Heritage of the Land, Heritage of the Indigenous (Pamana ng Lupa, Pamana ng Katutubo)

Bridging Voices from the Forest: From the Amazon to Asia—Indigenous Economies, Governance, and Autonomy

In the lush mountains of Palawan, Philippines, where trees whisper stories from the ancient past, where rivers carry the island’s history of extraction in its veins, and where the land holds memories of indigenous protection, a gathering unlike any other transpired. From May 5 to 9, 2025, over 35 Indigenous delegates from across Colombia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines came together for a South-South learning exchange co-organized by Gaia Amazonas and NTFP-EP (Non-Timber Forest Products-Exchange Programme), under the Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA) partnership.

Titled "Bridging Voices from the Forest: From the Amazon to Asia—Indigenous Economies, Governance, and Autonomy", the exchange became a living testament to heritage handed down by ancestors, as well as the deep, subtle yet powerful patterns connecting Indigenous peoples across continents, in spite of language barriers. It was a meeting of hearts and histories. From dialogues and field visits emerged a recognition between cultures, cutting across oceans and languages, that Indigenous communities share a sacred bond with the land. They are not merely stewards of tropical forests, but they are part of the forests, and it is the forest what shapes their culture, therefore it is part of them.

Over five days, together with partners from NTFP-EP and Gaia Amazonas, the participants walked through ancestral forests, sat in community kubos, and listened deeply to each other and the land itself. In Brooke’s Point, Palawan, the Pala’wan people welcomed the delegates with humility and pride, offering a glimpse into their relationship with Almaciga forest trees. They demonstrated how tree tapping is performed with care, an old practice handed down by their ancestors. Participants witnessed how the Almaciga resin is sorted and valued, with its story interwoven with the Pala’wan people’s own journey toward sovereignty and autonomy.

Amazonian delegates shared how chili is both livelihood and lifeline. Karen representatives from Myanmar reflected on their struggle for recognition in a country that disregards their Indigenous identity. In each shared experience, threads of deep ecological wisdom from the land weaved a tapestry of Indigenous economies, governance, and autonomy that defied borders.

Ate Inday Alsa, a Tagbanua leader and staff of NTFP-EP Philippines, shared: “Mula sa mga bahaginan ng mga karanasan at kaalaman ay ang pagkakatugma ng mga kultura ng bawat katutubo at pagpapahalaga sa kagubatan, pagpapahalaga ng mga paniniwala ng bawat tribu.” (From the sharing of experiences and knowledge emerged the harmony among the cultures of each Indigenous group and their shared reverence for the forest and the beliefs of every ethnic group.)

From this exchange emerged a mutual appreciation of diverse practices and a realization that Indigenous peoples around the world are living different versions of the same story. They are resisting extractive systems, asserting self-governance, and building economies that honor their cultural principles and ecological relationships. These are not economies of exploitation, but of abundance. They are not alternative economies; they are ancestral heritage.

In participant circles, plenary sessions, and informal conversations, the recurring theme was interdependence – between people and forests, between the past and current generations, between one community and another. These connections are affirmations that ecological balance and indigenous cultural well-being are inseparable.

One of the most memorable during the exchange was the visit from Indigenous-led enterprise, Almaciga Resin Cooperative SPABP (Samahan ng mga Palawano ng Amas, Brooke’s Point). Their visit provided powerful insight into how communities in Palawan are reclaiming control over their resources, their narratives, and their futures. Youth-led Forest monitoring, indigenous classification systems, and community-defined pricing models all demonstrated what sovereignty looks like in practice.

Beyond showcasing best practices, the exchange offered a rare space for reflection: What does it mean to live well on this Earth? How do we protect our sacred relationships with the forest, with water, with food, and with each other? What can we learn from each other’s struggles and victories? The answers came in different forms. They were expressed through song, showcased through offerings from Amazon chili, with an exchange of culture, knowledge, and hugs in place of cash. They were revealed in the quiet dignity of elders who have seen generations rise and fall but whose commitment to life and land has never wavered.

As we await the release of the exchange's main video "Bridging Voices from the Forest", one thing is clear: the bridges built in Palawan between two Southern continents will endure. They will live on in new friendships and alliances formed across oceans and continents, and in the renewed spirit of communities who know they are not alone.

This exchange was a remembrance. People are bridged by our love for this planet.

Indigenous wisdom does not disappear, but it evolves with each new generation, in culture exchanges, in relationships blossoming, and each act of love that protects our common home.