Indigenous communities in the Philippines are diverse, comprising of around 14-17 million people from 110 ethno-linguistic groups. These communities are located across the Country but have large populations in Northern Luzon, Mindanao, Visayas and Palawan.

 

The Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) is a critical piece of legislation that recognizes the rights of Indigenous peoples to their ancestral domains, which include lands, inland waters, coastal areas, and natural resources. This law provides a framework for the protection and promotion of their cultural, social, and economic rights.

 

The Bahay Ugnayan Research Center team seeks to work with, preserve, archive and meticulously study objects and artifacts from these Communities ensuring their legacy and significance is shared and understood. Through consultation, we are committed to revising or removing information that is inaccurate or inappropriate.

 

We welcome and encourage feedback from our site visitors, members of the public, community representatives, and researchers worldwide to help us promote a deeper understanding of Philippine heritage.

Your insights are invaluable as we work to honor and responsibly steward this cultural legacy.

The following Community Groups are represented via objects currently contained in the collection.

 

Click below to learn more about each Community.