ISSNKêtindêg 2345-8461 Volume 2 Issue 7 * October, 2013 * 24pages An official publication of the IPDEV Project, Empowering Indigenous Peoples in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao WHAT’S INSIDE? 3 - To break the silence 6 - Breathing life into IP farming practices 9 - Going beyond duty 9 - IPDEV radio program airs 12 - Snapshots: Discovering best practices 14 - NCIP in ARMM, why not? 15 - To Give what is rightfully theirs 18 - Firming up every step 20 - A ritual of approval 22 - A simple Menuvu wedding Development Consultants Inc. D E V C O N THIS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED Recognition of the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for BY THE EUROPEAN UNION Empowerment and Sustainable Development (IPDEV) is a project implemented by the consortium: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung e.V., Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) and DEVCON Development Consultants Inc. Kêtindêg, in Teduray roughly means standing up for something, making one be seen and be felt among the many. The word is not far from the Cebuano, Tagalog or Maguindanao variations of tindog, tindig and tindeg respectively. It is a fitting title for a regular publication that attempts to capture the experiences gathered in this journey of recognizing the rights of the Lumad in the ARMM. With this issue, we would like to thank everyone supporting the project’s aims, and acknowledge those who are always striving to make IPDEV as fruitful, meaningful and sustainable as possible. You make IPDEV ADVOCATE MS. FROILYN IPDEV a continously inspiring project. MENDOZA WROTE A LETTER Fiyo teresang! TO HER FELLOW INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ON JULY 18, 2013. To break MENDOZA IS ONE OF TWO IP REPRESENTATIVES TO THE TRANSITION COMMISSION, TASKED TO HAMMER OUT A BASIC LAW FOR THE the silence To find out more BANGSAMORO, AN ENTITY about IPDEV: MY BELOVED Indigenous Community within SET TO REPLACE THE and outside the core area of Bangsamoro: AUTONOMOUS REGION facebook.com/ipdevarmm IN MUSLIM MINDANAO, A I attended a forum ( on July 17, 2013) organized by Institute for Autonomy and RESULT OF ON-GOING PEACE Governance where the Annex on Wealth Sharing was discussed. This is part of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) that would serve as guide NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE @ketind3g for the Transition Commission members in drafting the Bangsamoro Basic PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT Laws (BBL). Just like the earlier contents of the FAB, there is no involvement of the Indigenous Peoples in the Wealth Sharing. It was never mentioned in the for IPDEV videos and AND THE MORO ISLAMIC radio recordings. LIBERATION FRONT. Annex signed by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Clearly, the FAB and the Annex on Wealth Sharing is silent on the Indigenous Communities. Texts and visual concepts: ROMMEL G. REBOLLIDO While the division, partition and tax imposition on the natural resources in coordination with IPDEV 3 August 2013 August 3, 2013 August 5-6, 2013 August 9, 2013 August 14, 2013 MILESTONES “Tiyawan” Video Documentary Maiden broadcast of Balitang Conference on Muslim World IP Day Stakeholders’ Pledging & EVENTS on Indigenous Conflict Lumad on DXMY, 10-11am Historiography After Theme: Honoring Session Resolution is released Saturdays Majul, National Historical Agreements Commission of the Bangsamoro has been discussed as guidance for There was a consultation conducted together with the resources. the Annex, I still look for the principles of the Indigenous different tribal leaders within and outside the core areas Meanwhile, there are important questions that need to Communities – principles that have been transferred and of the Bangsamoro to get their initial understanding be answered: shared by my Ancestors. I am an indigenous person and I pertaining the Bangsamoro Basic Law. They looked into • How will the Indigenous Communities view the remain true to the perspective as IP; this is why I looked the basic principles and policies, rights of the Indigenous different development projects that will enter within their at every page of the Annex on Wealth Sharing and looked peoples, scope of power for institutions to be installed Ancestral Domain? for words that tell about protecting Mother Earth. There within and outside the core areas, relationship of the • How will the native title be treated as well as the is no such statement in the stipulated partition and tax Bangsamoro to the National Government, revenue rights of the Indigenous Communities pertaining to this? imposition that mentioned about it. It is sad and alarming generation and wealth sharing, ancestral domain, and the It is clear as stated in the Framework Agreement on the if this would be the basis of the Bangsamoro Economic administration of justice. There is a continuous process of Bangsamoro (FAB) that the drafting of the Bangsamoro package. Would this mean to say that we will be opening consultations, getting and accommodating suggestions on Basic Law shall agree