‘Schools of living traditions’ confab held

BAGUIO CITY -- A national symposium for strengthening Schools of Living Traditions (SLT) was held here Nov.14 which focused on importance of indigenous knowledge and how it can be merged in curriculum of regular schools.

Kidlat Tahimik of the Heritage and Arts Academies of the Philippines, Inc. said the symposium aimed to bring together indigenous knowledge with university curriculum to make it more holistic.

According to him, SLT could play a major role in maintaining indigenous knowledge alive.

Such knowledge is increasingly being appreciated globally as it could provide solutions to problems regarding global warming and forest conservation.

The symposium brought together 15 delegates from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao including artists, scholars and Indigenous People’s leaders.

Most activities were held at the Victor Oteyza Community Art Space at La Azotea Building in Session Road.

Public lectures by IP leaders and academics on indigenous knowledge systems and practices were held during the last day.

The symposium was sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Japan Foundation. -- Dianne Estino