Case Study: Impact of Mining and Dams on the Environment and Indigenous People in the Philippines
PFII/2007/WS.3/7 Original: English
UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS
Division for Social Policy and Development
Co-organizers
Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Government of Khabarovsk Krai and the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON)
INTERNATIONAL EXPERT GROUP MEETING ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
AND PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
KHABAROVSK, RUSSIAN FEDERATION
AUGUST 27.-29, 2007
Case Study on the Impacts of Mining and Dams on the
Environment and Indigenous Peoples in Benguet, Cordillera, Philippines
Paper by
CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE
I. Background
Land and People of Benguet
The Cordillera region in Northern Luzon, Philippines, is homeland to more than 1 million indigenous peoples belonging to at least 8 distinct ethnic groups collectively known as Igorots. Two of these ethnic groups, the Ibaloy and the Kankanaey, are found in the province of Benguet, which occupies 265,538 hectares of the Cordillera region’s total land area of 1.8 million hectares. The Ibaloy people live in the southeastern portion, occupying 8 of the province’s 13 towns. The Kankanaey, meanwhile dominate the northeast areas of Benguet.
Benguet’s fertile land along the rivers and gold ore in the mountains saw the emergence of distinct villages engaged in various economic activities. Gold mining communities rose in the gold-rich areas in Itogon, while gold-trading villages were established along strategic mountain passes and trails. Rice-growing villages emerged in the river valleys. Swidden farming combined with gold panning in the streams and rivers.
Land ownership among the Ibaloy and Kankanaey is traditionally recognized by prior occupation, investment of labor and permanent improvements on the land, specifically irrigation systems and retaining stonewalls of the
UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS
Division for Social Policy and Development
Co-organizers
Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Government of Khabarovsk Krai and the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON)
INTERNATIONAL EXPERT GROUP MEETING ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
AND PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
KHABAROVSK, RUSSIAN FEDERATION
AUGUST 27.-29, 2007
Case Study on the Impacts of Mining and Dams on the
Environment and Indigenous Peoples in Benguet, Cordillera, Philippines
Paper by
CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE
I. Background
Land and People of Benguet
The Cordillera region in Northern Luzon, Philippines, is homeland to more than 1 million indigenous peoples belonging to at least 8 distinct ethnic groups collectively known as Igorots. Two of these ethnic groups, the Ibaloy and the Kankanaey, are found in the province of Benguet, which occupies 265,538 hectares of the Cordillera region’s total land area of 1.8 million hectares. The Ibaloy people live in the southeastern portion, occupying 8 of the province’s 13 towns. The Kankanaey, meanwhile dominate the northeast areas of Benguet.
Benguet’s fertile land along the rivers and gold ore in the mountains saw the emergence of distinct villages engaged in various economic activities. Gold mining communities rose in the gold-rich areas in Itogon, while gold-trading villages were established along strategic mountain passes and trails. Rice-growing villages emerged in the river valleys. Swidden farming combined with gold panning in the streams and rivers.
Land ownership among the Ibaloy and Kankanaey is traditionally recognized by prior occupation, investment of labor and permanent improvements on the land, specifically irrigation systems and retaining stonewalls of the
Links: [20] STARM [21] STARM [22] Jill K. Carino and Cornelia Ag-agwa. The Situation of Mining in the Cordillera Region, Philippines and its Impact on Land Rights and Indigenous Women. Paper presented during the Second International Conference on Women and Mining. Bolivia. 2000 [23] STARM. [24] Hapit, The Official Publication of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance. 3rd Quarter 2005. A basic Service to the People: The Chapyusen Micro-Hydro Project ----------------------- [pic]