GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

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GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

• DATU MIGKETAY VICTORINO L. SAWAY
• Talaandig Tribe
• Sungko, Lantapan, Bukidnon
• Mindanao, Philippines

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BACKGROUND

• Ethnic Group TALAANDIG
• Population 100,000 (approximately)
• Location Province of Bukidnon,
• Philippines
• Ancestral Territory Mt. Kitanglad and
  Surrounding Municipalities
• Area 43,000 (approximately)

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OBJECTIVES

• To discuss the origin of local knowledge based on
  the Talaandig story of creation.
• To explain the concept of a global responsibility
  based on the framework and structures of local
  knowledge
• To discuss the significance of the common sense
  as basis of identifying the link between
• local knowledge and global science.

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ORIGIN AND SOURCES OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

• Framework of Creation
• Cultural Integrity Framework
• Territorial Integrity Framework
• The Human Body
• The House
• The Community
• The Culture
• The Earth

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FRAMEWORK OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

• A formulation of an Indigenous Peoples
  Comprehensive Plan for survival and development
  requires two important framework
• 1) The Cultural Integrity Framework that
  significantly includes indigenous beliefs and
  religion, oral history and knowledge systems,
  customary laws, economic system and health
  practices, and, indigenous defense.
• 2) The Territorial Integrity Framework that
  cover ancestral lands and domain's, ancestral
  waters, forests, mountains, natural and
  biological resources including air, sun sounds
  and spirits.

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• Figure I. Framework and Structure of Local
  Knowledge

HUMAN BODY HOUSE FAMILY COMMUNITY CULTURE EARTH
Flesh Kitchen, Cooking Place Women / Mothers Farm and Food Area Territory/ Domain Land
Blood Bamboo tube /Water jars Young and Elder Women Fishing, washing area Health and Family Waters, Rivers
Bones, Veins and Stomach Fireplace Parents Crops, hunting games, granaries Economy Plants, trees, wildlife/ forest
Legs and Feet Pillar, Door., Ladder Young men/ Males Warriors, Messengers Defense/ Security Air
Eyes Window Elders Blacksmith, Artisans Leadership/ Energy Sun
Mouth Reception Hall Old Folks, Children Oral History, Chants, Tales Language Sounds
Head/ Brain/ Heart Roof, Walls Old Folks, Elders Spirituality, Shamanism Beliefs/ Sensitivity Spirits
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CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

• Unwritten and Expressed in Oral Traditions
• Communally and Collectively Owned
• Closely associated with Nature
• Universal in Principle
• Dynamic and Systematic
• Understood through the Common Sense
• A common heritage

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FORMS AND EXPRESSIONS OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

• Social, i.e., oral history and traditions, epic
  chanting, instruments playing , healing, etc.
• Economic, i.e., hunting, food gathering,planting
  harvesting, etc.
• Political, i.e., customary mediation,
  arbitration, peace negotiations, defense etc.
• Spiritual, i.e., religious ceremonies,
  worshipping, rituals, etc.

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PRINCIPLES OF EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE

• Horizontal Approach, i.e. Individual person as
  male or females, brothers or sisters male or
  female cousins male or female relatives of the
  same generation, etc.
• Vertical Approach, i.e. male or female son or
  daughter male or female parents male or female
  grandparents male or female ancestors, etc.

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SIGNIFICANCE OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE IN A MULTI-SCALE
ASSESSMENT SYSTEM

• Relationships of the physical constitution of
  the human body to the physical constitution of
  nature/earth.
• Identification of Variables i.e., social
  variables, economic variables, political
  variables and spiritual variables, that provides
  basis of understanding cultural evolution and
  change.
• Principle of Harmony and Balance in relation with
  the natural course of change
• A Principle of Accountability
• A Principle of Survival and Self-preservation

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GLOBAL ACCOUNTABILITY

• Protecting and Preserving the earth and nature as
  the physical foundation of human survival
• Maintaining the harmony and balance between human
  culture and nature
• Cultural Accounting and Accountability
• Awareness of Cultural and Environmental Impacts
• A Common Sense Method

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COMMON SENSE AS THE LINK

• Theoretical and Conceptual Aspect of Common
  Sense, i.e. concept, idea, philosophy and
  principle.
• Practical and Validity Aspect of Common Sense,
  i.e. heard, seen, smelt, touched, tasted, felt,
  moved.
• Common Sense as a logical process and a system
• Common Sense as the basis human manipulation and
  interventions with nature
• The integrity of Common Sense as a tool of local
  knowledge and modern science
• Common Sense as mother of all sciences

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SUMMARY

• Principle of Interdependency, e.g. the human
  being was created for the world and the world
  for the human being
• Role as Custodian of Creation/ Accountability
• Common Sense or Common Science as the Common
  Ground between local and modern knowledge
• Physical Constitution of Nature as Source Book of
  Local Knowledge and the Basic Resources of
  Technological and Scientific Intervention and
  Manipulations
• Principle of Balance and Harmony as a necessity
  to both local and global science.

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THANK YOU!