This is the Story of The Higaonon Tribe in the Philippines
Our world today is facing an unprecedented pandemic: extractivism. Many corporations and governments may point to the socio-economic benefits of digging out resources and selling in the global commodity market, the end goal being GDP growth toward development, as is the case for developing countries. There is truth to these claims and we can not shy away from that. However, what is becoming increasingly apparent is how abstract these terms, GDP growth and development, are for the people on the margins of global capitalist society. For them, the mega mining and developmental initiatives ‘on behalf of the people’ rarely refer to them, and they increasingly find themselves selling their right to a livelihood to a larger abstract goal which they hardly benefit from. That is the disease of extractivism. That land and the environment are lumped up into abstract terms such as capital and sold off — reducing richness and diversity of not only nature, but the people who reside on the land, into homogenous systems for profit-making. Globalization has enabled this mass experiment in extraction to reach the far corners of the world jeopardizing the many people’s chance of a good livelihood. The story I have been so honored to tell you today is no different from those of the Dakota Access Pipeline, Keystone in regards to the causes. What is different about the story I will tell you today is the chance to be part of a just solution.
The Higaonon Tribe of the Philippines
The Philippines over the last few years has seen a dramatic reduction of her national forests. Catalyzing the frantic cutting and clearing is the promise of GDP growth via a potent combination of logging, mining, real estate development and palm oil plantation. The allure of the promise has led the cutting and clearing to reach the sacred mountainous regions of the Philippines where some of the last indigenous tribes live.
Mount Malindawag Lubilan is one such site, and the Higaonon tribe are one of the remaining tribes still holding on to the land they have co-existed with peacefully. I should rephrase, the Higaonon aren’t still holding on but are rather desperately fighting to cling on to their land. Other tribal chiefs have gotten with the times and sold and sold and sold the land and livelihood of their people to those, like Madasa Mining and Resources, who can offer the quickest way to the abstract promise stated earlier.
The Higaonon tribe, led by Chief Datu, have dedicated their lives to their own promise of delivering the richness and vitality of their culture back to what it was when their ancestors could live off the nature and express their unique culture freely and without threat to their existence.
As a member of the Higaonon eloquently put it “Without the environment there is no land — without land there is no culture, no beliefs — without beliefs there are no people.”
The dance, art and other expressions of life this unique people have are under a very real threat and essentially an endangered species of human community needs our support.
What You Can Do
The Higaonon tribe registered the non-government organization Tribes and Natures Defenders Inc in September 2013 and since then they have built up a credible reputation in addressing issues facing the Indigenous People in the Philippines. Their track record crosses from works in health, education, poverty reduction, agriculture all the way through to peace building, partnering with International Donors such as Australian Aid, First Peoples World Wide and Onaway Trust.
The current challenge of maintaining their land boils down to being able to afford it. The Philippines laws and regulations allow for Higaonon Tribe to purchase/ reclaim their 50 acre land which is going for $200 per hectare. It goes without saying the laws and regulations can hardly address the vast wealth inequality between those who are backed by global capitalist machinery and those whose community have yet to accrue a market value.
But this is where we can level the playing field! By donating 20 euros/ $20 or whatever you will not miss, you can help. Datu, the Chief, promises that your name will be written as a sponsor, but more importantly we will be preserving our diversity. If you cannot give money, you can support the tribes with your social network by becoming a campaigner by going to their Heroes & Friends campaign.
It is time to make a difference in the lives of indigenous communities, and the time is now.
At Heroes & Friends your support requests travel fast and far through the power of friends. You can crowdsource money, skills, stuff and gather ambassadors to spread the word for you.
