Indigenous Women Rising

by Rose Ann Paragas
Luzon Subnational Coordinator

POWER, RESILIENCE, PERSISTENCE and HOPE – few words that I think would best represent the indigenous women leaders whom I had an opportunity to rub elbows with during a three-day knowledge- sharing workshop led by VOICE-HIVOS in Baguio City last February. They are the indigenous women leaders from different sides of the globe who share the same stories of struggle, shared victories, hopes, dreams, and aspirations towards complete liberation of women from any form of abuse, violence and culture that prohibits their voices from getting heard and left in the margins.

What then keeps women persist? This was the central of the discussion that gave space for interaction as well as in-depth reflection. The use of “emergent theatre” as a tool for the entire workshop has been very effective in portraying the collective experiences of women on cross-cutting issues on health and nutrition, education, participation in decision-making and natural resource governance among others. I would say that the freedom to choose any form, may it be in dancing, singing, poetry, painting or other forms of expression elicited raw but powerful messages. In this case, the message for me was very clear: Women persist because We Exist. We Can. Therefore, Hear Us. Let Us. This was the same message I got during our community visit in Ucab, Benguet, whose history highlights the struggle of the community against Open Pit Mining. The success of their struggle was actually credited to the women elders who were at the forefront. Take note that a man leader actually claimed this. It is even laudable that this history has been preserved and passed on from one generation to another through poetries and songs.
 
Having heard and shared discussions with the women leaders throughout the 3-day workshop, I would say that women have come a long way in their pursuit for freedom and equality. Their shared stories provide us the importance of having women to participate in governance and in development. They offer perspectives unique from those of men. In resource governance, for instance, the natural resources including the mountains, forests, water, air both flora and fauna interconnected with the lives of women. Interventions that impact this ecosystem also impact the lives of women, hence, the necessity of saving them seats in the discussion table. This practice was proven effective based on the experiences of the indigenous women present in the forum. The IP women leaders from the T’boli Tribe of South Cotabato, one of the partners of Bantay Kita for VOICE, claimed that women in their tribe are now recognized as leaders. They are now part of the discussion on matters involving their ancestral domain. Also, their tribe had actually gave up some of their traditional practices that go against human rights and women’s laws. In fact, they have written a manifesto condemning rape and violence against women.
 
These gains and victories for women are well-celebrated the way women deserve to be celebrated. However, we need to acknowledge that our pursuit continues. We need to find ways on how to keep the fire burning. Let me share to you some of the learnings and insights I got from the workshop.

1. Continues Dialogue and Knowledge Exchange. To keep the fire burning is to keep talking. Providing avenues for knowledge exchange among women gives space for more meaningful collaborations and actions.
2. Intergenerational transfer - keeping the history of struggle alive in the minds of the younger generation. Preservation and transferring stories from one generation to another provide source of inspiration, a reminder and a motivation to continue fighting for the rights of women – fighting for what we believe is right and just.The case of Ucab in Cordillera is a perfect example of this intergenerational transfer.
3. Knowledge capture and Knowledge Dissemination. Communities and individuals have beautiful stories of struggle and victories that other communities can learn from. Effectively capturing these stories including tacit knowledge serves as a challenge. In the same way, civil society organizations have to think of creative ways to disseminate this knowledge. I believe that we can only create more meaning out of our experiences when it is shared and transferred.Continuing process of conscientization through community organizing. It would seem that the successful stories of women rest on a strong community of support – a community who share the same vision and conviction. Therefore, keeping the fire burning is to go back to the communities, talk and walk with the people.

 
To end this blog, I would like to share with you the lyrics of the song written during one of the workshop activities. We were asked to express our dreams and this song came out – a song that portrays the continuing struggle of indigenous women in defense of their natural resources, democracy and human rights.

Katutubong Kababaihan
At buong pamayanan
Samasamang kumikilos 
At nagtutulungan
Sa buong pamayanan
Bansa at daigdigan
Kalikasa’y pinagyayaman
Likas yaman dinedepensahan
Paaralan para magbahaginan
Kaalaman kultura at karanasan
Sa mahirap na kalagayan
Kahingiay matugunan
Marangal na pamumuhay
may dignidad at demokrasya
Lipunang mapayapa 
Makatarungan at Malaya