Building a journey of solidarity

Building a journey of solidarity

The aboriginal ministries circle team during Cordillera day.With ifugao peasant movement staff Brandon Lee (2nd from left).

By Vernie Yocogan-Diano
Executive Director, Cordillera Women’s Education Action Research Center (CWEARC)

Three First Nations women came for a learning visit on the work of the indigenous peoples’ movement in the Cordillera region (Philippines) through the leadership of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance . This was a week of homestay and learning from the Kalanguya people of Tinoc, Ifugao. After that wealthy experience, our sisters attended the Mountain Province Cordillera Day in Mabaay, Bauko on 24 April 2014.

This learning visit and exposure to Cordillera Day is a come-true of another aspect of the partnership of the United Church of Canada (UCC) thru its Aboriginal Ministries Circle and the Cordillera People Alliance aimed at building solidarity relations of First Nations and Cordillera indigenous peoples. Leading the First Nations team is Springwater Hester-Meawassige who has been working as the Youth Leadership Coordinator within the Aboriginal Ministries Circle at the United Church of Canada.

Springwater whom their hosts in Tinoc call as Ubbog (spring/well) is an Ojibway/Cree woman who is a member of the Serpent River First Nation but has been residing in Toronto for 14 years. She attended York University and majored in Sociology and her working career has always been to serve First Nations people. With her is Shkodeh Kwe Mkwa Doodem (Sheila Robson) who is from the Saugeeen Ojibway Nation in Cape Crocker. It was an honor to have visited her territory and her people in February 2014 when I was part of UCC’s Permanent Committee on Programs of Mission and Ministries. The youngest member was Nina from First Nations in British Columbia.

Cordillera Peoples Alliance and First Nations Solidarity Partnership. From left: Author Vernie Yocogan-Diano, CPA’s Secretary-General Abigail Anongos and the first nation team Sheila, Nina and team leaders Springwater.

Tinoc was chosen as their destination on two reasons. One is the ongoing Kalanguya struggle on two energy projects, the hydro project of the Sta. Clara and Quadriver Companies and the geothermal energy project of Chevron and APC Companies. Second, the persistent and heightened vilification and attack of leaders-organizers and human rights defenders in Ifugao particularly from the Ifugao Peasant Movement (IPM).

It can be recalled that last year in 25 March 2014, one of their finest leaders William Bugatti was killed while on his way home from their office in Lagawe after attending the hearing of political prisoners held in that province. The extra-judicial killing of William is a clear evidence of impunity where the list of victims of extra-judicial killings and persistent attacks to human rights defenders continue under the Aquino III government. Vilification of William’s colleagues like Claudine Panayo, Brandon Lee, Billy Carty, other organizers and leaders like Engr. James Tayaban, and local government officials like Mr. Dick Tangid reached another malicious state when state agents used intrigues through the social media as well as death threats against these holy targets.

The road to Tinoc was already a shock to our First Nations sisters. It was an evidence of state neglect, the failure of government to provide safe access of Kalungaya folks to the wider world and services of government. The road traversing the west side of Ifugao had been reported as finished years back. What impressed our First Nations friends is the skills of the local drivers ensuring the safety of their passengers and vehicles as they negotiate the bad road.

A keen observation of our First Nations sisters is that the road improvement came into the picture when the energy projects were in the pipeline. Springwaters, Sheila and Nina spoke about the marginalization and neglect of their reserves or territories by the Canadian government. Reserves do not enjoy the same basic amenities enjoyed by the rest of Canada e.g. potable water, roads, health and social services. But the experience they had in Tinoc, the poverty and absence of amenities made them forget about the little comforts enjoyed by First Nations even if that was considered a sub-human state in Canada. They slept with their hosts in hard floors, ate with the locals simple food, learned to use wash rooms which are open pit or with temporary covers and did some domestic and farm work.

But the human warmth and hospitality they received is the most touching and wealthy experience. These are people neglected by government but they are survivors. These are people with rich resources but these resources are being grabbed by corporate greed. These people had long been deprived of a broad worldview because of isolation from the wider world but they are resisting corporate greed and building their own unity. These are people who have just the simple and basic things and aspirations in life but have a lot to offer.
Did the experience provide a feeling of privilege for indigenous peoples from a first world setting? I got an answer of yes and no. Yes because the experience made them see the varying levels of oppression and definitely whether you are in a first world like Canada or a third world like the Philippines, indigenous peoples suffer state oppression and institutionalized discrimination.

And no for the same reason. Indigenous peoples in Canada may enjoy some amenities and small comforts but which is nothing to the comforts and entitlements enjoyed by the wider Canadian society. The light that I saw and I guess seen by our First Nations sisters is the common spirit to struggle for land, life and dignity.
Such experience was enhanced by the dances, chants and performances in the Cordillera Day event of Mountain Province. Shkodeh Kwe’s (Sheila) chant was the same chant sang by our mothers and elders of care and concern for each other, the nurture of the common good and oneness. The children and youth cultural performance of courage and struggle summarized the whole experience of building solidarity amid a diversity of contexts and facing the challenges. And we anticipate a longer part of this journey.