The Indigenous People’s (IP) month is celebrated annually on October by virtue of Proclamation No. 1906, s. 2009 which commemorates the signing of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act on October 29,1997. This October, in the celebration of 2024 Indigenous Peoples Month, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs (MIPA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as the lead Ministry in the observance of this significant activity in the life of every Indigenous Cultural Community, MIPA prepared programs and activities with the support of different Ministries, Offices and Agencies to make this month more productive and memorable Indigenous Peoples Month celebration in the region. One of those activities is the IP Month Celebration at Erumanen ne menuvu Indigenous Community.

This year’s theme, we aligned our celebration with the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) with a theme: “Mga Katutubo at Katutubong Dunong: Pahalagahan, Pangalagaan at Parangalan” or “Valuing, Nurturing, and Honoring Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Knowledge,”

Over two hundred individuals gathered and actively participated the activity, composed of IP Learners of Tamped High School, Tribal Elders, Barangay Officials, Parents, Teachers and MIPA Personnels. This program is with the collaboration with the School Head of Tamped- Sir Bhonn Saliling, Hon. Francisco B. Saliling of Barangay Chairman of Tamped and Tribal Leaders of Erumanën në mënuvu Indigenous Cultural Community. The Program was full of cultural learnings and awareness that could help on the IP Learners and community of Tamped in preserving, promoting the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous Cultural Community of Erumanën në mënuvu.

After the activity, over one hundred fifty (150) individuals from Erumanen në mënuvu received a food packs with 10 kilos rice from the Bangsamoro READi. Minister Melnaio Ulama is thankful to the Bangsamoro READi headed by Atty. Datu Hamad M. Abas- Head Secretariate of BDRRMC for extending assistance to the IP Community of Special Geographic Area (SGA). This IP community of Tamped were one of those areas who were severely affected on weather conditions in previous months that causes large damages on their livelihood and even their agricultural products.

The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs prepared pack lunch with snacks, slippers for kids and hygiene kits for teachers. This activity is under the Programs and Operations Division, facilitated by Caroline Love T. Magbanua, Head, Cultural Affairs Section and Ex Officio for Indigenous Peoples on the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.

Present on that special IP Month Celebration for Erumanen ne menuvu was Minister Melanio Ulama who serves as their keynote speaker, Ma’am Elsie Ulama, Sir Joven Molanggana -Ancestral Domain Section Head, Harjen B. Gullon-MIPA IO III, Ma’am Bencita Saliling -MIPA Tribal Affairs Officer for SGA and other staff of MIPA who shows support in bringing basic services in the Erumanën community.

This activity complies the Ministry’s mandate to protect, preserve and promote the well-being of the Indigenous Peoples of BARMM.