Ugnayang Pambansa para sa Katutubong Kaalaman at Talino, Inc.

06/10/2026

National Indigenous Peoples Month 2026

This October, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and continuing contributions of Indigenous Peoples under the theme, “Empowering Indigenous Peoples: Strengthening Rights, Culture, and Ancestral Domains.”

Empowerment begins with recognizing and upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights, protecting their cultures and traditional knowledge, and securing their ancestral domains and territories. It means ensuring that Indigenous Peoples have the power to shape decisions that affect their communities, lands, resources, and futures.

As we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Month, let us stand together in advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights, self-determination, cultural integrity, and collective well-being.

Our rights. Our cultures. Our territories. Our future.

17/09/2026

𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐀𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐓
𝟏𝟔 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐲𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Mga minamahal kong kapwa katutubo,

Sëgita Fiyo Tërësang Rab Këtinanëk Këbati.

Bilang isa sa mga napili na maging kinatawan ng Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples sa loob ng Bangsamoro Parliament, ako at ang aking buong pamilya ay taos-puso at lubos na nagpapasalamat sa aking Tribong Lambangian sa tiwalang ibinigay sa akin bilang nominado sa inter-tribal convention, kung saan pinili ang tunay na kinatawan ng anim na tribo ng Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples sa Parlyamento.

Nais ko ring pasalamatan nang buong puso ang pamunuan ng Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG) sa tiwalang ipinakita nang piliin ako ng Lambangian Tribal Assembly bilang kinatawan ng Tribong Lambangian. Salamat din sa inyo, mga kapatid na Non-Moro IPs, na nagkaisang pumili sa akin bilang kinatawan ng anim na tribo, upang dalhin ang ating tinig sa Bangsamoro Parliament.

Pasalamat din ako sa Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs (MIPA) at sa COMELEC sa kanilang pagsubaybay sa buong proseso ng seleksyon, tinitiyak na nasusunod ang alituntunin sa pagpili ng mga reserved seats para sa Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples sa Bangsamoro Parliament. Pasalamat din ako sa buong miyembro ng Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples Committee sa kanilang pagod at sakripisyo upang matupad ang bawat tribal assembly, alinsunod sa ating sariling customary laws at alituntunin.

Malaki ang hamon na dala ng tiwalang ito. Alam kong hindi madali ang tungkuling ito, ngunit hindi ako nag-iisa, kasama ko kayo, ang mga lider ng bawat IPS na naging gabay ko sa bawat hakbang. Kaya naman nangangako ako: maglilingkod ako nang buong husay at katapatan, alinsunod sa adhikain ng bawat mamamayang Non-Moro IP, maglilingkod nang may prinsipyo, dangal, dignidad, at diwang tunay na katutubo.

Muli, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat at Fiyo bagi.

Patuloy nating pagtibayin ang ating tinig.

Ang inyong lingkod,

𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐎 𝐋. 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐀
TJG Timuay Labi

16/09/2026

14/09/2026

LOOK | Leticio Datuwata is the current Timuay Labi (Supreme Leader) of the Timuay Justice and Governance, the Indigenous political structure that governs both the Teduray and Lambangian non-Moro Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao. He is also one of the Council of Leaders of the Ugnayang Pambansa para sa Katutubong Kaugalian at Talino ( ), Inc., which is a national network of Indigenous Peoples' communities in the Philippines.

Two seats in the 80-member BARMM Parliament have already been filled before voters head to the polls on September 14.

Leticio Datuwata of the Lambangian tribe and Jo Genna Jover of the Teduray tribe were selected as representatives of the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIP) through an inter-tribal assembly held on August 25.

READ MORE: https://inqnews.net/2BARMMReps

Follow our live updates here: https://inqnews.net/BARMMElecSept14

08/09/2026

| Member communities of the Ugnayang Pambansa para sa Katutubong Kaalaman at Talino (UPAKAT), Inc. from Mountain Province and Palawan in the convened for the Luzon Knowledge Exchange on Indigenous Territorial Management and Food Systems on 2-4 September 2026. They were joined by several Local Government Unit representatives from the municipalities of Sagada, Paracelis and Barlig, also in the Mountain Province.

