Tribal elders and leaders of the Uma tribe in Lubuagan town, Kalinga province recently and successfully closed the first Uma Tribal Elders-Leaders Conference last February 27 in Ag-agama, Western Uma, Lubuagan.

Organized by Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA)-Kalinga and the Binodngan Peoples Organization (BPO), the conference aimed to unite the tribal elders and leaders on the current issues affecting the tribe, the province and the region and discuss these; to identify issues affecting the tribe and means to address these, and to unite and mobilize the Uma tribe for the defense of land, life, and resources.

Aside from the 114 participants from the three barangays (villages) of the Uma tribe, 25 youth and women observers also took part of the conference.

BPO Secretary General and CPA Elders Commission member Markus Bangit discussed the Cordillera indigenous peoples’ situation and the role of tribal elders and leaders in peacekeeping and intertribal unity. CPA-Kalinga Secretary General Tony Ngayaan meanwhile discussed the Kalinga provincial situation.

One significant output is the resolution to host the 22nd Cordillera Day celebrations, and the resolution regarding the dispute between the Balatoc and Guina-ang tribes.

In the first resolution, conference participants recognized the significant role of tribal elders and leaders in the Cordillera indigenous peoples’ struggle for the defense of collective rights and ancestral domain. They also recognized issues affecting the tribe , such as mining, tribal conflict, militarization, government neglect, among others.

More importantly, the Uma tribe has been part of the Igorots’ struggle for ancestral domain, self determination, and genuine democracy. The Cordillera Day celebrations will take place on April 24, 2006.

In the second resolution, the elders and leaders identified security measures for the tribe to avoid unnecessary, adverse circumstances. # at bengwayan