ARITAO— The call to establish a Provincial Indigenous Peoples Tribal Center in Nueva Vizcaya is being framed as a response to both cultural preservation and service delivery gaps in a province that is home to about 18 indigenous peoples groups.
Millennial Isinai leader Sherlock Jama Magaway, a member of the Isinai Council of Elders in Aritao and founder of Uwwa si Vizcaya (Brother/Sister of Vizcaya), described the proposed facility as a permanent second home for indigenous peoples.
“As a millennial elder, I believe I can be a bridge between our elders’ wisdom and the energy of our young people,” Magaway said. “The Tribal Center should not only protect our past. It must meet the needs of our people today — from health to livelihood — while uniting elders and youth in charting our future.”
He added: “We will continue to protect culture and tradition; we will fight for the rights of every indigenous Vizcayano.”
A province of many tribes
The need for a shared center is linked to the province’s demographic profile. Nueva Vizcaya sits at the convergence of the Cordillera, Caraballo and Sierra Madre ranges, and its upland and lowland towns host distinct tribal communities.
Major groups include the Ifugao in the towns of Quezon, Bagabag and Kasibu; Gaddang in Solano and Bayombong; Isinai in Dupax del Sur, Bambang and Aritao; Dumagat in the Aritao area; Kalanguya or Ikalahan in Santa Fe; and Bugkalot or Ilongot in Alfonso Castañeda and Dupax del Norte.
Other groups that form part of the 18 and are present across upland municipalities include Ibaloi, Kankana-ey, Iwak, Tuwali and Ayangan.
Of these, eight are recognized as ancestral domain holders: Isinai, Bugkalot, Gaddang, Iwak, Kalanguya, Dumagat, Ayangan and Ibaloi. Their presence spans from remote mountain barangays to more accessible towns, a dispersion that makes unified governance and regular assembly difficult without a dedicated venue.
At present, the most visible province-wide gathering of these groups occurs every last week of May during the Ammungan Festival, the annual gathering of tribes. Outside of that week-long event, tribal councils often meet in separate municipal halls, barangay centers or open grounds.
Three gaps the center seeks to address
Magaway said the Tribal Center is envisioned to address three interconnected needs.
First is cultural preservation and customary governance. The facility would provide space where tribal councils, rituals and community assemblies can convene regularly, where languages can be taught, and where traditions and customary laws can be documented and promoted beyond festival performances.
Second is community development. The center is proposed to serve as a hub for livelihood training, educational programs, and youth wellness activities, aimed at fostering continuity between elders and younger members who are increasingly exposed to lowland employment and digital culture.
Third is access to basic services. Magaway said the plan includes integrating basic medical services so that indigenous families, especially those from remote and underserved areas, can have easier access to primary care and essential health support without traveling to distant town centers.
Uwwa si Vizcaya, which translates to “Kapatid ng Vizcaya” and anchors Magaway’s advocacy in Isinai heritage, promotes inclusive progress, indigenous rights, livelihood empowerment and community service.
Proponents argue that with 18 groups spread across 15 municipalities, a single, permanent facility would not only preserve ancestral heritage but also expand practical access to health, education and livelihood opportunities, providing a year-round counterpart to the symbolic unity shown during Ammungan. WITH REPORTS FROM LEANDER C. DOMINGO AND RACHEL MAGDAY