Empowering Filipino Indigenous Peoples through Strengthened National Advocacy Work - Celebration of the National Indigenous Peoples Month 2023

Camelot Hotel, No. 35 Mother Ignacia St., Diliman, Quezon City

CONCEPT NOTE

In line with the celebration of the National Indigenous Peoples Month on October 2023, the Ugnayang Pambansa para sa Katutubong Kaalaman at Talino (UPAKAT) Inc. and the Indigenous Navigator (IN) initiative in the Philippines, both through Tebtebba, shall have a three-day event focusing on capacity-building and awareness-raising on relevant national laws and policies in relation to their actual lived experiences on the ground. 

The event, then, specifically aims to do the following:

1. Provide a safe and open space for discussion and dialogue with relevant government agencies to enhance understanding of the following:

1. 1. The Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples’ (NMIP) Code in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM);
   2. The Cordillera Regional Autonomy and House Bill 3267;
   3. The Indigenous Peoples Code in Arakan, North Cotabato as well as how this can be replicated in other areas;
   4. To understand the state of implementation of the UNDRIP and SDGs in the Philippines through the Indigenous Navigator initiative;
   5. The important policies and processes of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in connection with Indigenous Political System (IPS) accreditation, Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) delineation application and Indigenous Peoples Organization (IPO) recognition, health, education, and livelihood, among others;
   6. The significant policies and processes of other relevant government agencies that may benefit indigenous peoples;
   7. Other relevant issues on the ground impacting indigenous peoples in the Philippines, particularly with regard to loss and damage (biodiversity loss and climate change); government laws, policies, etc. in conflict with customary laws and practices, and others; and
   8. Important updates on the United Nations bodies and processes, government decisions, other policies and programs relevant to indigenous peoples.

2. Enhance knowledge and capacity of community partners, especially next generation leaders, on current issues and updates relevant to indigenous peoples’ rights.
3. To identify ways forward based on the situation of indigenous peoples in the country.

The outcomes of the event shall be: 

1. A deeper understanding of the NMIP Code (Cabinet Bill 40 and Bill 166) and its necessity;
2. A more in-depth grasp of the Cordillera Regional Autonomy and its corresponding House Bill 3267 as well as their necessity, if any;
3. An insight into the Arakan, North Cotabato IP Code and how this can be replicated and advocated for in other areas;
4. A better awareness of the state of implementation of the UNDRIP, IPRA and other laws and policy instruments pertaining to indigenous peoples;
5. A more comprehensive knowledge of the different policies and processes of different government agencies as well as how indigenous peoples can effectively benefit from these; 
6. A better awareness of updates on various processes, decisions, policies, programs and initiatives at the local, sub-national, national and international levels that indigenous peoples in the Philippines can engage in and benefit from; 
7. An awareness of indigenous communities and relevant government agencies on the use of the Indigenous Navigator as a framework and monitoring tool in relation to indigenous peoples’ rights; and
8. A consolidation of various challenges, good and bad practices, recommendations of and from indigenous peoples toward better community strengthening, promotion and transmission of indigenous knowledge including language as well as local and national advocacy work.