Vancouver hosts first Cordillera Day Celebration in Canada

 

April 25, 2009

 

   
Playing the 2-stringed kudyapi and the drums Performing a dance with the gongs
   
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Photos courtesy of Mutya Claver
           
           

 

Post Event Write Up
Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights
May 6, 2009
Photo Credits: Mutya Claver

VANCOUVER HOSTS FIRST CORDILLERA DAY CELEBRATION IN CANADA

Vancouver, B.C. – The hall at St. Michael’s Anglican Church on East Broadway rang with the music of the gangsa (gongs) and reverberated with the stomping of feet as people danced to celebrate the Cordillera Day: A Day of Solidarity for Life, Land and Rights. This was the first celebration of Cordillera Day in Canada.

At least ninety people came to mark the event organized by the Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPS-HR) and Migrante B.C. and helped by the huge support and involvement of BIBAK, the organization of the indigenous people of the Cordillera Central mountains in northern Luzon.

Traditional prayers and the playing of the gangsa by the BIBAK men and a prayer read by Sandra Baldo opened the Celebration. It was acknowledged that the event was being held in unceded territory of the Coast Salish Nation; First Nations elder Carol Martin and two other Native guests Felipa and Debbie were the first to offer heartfelt messages and well-wishes to everyone.

Beth Dollaga of CPS-HR and Petra Durrance of the Victoria Solidarity Group helped co-emcee the Celebration. Cesar Castro of the Igorot Global Organization spoke briefly of the history behind the Cordillera Day. From the human rights and the church sectors, Sharon MacGougan, from Richmond Amnesty International Group 92 and Orval K. Chapman from the United Church of Canada personally delivered their greetings. The audience also heard messages from trade union friends, Steward Coordinator Yolanda de la Cruz of the BC Nurses Union and Canadian Auto Workers National Representative Susan Spratt (who also sang to the delight of everyone). Dominga Passmore of the Bayanihan Community Centre in Victoria extended warm greetings from their group who came all the way from Victoria. Yvette Stephenson of the CPS-HR read out the organization’s statement for Cordillera Day.

Nicole Burton Tindungan read the “Open Door,” a poem by Cheryl Daytec-Yangot to remember James Moy Balao who was abducted by state agents in September 17, 2008 and who remains missing to this day. Mable Elmore, NDP candidate for Vancouver-Kensington, took time off from her busy campaign schedule to deliver her greetings of solidarity.

Babette Santos and Jules Tindungan with the Kathara Dance Theatre Canada, a cultural performance group, danced and played the music of the indigenous peoples in the southern Philippines with their kudyapi, kulintang, agung and drums. Two other Kathara members presented a short exhibition of arnis, Philippine martial rights form.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Chandu Claver. He is the International Spokesperson of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance and the Chair of Bayan Canada, a coalition of progressive Filipino mass-based organizations in Canada. Dr. Claver is a Filipino physician from Kalinga who now lives in Victoria with his three daughters. He survived an assassination attempt in the Philippines that took the life of his wife, Alyce Claver, three years ago.

Dr. Chandu started off with the richness of the land and resources of the Cordillera and the entry of development aggression with the big dam projects in the 1980s and later with the transnational mining corporations. It was within this historical background that Apo Macliing Dulag, a respected pangat and leader of the Kalinga and Bontoc peoples, opposed the construction of the World Bank-funded Chico River Basin Hydroelectric Dam. His killing by the Philippine Army soldiers in 1980 only strengthened the commitment of the indigenous peoples against the dam and broadened it into a mass movement of the Cordillera peoples for the defense of ancestral land and self-determination. From 1981-1984, the anniversary of Macliing’s death was called the Macliing Memorial but with the expansion of the mass movement to all the provinces of the Cordillera, the commemoration began to be known as Cordillera Day in 1985.

