IN ACCORDANCE WITH Presidential Proclamation No. 1906, the National Indigenous Peoples (IP) Month is observed every October. We honor it alongside with the 26th Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 Commemoration, both of which are under the theme, “Pagpapayaman ng Pamanang Kultural at Katutubong Yaman Tungo sa mas Maliwanag na Kinabukasan para sa Bagong Pilipinas.”
The National IP Month celebration signifies how we respect and defend the rights of the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCS). Correspondingly, the IPRA of 1997, as the Act that “protects and promotes the rights of the ICCs/IPs, creating a national commission on IPs, establishing implementing mechanisms, appropriate funds thereof, and for other purposes,” is regarded as one of the world’s most progressive laws of its kind in terms of how indigenous people are treated. It was a direct outcome of a progressive clause included in the 1987 Constitution, which was drafted and ratified following the ouster of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Now, after 26 years since the signing of the IPRA, we delve into the contributions that this act has made for the IPs.
Right to Land
The Supreme Court (SC) had declared that IPs legally own their long-time occupied land as their private ownership under the term “native title.” The IPRA explains that this native title would not put these privately owned lands as public lands, as they have never been since.
Aside from that, ancestral domains are also protected. The IPRA guarantees ICCs/IPs rights to enjoy the security of their human rights and freedoms, services, and opportunities, as well as their ability to feel secure in preserving and developing their cultures, traditions, and institutions.
Protection and Conservation of Natural Grounds
A figure by the Philippine Association for Inter-cultural Development (PAFID) compared the data from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on approved Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) and existing claims from IP communities with the remaining forest cover data of the Forest Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (FMB-DENR). It found that IP communities play an instrumental role in protecting and conserving the Nation’s natural forests, at least what remains of it left.
Further, areas other than forests, mountains, indigenous territories, cultural landscapes, or seascapes are conceivably sacred spaces or ritual grounds that are so carefully taken care of by the IPs.
Awareness of Marginalization
As per the article of the Commission of Human Rights on the 24th anniversary of IPRA, IPs are still experiencing “land-related harassments, attacks, and killings,” hence, the need for enhanced government protection as well as public awareness of IPs’ situation.
As expected, the annual IP Month commemoration must comprise awareness and realities about the IPs. Looking back, 2021’s event was conducted with the theme “The Journey of Indigenous Peoples for Genuine Recognition, Respect, and Self-Governance,” which focused on raising awareness about IP’s struggles getting recognition, respect, and self-governance within their cultural communities.
For this year, the event started with an Ipitik-inspired offering of the first few drops of a newly opened bottle of indigenous wine to our ancestors and a gathering of onlookers. With our ICCs/IPs and other partner stakeholders, including other government agencies, IP organizations, Local Government Units (LGUs), and the commercial sector, the entire month is jam-packed with various activities. This includes Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns, Cultural Sensitivity orientations, inter-agency field visitations, tree planting, capacity-building workshops, festivals, celebrations, webinars, medical and wellness missions, cultural dance performances and presentations, barefoot challenges, photo exhibit, trade fairs, indigenous games, assistance and equipment turnovers and many more.
Celebrating National IP Month goes beyond the colorful activities as it marks our continuous attempt at proactivity against the marginalization of IPs within our country. The IPRA has been sabotaged by powerful outside interests who have taken advantage of its clauses. These include the Free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) which is continuously manipulated, violated, and undermined. Its inconsistencies with other laws force to evict these indigenous peoples despite being one of the progressive laws.
“No one left behind”—as for each of us, realizing how big of a help the celebration of the National Indigenous People’s Month is to our other fellow brothers and sisters from the Indigenous groups, let’s continuously find our ways to also contribute to the awareness and the cause that aims to allow ICCs/IPs to be more at home in our HOME: the Philippines.