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Table of Contents
“Lumad” is a Cebuano term for “native” or “indigenous”. It is a collective term used to describe the indigenous people of Mindanao. It is short for Katawhang Lumad (literally: “indigenous people”), which was officially adopted by the delegates of the Lumad Mindanao Peoples Federation (LMPF) to distinguish them from the other Mindanaoans, Moro, or Christians.
See the fact file below for more information on the Lumad People or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Lumad People worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
HISTORY OF IDENTITY
- Lumad people’s identity grew out of a response to the martial law during the reign of President Ferdinand Marcos.
- In June 1986, delegates from 15 tribes agreed to adopt a common name in a congress that also established Lumad-Mindanao.
- The choice of a Cebuano word was slightly ironic, but they considered it most appropriate as the Lumad tribes do not have any other common language except Cebuano.
- This was the first time in their history that these tribes agreed to a common name for themselves, different from the Moros and from the migrant majority.
- The name Lumad was spurred on by a political awakening among tribes.
- The united Lumad people of Mindanao sought and still seek to achieve self-determination for their member-tribes or, more concretely, self-governance within their ancestral domain in accordance with their culture and customary laws.
- The organization, Lumad Mindanao, is no longer intact, but the name remains and is gaining more adherents.
ETHNIC GROUPS
- The Lumad are the non-Muslim indigenous people in Mindanao.
- The collective term is used to describe the about 13 ethnic groups of Mindanao, including the Blaan, Bukidnon, Higaonon, Mamanwa, Mandaya, Manobo, Mansaka, Sangir, Subanen, Tagabawa, Tagakaulo, Tasaday, and T’boli.
- The Manobo tribe includes further large ethnic groups, in particular the Ata-Manobo, Agusan-Manobo, and Dulangan-Manobo.
- Considered as “vulnerable groups”, Lumad people live in hinterlands, forests, lowlands, and coastal areas.
- Despite the fact that the Butuanons and Surigaonons are also native to Mindanao, the term Lumad excludes these groups. This is because of their Visayan ethnicity and lack of close affinity with the Lumad.
- The Moros, such as the Maranao, Tausug, Sama-Bajau, and Yakan, are also excluded, despite also being native to Mindanao and despite some groups being closely related ethnolinguistically to the Lumad. This is because, unlike the Lumad, the Moros converted to Islam in the 14th and 15th centuries.
- This might be confusing as the word Lumad literally means “native” in the Visayan languages.
LANGUAGES
- The Lumad people speak various Philippine languages such as Manobo languages, Chavacano (in Zamboanga), Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Filipino, and English.
MUSICAL HERITAGE
- The Lumad tribe is commonly known for tribal music produced by musical instruments they made.
- Most of their musical heritage consists of various types of Agung ensembles – ensembles composed of large hanging, suspended, or held, bossed/knobbed gongs that act as a drone without any accompanying melodic instrument.
WAY OF LIVING
- Lumads still prefer to live a traditional life.
- They are non-Muslim or non-Christian; instead, they believe in spirits and gods. There is a god for land, water, and for the harvest, to name a few. Lumads believe that the mountain is sacred.
- They also believe that death and illness or bad faith are God’s way of showing anger.
- The offering of live animals such as pigs and chicken are common during tribal ceremonies for them to have a good harvest, health and protection, and thanksgiving.
- The Lumad people who reside within the southern highland ranges are swidden farmers and exercise little trade. Like many of its neighbors, the Bagobo community is ruled by a class of warriors known as magani or bagani. The elaborate dress and personal adornment of Bagobos are famous among anthropologists.
- The T’boli and Teduray are also acknowledged for their baskets, trinkets, bracelets, and earrings created of brass. The T’boli’s t’nalak are prized fabrics deemed to be inspired by the dreams of the woman weavers.
- On the mountains and plateaus of Bukidnon live those who call themselves Higaonon, or “mountain dwellers”.
- The mountains and valleys parted Higaonon from their neighbors and may account for why many of their traditions and customs have been maintained.
- The Mandaya, Agusan Manobo, and Ata share various cultural traits and social institutions like clothing and religious rituals. They exercise slash-and-burn farming and trade with neighbors. Warriors, commanded by the datu, are greatly valued and respected.
SOCIAL ISSUES
- For many years, the Lumad were forced to physically defend their right to control their ancestral territories against corporate plunder and militarization.
- When the migrants came, numerous Lumad groups went into the mountains and forests.
- These places are also the sites of the armed conflict between the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
- Caught in the conflict, the education, property, and security of the Lumad people were endangered because of the increasing amount of violent confrontations by the armed parties.
- On August 9, 2018, Lumad evacuees in Surigao del Sur formally returned to their homes after days or indeed months in evacuation camps.
Lumad People Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Lumad People across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Lumad People worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the “Lumad” which is a Cebuano term for “native” or “indigenous”. It is a collective term used to describe the indigenous people of Mindanao. It is short for Katawhang Lumad (literally: “indigenous people”), which was officially adopted by the delegates of the Lumad Mindanao Peoples Federation (LMPF) to distinguish them from the other Mindanaoans, Moro, or Christians.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Lumad People Philippines Facts
- Mindanao Map
- “Lumad”
- Yes or No?
- Why Lumad?
- A Lumad
- Lumad Jar
- Native but Not Lumad
- In Deep
- Lumad Art
- Native News
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Link will appear as Lumad People Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 4, 2021
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.