing for multinational companies (Bulatlat, 2021). Aside from land grabbing and displacement struggles of the IP community, we should also be wary of opportunists like the recent Nas Daily and Apo Whang Od issue wherein Nas Daily Academy is trying to exploit and profit the art and culture of the group, which resembles the imperialistic and profit driven agendas of foreign countries to our ancestral lands that happens undocumented in resources-rich places in the Philippines .
Indigenous peoples should be given prime importance in national development. They are one of the few groups who are sworn to become the stewards of the environment. Their rights, cultures, and traditions should be respected and protected. Based on the study conducted by Atty. Raymond Marvic C, Baguilat (2019), indigenous peoples should be provided legal aid and counsel to help them understand their rights and learn the law. Measures in educating the dominant population about the need for inclusivity and the importance of our IP groups should also be implemented. Developing legal aid programs holding different offices and industries accountable for their grave acts towards the indigenous peoples are likewise needed.
The College of Human Ecology Student Council celebrates the International Day of the World Indigenous Peoples and joins the fight of every Indigenous people to their right of inclusion, participation, and approval in all talks of regulations that are aimed to provide the common good to everyone.
We call on the CHE studentry to take part in learning the struggles of our IP groups and use their voices and power in amplifying the calls of our indigenous people in defending their land, life, freedom, and resources and demand accountability against the ruthless administration.
9 August 2021
References
Bigtas, J. A. (2021, AUgust 5). Nas Daily releases video to address Whang-Od Academy issue. GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/798178/nas-daily-releases-video-to-address-whang-od-academy-issue/story/
Bulatlat Contributors. (2021, June 29). Defense of Lumad schools, sanctuaries sought as attacks continue. Bulatlat. https://www.bulatlat.com/2021/06/29/defense-of-lumad-schools-sanctuaries-sought-as-attacks-continue/
Conde, M. (2019, July 6). IP leaders use advocacy maps to show how Kaliwa Dam will impact them. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/environment/ip-leaders-advocacy-maps-impact-kaliwa-dam
Misra, S. (2017, January 26). Why it is important to protect the rights of indigenous people. Right for Education. https://rightforeducation.org/2017/01/26/protect-rights-indigenous-people/
Molintas, J. M. (2004). The Philippine Indigenous Peoples’ Stuggle for Land and Life: Challenging Legal Texts. Arizona Journal of International & Comparative Law, 21 (1).
United Nations. (n.d.). International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day
United Nations Development Programme. (2013, July 24). Fast Facts: Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines. https://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/library/democratic_governance/FastFacts-IPs.html
UP College of Law. (n.d.). The struggles of indigenous peoples in the Philippines. https://law.upd.edu.ph/up-lawyer-presents-research-in-australia/
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