Listening to the Voices of Samoki, Bontoc-Ili, and Poblacion Research Field Visit for Indigenous Methods of Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution

April 5, 2024 | NCIP, Bontoc, Mountain Province

On April 5, 2024, I conducted another important leg of my research fieldwork in Bontoc, Mountain Province, as part of my study on Indigenous Methods of Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution. This visit was independent from my Sagada engagement and focused on meaningful dialogue and collective decision-making with the communities of Samoki, Bontoc-Ili, and Poblacion.

Held at the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Office in Bontoc, the gathering followed the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process—an essential safeguard that ensures Indigenous Peoples’ rights, agency, and authority over research conducted within their ancestral domains.

A Day Grounded in Process and Respect

The day unfolded through the following FPIC-mandated activities:

• ✔️ Community Assembly

• ✔️ Conference and Disclosure

• ✔️ Community Decision-Making

• ✔️ Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

• ✔️ Resolution of Consent

Each step reaffirmed that peacebuilding, in Indigenous contexts, begins with listening, transparency, and collective consent. The discussions were not rushed; they were thoughtful, deliberate, and rooted in community values. Elders and Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) shared insights shaped by lived experience—how conflicts are traditionally addressed, how harmony is restored, and how accountability is maintained within the community.

Gratitude to the Community and Facilitators

I extend my deepest appreciation to the elders and IPMRs of Samoki, Bontoc-Ili, and Poblacion for their openness and trust in allowing my research to proceed. Their willingness to engage reflects a shared commitment to preserving and documenting Indigenous knowledge systems—especially those that sustain peace and social balance.

My sincerest thanks also go to the IKSP Team of Mountain Province, whose careful and respectful facilitation ensured a smooth FPIC process. Their work exemplifies how institutional processes can align with community protocols when carried out with integrity and cultural sensitivity.

Carrying Forward Indigenous Wisdom

This field visit reinforced a core realization of my research: Indigenous peacebuilding is not abstract theory—it is lived practice. It exists in councils of elders, in restorative conversations, in communal responsibility, and in decisions reached together rather than imposed.

As I move forward with this research, I carry with me the voices, guidance, and consent of the communities of Samoki, Bontoc-Ili, and Poblacion. Their wisdom strengthens the foundation of this work and reminds me that true peacebuilding begins where respect, culture, and community intersect.