Indigenous practices in the Philippines

The way we live: Indigenous practices of the Ifugaos, Atis and Badjao of the Philippines

The INDISCO Programme supports and promotes the preservation of sustainable indigenous knowledge systems and practices particularly environment protection and natural resources management. The study documents the valuable traditional knowledge systems and practices of three indigenous communities in the Philippines: the Ifugaos; the Atis; and the Badjaos in order to ensure their preservation and promote environmentally sound and sustainable development.

The objectives of this survey are to collect and analyze information about indigenous knowledge systems and practices of the major indigenous groups in the Philippines. It also seeks to determine the roles and functions of their traditional institutions in implementing/promoting these practices, and to assess the viability of existing rural cooperatives established by these indigenous groups, their organizational structures, financial mechanisms and management patterns.