Who Are the Lumad?
Lumad is a collective term for the indigenous peoples of Mindanao, Philippines (excluding the Islamized groups like Maranao, Maguindanao, and Tausug). The term, meaning "native" or "indigenous" in Cebuano, encompasses 18 ethnolinguistic groups including the Manobo, Mandaya, B'laan, T'boli, Subanen, Higaonon, and others, totaling approximately 2-3 million people. These diverse peoples share non-Muslim, non-Christian identity (though many have converted) and face common challenges from land dispossession, mining, logging, and armed conflict in Mindanao.
Ancestral Domain Struggles
Lumad peoples have faced continuous land dispossession since American colonial period land laws ignored customary tenure. Logging concessions, mining permits, and agricultural expansion (particularly plantations) have reduced Lumad territories. The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 theoretically protects ancestral domains, but implementation is weak and conflicts with other laws promoting resource extraction. Some Lumad communities have secured Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CADTs); many more struggle through contested processes. Land remains the fundamental Lumad issue—without it, cultural survival is impossible.
Armed Conflict and Displacement
Lumad communities have been caught between armed actors in Mindanao's complex conflicts. Communist New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas operate in Lumad areas; the Philippine military conducts counter-insurgency operations. Both sides have been accused of human rights violations against Lumad civilians. Paramilitary groups, sometimes supported by the military, have attacked Lumad communities suspected of supporting rebels. Schools run by Lumad organizations have been bombed; community leaders assassinated. Thousands of Lumad have fled their homes as internally displaced persons. This violence represents one of the Philippines' most serious ongoing human rights crises.
Contemporary Lumad
Modern Lumad organize through groups like Kalumaran (Mindanao Lumad alliance) to advocate for land rights, peace, and development. Lumad schools provide education rooted in indigenous culture and languages. Some communities have achieved ancestral domain titles; many face ongoing displacement. Mining and plantation expansion continue threatening territories. Climate change affects agricultural livelihoods. Christian conversion has transformed many communities while traditional beliefs persist in others. How the diverse Lumad peoples collectively defend their lands while navigating Mindanao's volatile politics defines their common struggle for survival.
References
- Rodil, B. R. (1994). The Minoritization of the Indigenous Communities of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago
- Paredes, O. T. (2015). Rivers, Rovers, and Shifting Cultivation: The Subanun Way of Coping
- Alamon, A. T. (2017). Wars of Extinction: Discrimination and the Lumad Struggle in Mindanao