By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
The celebration of the Indigenous People’s Month has come and gone. It was just like another day. Nothing new about that. Its implication though really drives home the point. The national government does not give a shit about this region and its peoples. Considering most of the indigenous peoples (IPs) in this country are concentrated here, it means it does not give a shit about all other IPs.
After all what will the national politicians gain from us? Our natural resources, especially the precious metals “in ‘em dar hills” were mostly dug out and carted away already. By whom? By those who colonized us and their local lackeys, mostly from the lowlands.
What are left for us to dig out and fight over are just the dregs which are measly at best and of low value.
So the least government can do is to give us our fair share of whatever is still left on the ground. To make the most of such, a good governance is a must in our midst. That needs our proud participation. Which in turn requires being proud with our socio-cultural heritage or our identity as indigenous peoples.
Absent such, we will be psychologically insecure as a people, easily manipulated or exploited. Therein lies the bedrock of exploitation or enslavement. Brainwash them first, break their culture and collective pride and they would be without backbones to stand up and resist.
Give them alcohol, drugs, smoke and other vices mostly of western origin and they would be groggy, devoid of mental clarity on their nature to progress on their own with their resources.
Real freedom in order to be achieved must be sought no matter what, with clarity of purpose not by murky determination that often result in infighting or exploitation of each other.
Not giving enough attention to the needs of IPs is another way of doing it. Pretend they don’t exist or not important and they will start believing that. They will be easily brainwashed into voting for those trumpeted by the media including the social media. They will not easily know they are being taken for a ride.
It is ignorance pure and simple. Where those misty eyed on our natural wealth would thrive and prosper. Divide and rule would be easy in such surroundings as well as other methods to keep us off balance, like headless chickens with no bearings or direction.
So let us be clearly aware of how we are being treated as indigenous peoples. Sweet talks like what we are receiving are badges of ill will and veiled vested interests waiting to be satisfied. Let us remain watchful and alert as indigenous peoples.
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