About the Event
Pursuant to Proclamation No. 1906, the month of October is declared in the Philippines as National Indigenous Peoples Month. This declaration is in line with the Constitution’s mandate to recognize and protect the rights of indigenous people and cultural communities (IPs & ICCs) within the framework of national unity and development.
Since 2019, MABIKAs Foundation has been commemorating this month through information sessions that are geared towards understanding who we are as indigenous people and our impact in the society we live in. Interestingly, the more we learn about our roots, the more we find the importance of knowledge sharing in helping IPs and non-IPs alike to understand the valuable role that IPs and ICCs play in the society. The more we understand the struggles and aspirations of IPs in the Philippines, the more we can strengthen national unity and sustainably move towards development.
For this reason, we would like to go on with this year’s commemoration of National IP Month by (re)connecting with fellow IPs in the Philippines and be more informed about current situation and whether or not our rights as IPs and ICCs are truly being recognized and protected in practice.
Join us for 1.5 hours of knowledge sharing
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Meet Our Resource Speakers
- An Igorot from the Ibaloi tribe of Benguet Province, CAR
- Educator, writer and researcher, a faculty member in Anthropology and Economics at the University of the Philippines Baguio (1980-85)
- Co-founder of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance for the Defense of Ancestral Domain and Self Determination (1984)
- Chairperson of SELDA-North Luzon (Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto)
- Co-convenor of SANDUGO, the national alliance of indigenous peoples and Moro for liberation and self-determination.
- Recipient of the Gwangju Prize for Human rights for her contribution in promoting and advancing human rights, democracy and peace through her work (2019)
- An indigenous Dumagat from Sierra Madre
- National Coordinator of BAI Indigenous Women’s Network
- Advocate for indigenous peoples’ rights since the 1980s as well as for the protection of the environment
- Representative of the Defend Panay Network, a collaboration of professionals, members of the Roman Catholic and Ecumenical churches, academe, activists, indigenous people’s advocates, workers, peasants, and many more that join in the struggle of Filipinos in defending human rights and lives of Panayanons.
- Member of the Manobo tribe in Surigao del Sur
- Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the 18th Congress under the Bayan Muna party-list group (2nd Manobo to serve Congress)
- Chairperson of Lumad organization Kahugpungan sa Lumadnong Organisasyon sa Caraga (Kasalo Caraga)
- Advocate for indigenous peoples’ rights, including the right to education and self-determination; also an anti-mining and anti-logging advocate
- Affiliated with Mapasu (Malahutayong Pakigbigsog alang sa Sumusunod or Persevering Struggle for the Next Generation)
Practical Information
- This event is taking place online via Zoom and Zoom link will be provided upon registration.
- The forum will last for 1.5 hours. An extention of 30 minutes is possible when there are more questions from the audience.
- Target participants: members of any indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) in the Philippines, Filipino indigenous people who are living abroad (especially in Europe), including IP organizations, leaders and advocates. Interested non-IP individuals and groups are also welcome to join.
- Please fill in the registration form as early as possible for you to receive the event link.
- In coordination with SANDIWA Network, this event is organized and hosted by MABIKAs Foundation, the Philippine Cordillera Connection in the Netherlands.
