Rights of Mother Earth - Igorot's Response
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Response from the Igorot Peoples of Philippines
Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network
and InsightShare
present
Rights of Mother Earth
My world - water, earth,
wind, gold, fire!
In Bontoc, we call mother earth Fatawa or Lawag
Mother earth encompases the mountain, tree
river, water, air
and all things found above
and under the land
In our ili (community) in Mountain Province, particularly in Sagada
We call Mother Earth, Batawa.
or lubong related to world
if we are discussing mother earth,
I would also like to compare or correlate
the role of Mother Earth
with that of the role of a mother
if we are discussing mother earth
She, as connected to our environment
as an important role
in the sustainbility of the food
and life of the people
Protecting the land
is one of the rights of the earth
it should not be destructed so that, we would have source of living
For instance, in terms of planting agricultural products
such as vegetables,
it is our source of living
to feed our children
These are trees that they call
"century trees" in Kalinga
the elders prohibit to cut the trees
because they believe there are "creatures" guarding it.
that's why people are scared of
cutting the big trees.
This is how they look after mother earth
For instance, if there are disasters
and moutains are erroded
the elders are saying
that mother earth is mad.
If there is no rain
the women will go dancing
in a huge rock
They taught us their rites
They go singing like... chant!
that calls for water or rain.
This rite is really effective.
If they are doing it, all of a sudden it rains
Here in Ucab, we do rituals
especially when mother earth
gives us lot of gold mines.
Muyong (forest) for us is a very important source of livelihood
Community needs come from there
People cannot just cut trees
Only old or mature trees are allowed
to be cut for building houses
Those deforested mountains
should be planted trees
and other plants.
So the government should take effort
or should repeal or review
all laws and policies
regarding their project on development.
Like for example,
the large scale and destructing mining projects
dams, loggings and any other projects that are detrimental
to the lives of indigenous peoples.
We should protect mother earth
so that its beauty will come back
Even if we can't bring back its previous features.
We can do reforestation
We can bring back the beauty
of denued mountains through planting trees
She provides all the needs of the people
for the present, tomorrow and the future
For the people at present and for the next generation
it is very essential for us
to continue, if not, to begin
safeguarding the earth.
If "fatawa" doesn't exist, life would not exist