By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1906, the month of October is designated as National Indigenous Peoples Month. It’s a time of the year when we can all commemorate ‘the recognition and protection of the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development’. And by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 486, October 29 of every year is designated as the National Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Day!
On this special day, we come together in solidarity to celebrate what we have accomplished so far in terms of preserving our indigenous cultural communities and values. Hence, MABIKAs Foundation-The Netherlands joins many Indigenous Peoples organizations, institutions and solidarity groups in the Philippines and abroad in commemorating this special occasion by recalling our history, asserting our identity and rights, and celebrating our victories.
In October 2019, MABIKAs Foundation-The Netherlands initiated our yearly celebration with the theme “Affirming our Cultural Heritage, Forging our Unity”. Thankfully, we were able to gain a better understanding of the differences and similarities of the Cordillera ethnolinguistic groups as well as grasp an understanding of our role as Igorot Cordillerans in helping empower indigenous groups, especially in the Philippines.
Unfortunately, as much as we wanted to gather once again and continue celebrating this year, it is just not possible due to strict COVID-19 restrictions. Nevertheless, coronavirus can’t stop us from celebrating by recalling what we have done so far in terms of cultural preservation.
In July 2019 before COVID-19 hit us, MABIKAs Foundation was able to host the 10th Igorot Cordillera BIMAAK Europe 3-day conference in Amsterdam. From then onwards, MABIKAs leaders and constituents have also pursued the Foundation’s goals of learning, reaching out and building solidarity by attending cultural events, meetings and seminars that are hosted by Dutch non-government organizations.
We were also able to link up with other Netherlands-based indigenous peoples groups from all over the world for mutual sharing of experiences, art, culture and ways of empowerment. In all these past events, our participation as MABIKAs Foundation has always been in the form of dances, chants and/or speeches. And in all these performances, MABIKAs finds it important to also share our struggles and dreams as indigenous peoples of the Philippines for respect and recognition of our ancestral or territorial lands, cultures and our right to self-determination.
On this year’s celebration of the indigenous people month, we are in solidarity with the campaigns and struggles against expanding corporate mining, plantations, logging and hydro plants. We do so because we see the heavy negative impact of these activities on the lives and livelihood, health and cultural institutions of affected IP families. Therefore, we call on our leaders to make considerable and sensible decisions on this matter.
Yes indeed, these expansions of corporate mining, plantations, logging and hydro plants may be economically beneficial, but they seem to be more destructive than constructive! These activities are causing destruction of the environment, massive displacement or forced evacuation of our fellow indigenous peoples, and most recently the militarization of indigenous people communities. In the worst case scenario, there are IP human rights defenders, IP activists, IP leaders and IP advocates who are being subjected to harassment, branded as terrorists, detained or extrajudicially killed.
We believe our leaders today could take better actions, following a more humane, democratic and civilized manner. Hence, we unite with all other indigenous peoples groups, institutions, civic organizations, advocates, leaders, and individuals who are invoking our Constitution’s mandate to recognize and protect all the rights of indigenous cultural communities, including rights to our ancestral domains, as stated in the Indigenous People’ Rights Act of 1997.
Seeing the need to deepen and broaden our understanding of current issues affecting the lives and livelihood, health and cultural institutions of fellow indigenous people, especially in the Philippines, MABIKAs Foundation is devising an information or educational program. The primary target of this program is to help address current issues, which are seriously becoming more challenging to address due to knowledge barriers, the lack of awareness and empowerment, and the rise of fake news and misinformation. In this regard, we also call for support from our fellow Igorot Cordillera groups and individuals both in the Philippines as we aim to collectively develop the said educational program.
To sum up, on this special celebration of indigenous peoples month, we declare solidarity with indigenous peoples organizations and movements in the Philippines and elsewhere for:
- Justice and upholding of human rights,
- defense of ancestral lands and territories from corporate plunder,
- respect of history, culture and identity
- right to self-determination, and
- recognition of indigenous peoples as defenders and keepers of environment or nature.
Despite all these current struggles, we at MABIKAs Foundation are confident that each and everyone of us are doing our part each day for our struggles to be over soon and for our dreams to come true one of these days. To end, let us all commemorate this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Month and Thanksgiving Day with a bright future for our children and children’s children in mind!
Message of Solidarity brought to you by MABIKAs Foundation-The Netherlands. In order of appearance: Maridel Gayao, Chico Taguba, Mercedes Dewalan, Theresa Kitongan, Myra Colis, Aurora Pacio-Pascual, Beverly Batan, Romelita Gumatic, Lukasz Zymelka, Renijune Abaya, Heide Hardenberg-Marcelo, Tessie Gayao, Shiela Begiwa, Cesar Taguba, Yvonne Belen, Bender Batan, Joy Tallayo, Andrei Angnged, Michelle Gumatic, Umudi van den Bos, Alexander Zymelka, Ilian Taguba. Text written by Cesar Taguba and Myra Zymelka-Colis.
