Rationale

The Philippines is home for more than 100 different tribes of indigenous peoples (IPs), each with its own distinctive culture, ancestral domain boundary and history. It is acknowledged by modern science that this cultural diversity is a huge potential in helping to resolve some of the countrys most urgent problems related to protection of the environment, and longstanding conflicts over access to natural resources. Yet the Traditional Systems of Justice and Governance (TSJGs) that are the backbone of these societies are rapidly eroding. Many new institutions such as the state, LGUs churches, companies and NGOs, do not know enough about traditional governance, or do not sufficiently include IP traditional leaders in their programs. Out of their lack of understanding, they often involve tribal brokers who are not recognized by the community, to implement their programs and activities. The result is misrepresentation: traditional leaders do not (sufficiently) participate in local development planning, and decision making is left fragmented and unsupported by communities. Participative local development gets impaired, and conflicts are arising. This is not only problematic for the communities themselves, but also for the LGUs, companies, NGOs etc. intending to implement their programs in good relations with the communities in their target areas. In South-Central Mindanao, specific problems related to the non-participation of TSJGs in local development are: i. ii. iii. Weakened tribal institutions Ethnic-religious conflicts Threatened ancestral domains
In a 4-years project called Strengthening Traditional Systems of Justice and Governance (TSJGs) of Lumad Indigenous Peoples in South-Central Mindanao, we try to address and overcome these 3 specific and interrelated problems. Participating groups are: The Teduray and Lambangian, province of Maguindanao The Erumanen ne Menuv, province of North-Cotabato The Dulangan Manobo, province of Sultan Kudarat The Blaan, province of Sarangani The Tboli, province of South-Cotabato The Ubo, province of South-Cotabato The Tagakaolo, province of Sarangani We aspire to increase Lumad communities involvement in local development planning. By doing so, we also aspire a more stable and peaceful future for all who act and live in Lumad areas. Therefore, we invite all stakeholders to work together to achieve these goals. Our overall objective The implementation of the rights of indigenous peoples, as recognized within the existing international, national and local legal framework: the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of the Philippines, and the Muslim Mindanao Act (MMA) 241 of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Our main expected results -1- Greater impact and increased participation of Lumad IPs in South-Central Mindanao in development planning -2- Higher degree of physical security of Lumad IP communities against harassment in their villages -3- Improved safeguarding of the livelihoods and environment of Lumad IP communities

Our main activities

I: Institutional development of the 7 participating groups TSJGs, and building the capacity of their crucial components 1. Research and documentation of remaining and functional aspects of customary law, by consolidating oral tradition into written form 2. Organisation of tribal assemblies, for final approval of customary law and the formation of an executive body 3. Production of education materials to be used in trainings, workshops and advocacy activities 4. Trainings and workshops to capacitate tribal executive bodies for cooperation with LGUs 5. Agenda meetings for tribal and inter-tribal executive bodies, for planning and evaluating programs of tribal governance in relation to local development planning of LGUs II: Participative peace-building processes at the local and regional level (South-Central Mindanao) 1. Research and documentation of cases of conflict at the local and regional level 2. A Lumad peace-campaign, to inform all stakeholders and create goodwill towards traditional ways of conflictresolution (weekly radio programs, exposure visits, and forums with beneficiaries, LGUs and conflicting parties) 3. Settlement processes on selected cases of local and regional conflict III: Promotion and actual implementation of existing legal mechanisms for protection of ancestral domains 1. Lobby for protection of ancestral domains of Lumads 2. Organising local participation for perimeter survey of Lumad IP core areas in ARMM 3. ADSDPP data gathering and processing, and validation by the community, in Lumad IP core areas in ARMM