On the wide screen, Dr. Chandu showed the black and white images of the Macliing Dulag Memorials in the 1980s which were followed by more recent images of the CPA-led Cordillera Day celebrations. He also honoured and paid tribute to all those who came after Apo Macliing, the men and women martyrs and heroes who continue the spirit, commitment and determination of the Cordillera peoples to defend what is rightfully theirs from the continuing and worsening attacks and intrusion of the state and big business corporations.

Dr. Chandu described the spirit of Cordillera Day celebrations as “political in content and festive in format.” And it was so on that night. In true Filipino and indigenous people’s hospitality, guests also brought food and drinks, including the Cordillera delicacy etag, Friendships were made and solidarity created and strengthened. And many more people signed the petition to surface James Balao.

At the end of the program, the Cordillera men picked up their gongs. The sound of the gangsa as the Cordillera men struck their pattong on the gangsa and started the dance marked the signal for everyone to join in the collective dancing. The Cordillera women, with their hands stretched out, gracefully danced alongside the men, swept by the cadence of the gongs; the Kathara team and the other guests joined the circle as it went around the room in a dance of unity and of solidarity with the Cordillera people. ###

 

Dr. Chandu Claver talking about the Chico River Dam and the first organized struggle by the Cordillera people against the building of the dam. The story of the Cordillera people

Carole Martin with First Nations women Felipa and Debbie, Common historical themes of colonialism and oppression

Nicole Burton Tindungan reads the poem to remember James Balao

Susan Spratt of CAW singing, And she raises her clenched fist in the air!

Sharon Macgougan from Richmond Amnesty International Group 92

Yvette Stephenson of CPS-HR reads the statement for the 25th anniversary

of the Cordillera Dayth anniversary of the Cordillera Day
     

 
     
     
     

Cesar Castro of the Igorot Global Organization

 

Orval Chapman, friend of the Filipino people, founding member

 of CPS-HR and member of United Church of Canada
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Message for Cordillera Day 2009
24 April, 2009
From BAYAN Canada

In the name of the National Organizing Committee of BAYAN Canada, I would like to extend our warmest greetings to all of you who have come to participate in the 25th celebration of Cordillera Day. Likewise, the member organizations of BAYAN Canada from the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia would like to salute the members and allies of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance for your continuing leadership in the struggle for indigenous people’s rights, as well as your great contribution in the broader struggle for national democracy.

In these times of worsening economic troubles and intensifying political repression, the need for people to stand together as one has become a necessity, and in fact, our only recourse. The Cordillera Day central theme says it all – “Strengthen people’s solidarity. Intensify the struggle for land, life and rights.” The defence of what is rightfully ours against the continuing and worsening attacks of state and corporate powers lies in our ability to stay together and struggle together.

It is in this spirit of solidarity that BAYAN Canada, through its component member organizations, has initiated programs and campaigns in support of the struggle at home. Initiatives have been done to expose to the Canadian people and the Canadian government, the grim situation obtaining in the Cordillera and the rest of the Philippines. Particular initiatives and campaigns in this past year have focused on issues on Philippine mining development, the extra-judicial killings and similar human rights atrocities, migration issues, as well as indigenous people’s rights.

And for the first time in Canada, this year, again through the initiative of BAYAN Canada member organizations and its Canadian allies, we are holding parallel activities in two different locations to celebrate the spirit of the indigenous peoples’ struggle and Cordillera Day here in Canada. On Saturday, April 25, a Cordillera Day event will be held in Vancouver through the cooperation of BIBAK Vancouver. And on Sunday, April 26, a cultural celebration on the indigenous peoples struggle for land, life and rights will be held on the eastern end of Canada, in Toronto.
 

These activities outside of our homeland are a sign of the growing recognition of the intrinsic role of imperialism and foreign corporate power on the lives of the indigenous peoples in the Cordillera and the Philippines. But more importantly, these overseas activities, not only in Canada but in other parts of the world where Cordillerans and Filipinos have set foot, are signs of the growing need for greater solidarity and unity among ourselves, and with people from other nationalities, in order to counter attacks against our land, our life and our rights.

