In a concept paper presented in the recently-concluded lands situation conference at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Baguio, Rosella Camte-Bahni of the Center for Ibaloi Heritage and Loakan History said changes in the concept of owning lands affected the preservation of the ancestral domain.
In the olden days where lands were communally owned through a concept called "uma" or taking turns in land cultivation, Bahni said sharing of properties based on mutual trust was common. The introduction of titling, however, offered an entirely different concept for land ownership.
"It spawned conflicts among family and community members," Bahni said referring to the old practice where pioneer owners entrusted the titling of properties under the name of one person. Descendants however, turn away from the agreements and claim other people's properties.
In Loakan where several titles were issued in the past, Bahni said this ultimately devalued the worth of the ancestral land as a heritage property.
Encroachment of informal settlers also made it difficult for the ancestral claims to be titled," Bahni said. "This is threatening the remaining ancestral lands owned by Ibalois in Loakan, for if this continues, the Ibalois will disappear in Loakan."
There may have been efforts at reviving the customary practices of the Ibalois but the expense involved in butchering a cow for gatherings has put a damper on efforts to revive the tradition.
The changing population, the introduction of Christianity, education and out-migration are factors that contributed to the diminishing of culture, as well as of their heritage.
Bahni said this should serve as a challenge to descendants of Loakan to protect their remaining ancestral lands.
"We believe our culture -- the source of our identity -- is rooted in our land. More so, our survival as a people and community with a common origin and heritage depends on our ability to keep our ancestral lands and continue practicing our positive values. For the sake of the next generations who will inherit our remaining ancestral lands in Loakan, we owe it to them to bequeath a heritage and identity they can be truly proud of," she said.