on the International guidelines such the Bangsamoro to a comprehensive and wide-scale mining these important matters. of that stipulated on the United Nation Declaration on that would consequently destroy our Mother Nature? We There is a strong call from the Indigenous Communities the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the have depended on Nature for the longest time, now it is to: Recognize the distinct identity of the Indigenous International Labor Organization (ILO) 169. These laws our Nature who depends on us; And now, “Mother Earth Communities within and outside the core areas, including are implemented or observed in the Philippines through is in great pain and agony.” the recognition of one important component and that is the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA). According to Maintaining a good relationship between people with the Ancestral Domain and their inherent rights. These are the law, the Indigenous Communities have royalty share their environmental space is important in our principles – the important components that have been left silent in and priority rights including the free and prior informed something that may be simple but it is noble, a proof that the FAB and the Annexes. If this would be granted with consent on any development project that will enter the Indigenous communities continuously put into practice clarity, then the Indigenous Communities will have a clear especially to their Ancestral Domains. their “felindagan” or cosmos, “ke etew” or identity. understanding of the system of partition of the natural I want to end this silence. I want to search for answers to the questions and apprehensions relating to this very important discussion because the future of the Indigenous Communitieswill not be far different from what they have experienced under R.A 9054, if this will not be given clarity in the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Respectfully yours, FROILYN TENORIO MENDOZA 4 5 n August 14, 2013 August 16, 2013 August 23, 2013 August 26, 2013 August 27, 2013 August 28, 2013 6th Project Sounding Courtesy visit to newly Inputs on IP Issues to the Continuation of Training on Roundtable Discussion Participation in the Board Meeting appointed NCIP Commissioner UNICEF Review of 2005 Campaign and Advocacy on IP Mandatory Launching of Our for South Central Mindanao Gender Guidelines for Management; IP Communications Representatives Mindanao of Bo-I Era Espana Humanitarian Workers Group Organized MindaNews A SUMMARY ONE lamentable reality is that more indigenous peoples now practice chemical farming. Whizzing by rice and corn fields Breathing life along the countrysides, you could IP farmers are being actually miss the awesome and ensnared into using relaxing green scenery with all those chemical-based farm inputs huge placards and signs bearing such explosive names as “Dynamite”, by offers of better yield into IP farming “DynaForce”, “Wallop” and so on, and revenue coupled with seemingly blasting away the already free tshirts, caps, jackets or vanishing indigenous practices in agriculture. umbrellas. practices What seems cruel is that IP farmers are being ensnared into using chemical-based farm inputs by offers of better yield and revenue coupled with free tshirts, caps, jackets or umbrellas. raising and bamboo handicraft . ideas on their respective indigenous IPDEV, however, found out there to undergo 3-day trainings in batches During the trainings, the participants agricultural practices and how best are still many IPs who are aware of on Sustainable Agriculture, Upland showed great interest in practical they can be improved on. indigenous and sustainable practices – Farming and Coastal Resource tips on goat raising as well as vermi- The activity allowed an opportunity “enough basis to revive, revitalize, and Management. These selected composting which they found for the IPs to retrace a historical upgrade” their time-tested natural participants, trained by experts, will “doable” and economically helpful. transect on indigenous agricultural and sustainable way of farming and transfer and apply the knowledge they They saw the economic value of practices, and realized that their other agricultural practices. learned in their respective barangays diversified farming thru agro-forestry; farmlands used to be productive until The project embarked on a three- or villages. the technical ‘bending technique’ on the entry of “Green Revolution” in pronged training program designed The trainings were conducted in coffee and organic vegetables. the 70’s, which a decade after and for the four indigenous tribes in 80 batches from September 10 to 12 In an earlier activity, IPDEV brought until the present, chemical farming barangays in the Autonomous Region and 17 to 20 in Upi, Maguindanao. batches of farmers from the four proved to be a disaster, especially in Muslim Mindanao. These are the Another set of training was scheduled indigenous tribes in ARMM to Don to small farmers like them and the Teduray, Lambangian and Dulangan on November 5-6, 2013, at barangay Bosco in Makilala, Cotabato Province, environment.