If we are one, we will survive - and we, eventually, will win.

Mabuhay!!

From the National Organizing Committee
BAYAN Canada

Chandu Claver
Chairperson

*Dr. Chandu Claver is a surgeon-physician hailing from Kalinga, in the Cordillera region of the Philippines. He continues to be an active voice in the Cordillera people's struggle for self-determination within the overall context of the people's movement for National Democracy in the Philippines against US imperialism and feudal bondage. He narrowly escaped an assasination attemp on his life by military elements which sadly took the life of his wife, Alice in 2006. He and his three young daughters are currently seeking refuge in Canada from the continuing political killings and abductions of activists and progressives in the Philippines. As an activist and organizer now based in the province of British Columbia, he takes on the role as chief spokesperson for Bayan Canada - a pan-Candian alliance of progressive and anti-imperialist Filipino organizations.

- National Organizing Committee


Mensahe para iti Aldaw iti Kordilyera 2009
Petsa-24 iti Abril, 2009
Manipud iti BAYAN Canada

A kas Chairperson iti National Organizing Committee iti BAYAN Canada, kayat ko nga idanon iti nabara nga kablaaw kadakayo amin nga dinmar-ay iti maika-duwapulo ket lima a panaka-angay iti Aldaw ti Kordilyera. Manipud kadagiti miembro nga organisasyon iti BAYAN Canada kadagiti probinsiya iti Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba ken British Columbia, idanon ko met iti inkam panag-saludo kadagiti miembro ken ka-alyado iti Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance iti agtultuloy a panangidaulo yo iti kampanya para iti karbengan ti nainsigudan nga umili ken iti nalawlawa a dangadang para iti nailian a demokrasya.

“Pairutan ti panagkaykaysa iti umili, ken pairtengen ti dangadang para iti depensa iti daga, biag ken karbengan tayo”. Dayta ti tema iti Aldaw iti Kordilyera para iti daytoy a tawen. Nangnagruna kadagitoy a tiempo iti kumarkaro a problema pang-ekonomiya ken palalo a panangidadanes, kasapulan a mapairutan iti panagkaykaysa tayo. Kadagitoy a tiempo iti kumarkaro nga atake dagiti kameng iti Estado ken dadakkel a korporasyon iti kabiagan ken daga tayo, ti kabaelan tayo para iti epektibo a panag-depensa ket agdependar iti kairut ken kalawa iti panagkaykaysa tayo.

Manipud nabukel iti BAYAN Canada iti laeng nabiit, nagsasaruno a kampanya iti naaramid baben dagiti miembro nga organisasyon ken ka-alyado na para suportaran iti nalawlawa a gandat nga itandudo ti karbengan dagiti nainsigudan nga umili. Babaen dagitoy a kampanya, maipakpakaammo ken maipakpakita iti kumarkaro a panangidadanes kadagiti umili ti Kordilyera ken Pilipinas kadagiti umili ti Canada ken iti gobierno da. Mainayon kadagitoy a kampanya ti agdama nga kampanya kontra dagiti nakusit ken kontra-tao nga aramid dagiti ganganaet nga korporasyon iti minas; ti kampanya kontra iti sistematiko a programa iti gobierno iti Pilipinas para iti panagpatay ken panagpukaw kadagiti umili nga agtigtignay para iti panakabaliw iti bulok a sistema; ken ti kampanya tapno irupir ti karbengan dagiti nainsigudan nga umili.

