By: Emie Joy Cadungog
January 26, 2022
I would like to share the salient points of the articles I have read about the struggles of IPs like the Blaan:
The term “indigenous peoples" refer to a diverse group of peoples who have pursued their own vision and path of human development in a given geographical, socioeconomic, political, and historical environment. These peoples try to keep their group identity, languages, traditional beliefs, worldviews, and modes of life, as well as control of their lands, territories, and natural resources, throughout history.
The indigenous peoples like the Blaan have historically been discriminated against and excluded from political and economic processes in the Philippines. Exclusion, loss of ancestral lands, displacement, pressures on and destruction of traditional ways of life and traditions, and loss of identity and culture are all common problems they encounter.
Restrictions on engaging in traditional occupations (access to lands and resources)
The lack of acknowledgement of indigenous peoples' rights to lands, territories, and resources is the most serious issue they face. Due to land grabbing, large-scale construction projects, population transfers, and the establishment of protected areas, many people have been marginalized and alienated.
The importance of indigenous peoples' traditional vocations in the pursuit of poverty reduction, food security, and sustainable development, as well as for the national economy in general, is frequently overlooked by decision-makers. Traditional jobs are frequently unfairly dismissed as obsolete or ineffective, and are even forbidden by law in some circumstances.
Discrimination in employment
Many people are forced to migrate – either temporarily or permanently – in pursuit of work and economic possibilities inside indigenous territory. However, only a small percentage of indigenous people find well-paid positions in the legal economy, while the majority labor in the informal economy, where they earn low pay and have little social protection.
Discrimination against indigenous peoples' traditional livelihood methods and occupations may result from a lack of respect for their rights and customs, as well as discrimination against indigenous peoples seeking employment and economic possibilities beyond their customary regions.
Discrimination against indigenous women
Indigenous men and women are affected differentially by prejudice in work and occupation, and gender may be a factor in discrimination.
Indigenous women face more discrimination in the workplace than both indigenous males and non-indigenous women. Indigenous women may also face discrimination inside their own communities.
Many indigenous women receive less pay for equal work; have less access to material goods and formal recognition needed to develop their occupation or to obtain access to employment; and workplace conditions are deteriorating, for example, in terms of working hours and occupational safety and health.
Therefore, we can stop discriminatory practices against the Indigenous people specifically with Blaan by building public awareness. Indigenous rights must be implemented with the help of well-informed public education and awareness. This is a responsibility of all. There is a lot of mistrust for good reason. But how we inform ourselves and understand our own complicity in consumption and policies that sustains the need for production, profit, and exploitation is absolutely necessary. Then we can begin to comprehend the impact on indigenous peoples, their lands, and their territories. Our relationship to the land is at the center of who we are, our identity, and our ability to survive as indigenous people.
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