Indigenous Peoples Ministry

The mission of our Indigenous Peoples Ministry is to work with the indigenous communities and empower them to achieve self-governance, preserve their cultural Integrity and promote human dignity. The community organization work will require the appointment of coordinators from each of our parish communities and followed up with Pakighinabi with each indigenous people (or Lumad) group. Cultural regeneration will be achieved in part through partnership with Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center (APC) for a summer Youth Program. We are also plan to develop a Senior High School Program for Indigenous Arts in Miarayon.    

We continue our active involvement with IP associations in Malaybalay, in CaBuSTaM  (Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Surigao, Tandag, & Malaybalay), and the Diocesan Social Apostolate. In addition, we are exploring a possible partnership with Kitanlad Indigenous Communities. In partnership with Xavier University, Political Education of IP Leaders in Cabanglasan will be provided.  We have established a Help Desk for IP to extend assistance in legal and community matters. Lumad  students who are interested to study law can also work in the IP Office as apprentices. We also assist Xavier Science Foundation in  its IP projects in Mt. Kintanlad and Mt. Kalatungan. 

We seek to develop the agricultural lands within our schools and parishes into demonstration farms, starting with the land of Pangantucan Community High School. A successful social enterprise and demonstration farm can provide scholarship for the poor students. Exposing students to the feasibility and practicality of agriculture can animate them to consider agriculture as a possible discipline for college. The established farm can also be a means to assist local, small-time farmers in updating their farming skills using modern agricultural methodologies and technologies especially that the regional and provincial offices and training centers are quite far from the municipality.  

The Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation Inc. (FLMFI) team convened the community leaders of  the four mission communities of Cabanglasan, Miarayon, Pangantucan and Zamboanguita for a 4-day leadership training last May 3-6, 2021. The participants included IP Elders, Women (Bae), IP Youth, and Kapawa hu Paglaum college scholars. The activity was intended to reassess our mission and capacitate our leaders for continuous striving for self-determination.  Despite the pandemic,  the event was a success through God’s affirmation by the heart, brain, and hands from all those who came together to offer their selfless love and service to their respective tribes and personal whys.