A kas akdang iti BAYAN Canada tapno makikaykaysa kadakayo, inna inisponsoran iti dua nga aktibidades nga maigiddan iti inyo panagselebrar iti Aldaw ti Kordilyera. Ti umuna ket iti Aldaw iti Kordilyera – Vancouver nga maangay iti daya iti Canada babaen iti kooperasyon iti BIBAK – Vancouver a maangay no Sabado, maikabeinte singko iti Abril. Ken ti maikadua ket ti Kultural a Selebrasyon para iti kalintegan dagiti nainsigudan nga umili nga maangay no Domingo, petsa beinte seis iti Abril idiay Toronto iti laud nga murdong iti Canada. Dagitoy iti umuna nga inisyatiba tapno maipalawa ken maipabigbig kadagiti kakailian ditoy Canada ken kasta met kadagiti umili iti Canada ti gapu ken ti kinapudno iti intay ilablaban. Babaen kadagitoy nga agtultuloy nga aktibidades, mapalawa tayo iti gandat para iti panagkaykaysa iti panunot ken panakkaykaysa iti panagtignay.

Ditoy Canada, ken kasta met iti daaduma nga nasyon iti ballasiw taaw nga nagbaddekan dagiti taga-Kordilyera ken dadduma a Pilipino, lumawlawa ken pumigpigsa iti panagbigbig iti nabileg nga inpluwensiya iti imperialismo ken ganganaet nga korporasyon iti agdama a panangidadanes dagiti nainsigudan nga umili ti Kordilyera ken kasta met iti nalawlawa nga umili iti Pilipinas. Lumawlawa ken pumigpigsa met iti panakabigbig iti kasapulan tapno dagiti kakailian iti ballasiw a taaw ket makimaymaysa iti tignayan para iti panagbaliw.

Manen, idanon iti BAYAN Canada iti inna makikaykaysaan kadakayo iti daytoy Aldaw iti Kordilyera.

Maysa a panunot, maysa a tignay – dayta ti panagkaykaysa.
Matago tako lusan!!

Para iti National Organizing Committee

BAYAN Canada
Chandu Claver
Chairperson

 
     
     
     
     
           

 

]Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPS-HR)
Filipinos and Canadians working for the promotion and defence
of human rights in the Philippines

SOLIDARITY MESSAGE
ON THE 25th CORDILLERA DAY CELEBRATION


“Indigenous peoples inherit the responsibility to protect and preserve their traditional lands, resources and sacred sites upon which their cultural heritage and identity is based.“

Warm solidarity greetings to our indigenous brothers and sisters in the Cordillera region in their celebration of Cordillera Day! As a Canadian-based solidarity group for human rights, we draw inspiration from your collective determination and strength in working for and in defence of the land, life, resources and rights of the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera.

As human rights organizers and advocates, we stand together with the people of the Cordillera who continue to work for the achievement of their essential freedoms as indigenous peoples. Indeed, the Cordillera Day is so much more than the dances, the music and the food; rather, it is also a strong political statement on the situation of the Philippine indigenous peoples, their strength, their leadership and their determined resistance against those who plunder their lands with big corporate mining, against a government and military that terrorize the peoples in the Cordillera and against the few who are willing to sell out the national patrimony to foreign and big business interests. We remember very well the Igorot priest, Fr. Rex Reyes, who came here to speak last December and he said very simply: “To be an indigenous person in the Philippines is to be anti-mining.”

On this particular day, we pay special honour and tribute to the heroes and martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the continued existence of indigenous peoples, their traditional lands, resources, and sacred sites upon which their cultural heritage and identity are rooted. We also have not forgotten the continuing search for James Moy Balao, one of the founders of the Cordillera People's Alliance, who remains missing since the 17th of September 2008.

Again, our well wishes, greetings and prayers go to the people of the Cordillera on this year's 25th Cordillera Day Celebration. The Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights, together with other advocates and supporters locally and internationally, will continue to work hand in hand with the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera in their struggle for self-determination and genuine national democracy. The call of this year's Cordillera Day “Strengthen people’s solidarity. Intensify the struggle for land, life and rights” will reverberate loud and strong. #

 

Click here for more photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/erie.maestro/CordilleraDay2009InVancouver?feat=email#

 

 
     
     
           
           
     
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