GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

DATU MIGKETAY VICTORINO L. SAWAY Talaandig Tribe

Sungko, Lantapan, BukidnonMindanao, Philippines

BACKGROUND

Ethnic Group: TALAANDIG

Population: 100,000 (approximately)

Location: Province of Bukidnon,

Philippines

Ancestral Territory: Mt. Kitanglad and Surrounding Municipalities

Area: 43,000 (approximately)

OBJECTIVES

• To discuss the origin of local knowledge based on the Talaandig story of creation.

• To explain the concept of a global responsibility based on the framework and structures of local knowledge

• To discuss the significance of the common sense as basis of identifying the link between

local knowledge and global science.

ORIGIN AND SOURCES OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

• Framework of Creation

• Cultural Integrity Framework

• Territorial Integrity Framework

• The Human Body

• The House

• The Community

• The Culture

• The Earth

FRAMEWORK OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

• A formulation of an Indigenous Peoples Comprehensive Plan for survival and development requires two important framework:

1) The Cultural Integrity Framework that significantly includes indigenous beliefs and religion, oral history and knowledge systems, customary laws, economic system and health practices, and, indigenous defense.

2) The Territorial Integrity Framework that cover ancestral lands and domain's, ancestral waters, forests, mountains, natural and biological resources including air, sun sounds and spirits.

• Figure I. Framework and Structure of Local Knowledge

HUMAN BODY

HOUSE FAMILY COMMUNITY CULTURE EARTH

Flesh Kitchen, Cooking

Place

Women / Mothers

Farm and Food Area

Territory/ Domain

Land

Blood Bamboo tube /Water jars

Young and Elder Women

Fishing, washing area

Health and Family

Waters, Rivers

Bones, Veins and Stomach

Fireplace Parents Crops, hunting games,

granaries

Economy Plants, trees, wildlife/ forest

Legs and Feet

Pillar, Door., Ladder

Young men/ Males

Warriors, Messengers

Defense/ Security

Air

Eyes Window Elders Blacksmith, Artisans

Leadership/ Energy

Sun

Mouth Reception Hall

Old Folks, Children

Oral History, Chants, Tales

Language Sounds

Head/ Brain/ Heart

Roof, Walls Old Folks, Elders

Spirituality, Shamanism

Beliefs/ Sensitivity

Spirits

CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

• Unwritten and Expressed in Oral Traditions

• Communally and Collectively Owned

• Closely associated with Nature

• Universal in Principle

• Dynamic and Systematic

• Understood through the Common Sense

• A common heritage

FORMS AND EXPRESSIONS OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

• Social, i.e., oral history and traditions, epic chanting, instruments playing , healing, etc.

• Economic, i.e., hunting, food gathering,planting harvesting, etc.

• Political, i.e., customary mediation, arbitration, peace negotiations, defense etc.

• Spiritual, i.e., religious ceremonies, worshipping, rituals, etc.

PRINCIPLES OF EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE

• Horizontal Approach, i.e. Individual person as male or females, brothers or sisters; male or female cousins; male or female relatives of the same generation, etc.

• Vertical Approach, i.e. male or female son or daughter; male or female parents; male or female grandparents; male or female ancestors, etc.

SIGNIFICANCE OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE IN A MULTI-SCALE

ASSESSMENT SYSTEM• Relationships of the physical constitution of the

human body to the physical constitution of nature/earth.

• Identification of Variables i.e., social variables, economic variables, political variables and spiritual variables, that provides basis of understanding cultural evolution and change.

• Principle of Harmony and Balance in relation with the natural course of change

• A Principle of Accountability• A Principle of Survival and Self-preservation

GLOBAL ACCOUNTABILITY

• Protecting and Preserving the earth and nature as the physical foundation of human survival

• Maintaining the harmony and balance between human culture and nature

• Cultural Accounting and Accountability• Awareness of Cultural and Environmental

Impacts• A Common Sense Method

COMMON SENSE AS THE LINK

• Theoretical and Conceptual Aspect of Common Sense, i.e. concept, idea, philosophy and principle.

• Practical and Validity Aspect of Common Sense, i.e. heard, seen, smelt, touched, tasted, felt, moved.

• Common Sense as a logical process and a system• Common Sense as the basis human manipulation and

interventions with nature• The integrity of Common Sense as a tool of local

knowledge and modern science• Common Sense as mother of all sciences

SUMMARY

• Principle of Interdependency, e.g. the human being was created for the world and the world for the human being

• Role as Custodian of Creation/ Accountability • Common Sense or “Common Science” as the Common

Ground between local and modern knowledge • Physical Constitution of Nature as Source Book of Local

Knowledge and the Basic Resources of Technological and “Scientific” Intervention and Manipulations

• Principle of Balance and Harmony as a necessity to both local and global science.

THANK YOU!