A speech delivered by Rev. Cesar Taguba during the celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People held at Museumplein in Amsterdam on August 9, 2020

Comrades and friends,

It is right and proper for us to celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (IDWIP). That the Covid-19 pandemic did not deter us from coming together is a testimony of our unity and hope in the liberation of IPs from oppression and exploitation. The IDWIP was declared by the United Nations to recognize the initiatives of IPs in the drafting of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1990. We thank Dutch NGOs and institution in facilitating our trips to Geneva  for the drafting of the declaration.

UNDRIP is a milestone in the  recognition of indigenous peoples right to their ancestral land and resources, culture and self-determination.  However, it is non-binding. The monitoring task of the UN Special Rapporteur  on IPs  is limited or disregarded by UN member.

The Philippines is a signatory to the UNDRIP. However, it is the main institution that sustains and exacerbates national oppression of IPs through:

  1. Unjust state laws-Mining Act 1995,
  2. “Development Aggression” ,
  3. Discrimination,
  4. Neglect of the health, education and social welfare,
  5. Commercialization of our culture, and
  6. Militarization.

IPs in the Philippines succeeded in putting into the national agenda the issue of the right to self-determination.  The Moro people waged arm struggle since 1972 for  their right to self-determination, taking the form of secession then autonomy.  The Igorots/Cordillera people and the Lumads of Mindanao popularized the call for autonomy..

Current  Situation: Massive Plunder, Repression

The most pressing issue of IPs in the Philippines is that of survival. Vast tracts of their remaining ancestral land are made available to foreign and local  mining, logging, plantation corporations causing massive environmental pollution of the waters and soil, hence, the destruction of the forest.  IPs and their allies who resist have now become the targets or victims of state terrorism-forced evacuation, red-tagging, harassment, illegal detention, extra-judicial killings, disappearances, bombings, etc.

Where lies our hope?

  1. The indigenous people persevere  in their call for justice, end of state repression, and right to self-determination.
  2. The indigneous people strengthen their national unity and alliances to carry forward struggle in all forms: mass mobilization and campaigns, parliamentary/legal work, forging international relations and solidarity,  reaching out to international bodies/agencies like the UN, ICC, EU, NGOs, and growing number of  IPs supporting/joining the  revolutionary armed struggle for fundamental change. 
  3. The indigneous people diaspora are supporting the national and international movement for justice, self-determination, and liberation.

Hereby, I would like to demonstrate some Bendian dance steps. Bendian is one of our traditional dances as Igorot Cordillerans. Each step has its own meaning, including being a warrior, resistance, victory, protection, and sharing  with the community.

Comrades and friends, STOP violence and killings! Long live the indigenous peoples’ struggle for decolonization, liberation and right to self-determination! Long live international solidarity!

Rev. Cesar Taguba demonstrates the Bendian’s ‘inushungan’ step, where both hands stretched upwards and palms facing front, body also facing inner circle and continuously moving side towards the right direction. In the olden times of tribal wars, this position meant the warriors are protecting the community. In the modified bendian or agricultural context, this position means asking ‘Kabunyan’ (local term referring to God Almighty) to watch over the crops and bless them.
The “Manifesting Systemic Change: Indigenous Peoples Day” event is organized by Stichting Aralez in cooperation with MABIKAs Foundation-The Netherlands, Free West Papua Campaign (Nederland), Building the Baileo, and Kamarasai K’ailina. Photos courtesy of Joris Maas Visuals. You can also find details of the event via the event page on Facebook.