On May 21 to 24, 2019 more than 120 indigenous youth from Higaonon ancestral domains and Menuvu ancestral domain, accompanied by their Elders, assembled at the Man-ai National High School (Tignapoloan National High School Annex) in Barangay Tignapoloan, Cagayan de Oro City for the Indigenous Youth Eco Camp 2019. 

With the theme ‘Pagpangulo asum hinangon iman (Building tomorrow’s leaders today),’ the camp program was designed with activities for teambuilding and practicing leadership, with a stress inputs on Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and basic organizational skills for the youth.

The participants were mostly from the three Ancestral Domain Partners of Samdhana in the project Indigenous Governance at the Forefront of Conservation (ICON Project), supported by the Forest Foundation Philippines. These are the Cagayan de Oro Unified Ancestral Domain Claim (CDO-UADC) in Cagayan de Oro City, Dulangan Ancestral Domain in Opol, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon Indigenous Cultural Communities Ancestral Domain (BICCAD) in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. Other participants came from the Higaonon communities in Baungon, Bukidnon, Kalanawan and Balatukan communities in Gingoog City, and from the Sarukadang Menuvu Kirentiken community in Don Carlos, Bukidnon. 

During the camp, it was discovered that the knowledge of the youth about their traditions and culture varied. Some are already assimilated in the mainstream social practices, while others still had strong roots in their cultural heritage. Datu Tony Lumandong, the chairperson of Kagduma ho mga Higaonon Inc. (KAGDUMA), expressed his joy of seeing young blood during the opening program. He likened the indigenous youth to the first rays of sun after weeks of strong rain, the rain being the Elders’ decades of struggle to protect their ancestral territories. 

Through the various team activities and sharing sessions, the campers had a rich exchange of their various experiences, hopes and aspirations. Every night, a cultural program was held to showcase the Indigenous youth’s. The first night was a sharing of stories around a camp fire in the tradition of the nanangen. Nanangen is similar to bedtime storytelling among the Higaonon. But more than telling stories, it is used to transmit information and values about their people’s history and culture. On the second and third nights, the campers presented traditional dances, songs of their own composition about their homes and short plays of Higaonon history. 

One highlight of the Eco-camp was the tree-planting. The campers planted around 500 narra and molave seedlings inside the Man-ai NHS campus and in one site of the ancestral domain in the Man-ai community. This activity recognizes the indigenous youth’s role in the regeneration of the environment in their territories. The Samdhana team has made it a practice to incorporate tree planting in its major activities, especially those that are community-based. This leaves a lasting imprint not only on the participants but also on the host community.

The Indigenous Youth Eco Camp 2019 was organized in partnership with KAGDUMA, with support from Forest Foundation Philippines and Global Greengrants Funds. The event was made successful with the generous support of the following: Department of Education - Man-ai National High School Annex, Local Government Unit of Cagayan de Oro City, especially through the City Social Welfare and Development Department, Local Government Unit of Brgy. Tignapoloan. The activity was also supported by the Philippine Air Force, the 65th Infantry Battalion, and the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office who provided extra labor in setting up the camp facilities and security. The camp received sponsorships from Nature’s Spring Water, the Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD), SMART Telecommunications, and other generous individuals.