The participants shared their stories on ancestral domain management and set up market booths to showcase socio-economic products from their communities. The knowledge exchange aimed to facilitate community-designed roadmaps and adaptation plans that outline specific steps for implementing shared best practices within Indigenous territories.

The event also included a community visit to the Pidlisan community where the host community highlighted their community-managed small-scale mining and ecotourism initiatives.

26/08/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗮𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗶 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗼 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗮𝘆 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 ( #𝗡𝗠𝗜𝗣). 𝗜𝘀𝗮 𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗸𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗼, 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘀, 𝗸𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝘀𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼!

09/08/2026

READ | 9 August 2026 | International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being

For generations, Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge systems have been the cornerstones of community health and resilience connecting territory, spirituality, and ways of life. Indigenous midwives, along with other healers, embody this wisdom, carrying forward traditions that safeguard life, strengthen cultural identity, and ensure continuity for future generations.

As affirmed in the Article 24 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), “Indigenous [P]eoples have the right to their traditional medicines and to maintain their health practices, including the conservation of their vital medicinal plants, animals and minerals. Indigenous individuals also have the right to access, without any discrimination, to all social and health services.”

Yet, discrimination — reinforced through structural barriers and health governance frameworks — continues to invalidate Indigenous midwives (undermine their recognition within formal health frameworks) denying Indigenous Peoples communities (limiting) access to culturally appropriate maternal and child care. And, in some cases, even criminalizing their practice. The Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), in its General Recommendation (GR) No. 39 on the rights of Indigenous women and girls, noted that Indigenous midwives and birth attendants are often criminalized.

In the Philippines, the Joint Memorandum Circular 2013-01 (DOH–NCIP–DILG) — Guidelines on the Delivery of Basic Health Services for Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) — promotes culturally sensitive health services for Indigenous Peoples. Yet, it stops short of explicitly recognizing the roles of Indigenous midwives in community health and wellbeing. This operational gap leaves Indigenous midwives vulnerable to exclusion and, in some cases, even criminalization when they operate outside accredited facilities.

The erosion of a specific part of the knowledge systems essential to the preservation not only of life through generations but also the protection of the dignity of Indigenous women, its domino effect, is an affront to Indigenous Peoples’ right to strengthen their collective identities and to sustain their cultural continuity, self‑determination, and resilience in the face of systemic marginalization.

On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples ( ), we spotlight the contributions of Indigenous midwives and reaffirm the value of Indigenous knowledge in advancing culturally appropriate care. Let us not only celebrate Indigenous midwives but also demand recognition of their practices and knowledge systems. Their wisdom must be valued, protected, and integrated into health policies to ensure that no one is left behind.

As we call for the full, meaningful, and effective implementation of CEDAW GR No. 39, we particularly highlight the recommendation to State Parties: “Ensure the recognition of Indigenous health systems, ancestral knowledge, practices, sciences and technologies, and prevent and sanction the criminalization thereof.”

Stand with Indigenous midwives. Advocate and demand for their recognition. Let’s honour Indigenous midwives as knowledge holders, caregivers, and protectors of life.

17/07/2026

08/06/2026

World Oceans Day | 8 June 2026

Reimagine: Beyond the World We Know, A New Relationship With Our Ocean

Indigenous Peoples have always been close to nature—forests, mountains, and oceans. They have long served as stewards and guardians of these ecosystems, contributing to the overall health of Mother Earth, not merely as beneficiaries.

For Indigenous communities, oceans, seas, and rivers are not distant bodies of water; they interact together. These waters provide shelter, livelihood, and social and cultural spaces.

In the Philippines, like many other Indigenous coastal communities, the Tagbanua Indigenous Peoples demonstrate through their knowledge systems how ancestral governance and management sustain marine ecosystems.

This , let us strengthen and reimagine our relationship with the oceans. Let us protect them. Let us be their guardians.