FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Recognition, Representation, Revolution, Respect
Kankanaey of the Igorots
Geography
The Kankanaey/ Kankanay people are part of the Igorot IP collective group which originate from the Cordilleran region of the Philippines.
There are two main groups of Kankanaey:
1. Northern Kankanaey who reside in Sagada and Besao
2. Southern Kankanaey who reside in Tadian, Bauko, Sabangan, Bakun, Kibungan and Mankayan
The mountainous environment the Kankanaey iinhabited was utilized for their needs using rice terraces, gold mining, and Swidden farming.
Worldview and Material Culture
Gods, Spirits and the Domain
• They believe in a supreme being called Kabunian, as well as other spirits and deities.
• Inayan: the law of karma, effect of displeasing he spirits
• Performs rituals when mining for gold since Kabunian is the owner of all resources in their ancestral domain.
• Paniyew – “Holiness”; Fear of the unseen or the creator of mankind.
• Ta-an – “Respect”; Guides their conscience.
Material Culture
• Impaod/impagod/pinnagod – body-tension back strap weaving for clothing, for ceremonial use, and for exchange
• Rice terraces – method developed by the Kankanaey to utilize the mountainous environment for agricultural needs.
• Muyong – a practice of preserving the upper part of their terraces to not anger the spirits. These lands tend to be watersheds that they preserve.
• Tayan – the corporate property among the Bontok Kankanaeys
• Beddeng – Territorial boundaries in Mt. Province, (bugis in peace pact forging areas)
• Uma – Slan properties which include swidden farms, pasturelands, etc.
• Payew – individually owned private lands such as rice fields and backyard gardens.
• Balaka and topil – formerly used as head hunting gear but now used for rituals and decorations
• The Kankanaey people relied on extracting gold to trade for their necessities, however, they had a culture of only taking gold when it is needed to preserve heir resources and environment. They had taboos in their gold extraction processes as well such as gambling and littering in the mines. They also believe that the gold they extract is provided by Kabunian/
Social and Cultural Organization
• Ili – Cordilleran concept of ‘the communal territory of an indigenous settlement,”. Similar to the homeland concept of tribal peoples.
• Papangoan – Council of elders responsible for making decisions for the community
• Tongtong – fines imposed by the papangoan in their form of justice system
• Bain – “shame”; The ultimate sanction for a crime, the criminal becomes shunned by the community.
• During trials, a complainant who cannot speak for themselves may appoint a relative to represent them. Trials are administered by the elders.
Issues Confronting the Group
• Conflicting laws – between IPRA and provisions on the Philippine Mining Act where mining firms are allowed to engage in mining in ancestral domains.
• Corporate interests – corporate interests are authorized despite the lack of community approval from the bakun people
• Marketing woes – bakun farmers are disadvantaged by the existence of middlemen in the vegetable trading in terms of income.
Media
An infographic of the contents here about the Kankanaey by Dianne Inovejas, and Isaac Quipse- University of the Philippines Baguio
References
Batangan, Dennis, et al. The Road to Empowerment Strengthening the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act Volume II Nurturing the Earth. Nurturing Life Case Study Writers.
Baylas, Nathanaiel, et al. Weaving Symmetry of the Philippine Northern Kankana-ey.
Camacaho, Leni Diamante et al. Traditional Forest conservation knowledge/technologies in the Cordillera. Northern Philippines. 2010. DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2010.06.001
Fry, Howard T. A History of the Mountain Province. New Day Publishers. 2006
Lewis, M. Paul, Gary F. Simons, and Charles D. Fennig. Ethnolgoue: Languages of Asia. SIL International. 2015. Print.
Melanes, Maurice, Power from the Mountains: Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices iin Ancestral Domain Management: the Experience of the Kankanaey-Bago