Indigenous People’s Month events in Cordillera slated

October is Indigenous Peoples Month and the Cordillera Administrative Region, the only IP-dominated region in the country, has set activities lined up for this year’s celebration with the theme “IPs’ empowerment towards peace, unity and development.”

National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-CAR director Roland Calde bared this during media forum here Tuesday on “state of regional development.”

He invited the public to be part of the celebration coordinated by NCIP-CAR.

According to Calde who is also chairman of the Regional Development Council committee on IP concerns, one of the major highlights of the celebration is the Gong Festival which will be held Oct. 30 at the Baguio Convention Center. 

The activity will highlight cultural practices in CAR’s six provinces and proper indigenous attires in the region. 

Aside from participating in activities, government and private organizations are also urged to hang the IP Month banner in conspicuous areas in their offices,  wear  Cordillera-accented attires and sing the Cordillera hymn during office meetings and events.

Signed in 2009, Proclamation No. 1906 declared every October National Indigenous Peoples Month based on constitutional mandate of recognizing and protecting the rights of indigenous cultural communities.  – Ming Gendaq