katribu-blog

[katribu-blog]

About

The Kabataan Para sa Tribung Pilipino (KATRIBU) is an organization of indigenous youth and student advocates from different schools and universities dedicated to upholding the indigenous peoples’ rights. 

KATRIBU engages in activities that seek to deepen the awareness and understanding of the youth on the issues, plight and struggles of the indigenous peoples (IP). KATRIBU organizes and mobilizes the youth to advocate IP rights and undertake solidarity actions for the struggles of the indigenous peoples. It also generates financial, material, technical and volunteer support for IP communities.

KATRIBU was formed as a reaction to the proposed Chico Dam project in the 1970s to 1980s. Indigenous communities in the Mountain Province opposed the project as it would have submerged their villages, sacred grounds, and rice fields. In 1984, students from various schools in Manila convened an assembly to serve as a venue to discuss and respond to issues confronting the IPs in the country. Realizing the role of the youth as catalysts for change, and the need for a continued, solid and more responsive organization to support the IPs, the Kabataan para sa Tribung Pilipino was launched in March 1985.  

For the past 32 years, the indigenous peoples' advocacy borne by KATRIBU had unwaveringly struggled alongside the indigenous peoples for their rights to ancestral lands and self-determination. As an advocacy group, KATRIBU conducts a series of fora, group discussions, symposia, exhibits, and cultural activities and facilitated and participated in community exposures and integrations to indigenous communities. KATRIBU also extends direct services, such as medical and dental missions, relief drives, literacy - numeracy projects, and other technical and material support to indigenous communities.