Essential Questions, Simple Answers (Draft #1)

What is the relationship between spiritual, ritual, myth, and art from the indigenous/tribal point of view?
all is one, like fingers on two hands intertwined.

How do dance, music, visual arts and oral tradition fit into indigenous life?
intimately, synonymously

How do indigenous beliefs and practices survive in a post-colonial/globalized world?
oral traditions, research, recognition of traditions, rituals, creation of new ones in our new context

What aspects of tribal culture evolve and can be embraced by “diaspora” students?
dance, art, literature, history, ritual, evolving ritual...all things...

What from our indigenous past survives to give us strength and purpose in life?
messages from our ancestors, the land

What is the interplay between contemporary Western arts and tribal arts?
We experience now many people who "fuse" traditional and Western arts. I believe the interchange between the arts reflects the ongoing interchange between people. I am surrounded by people looking back to their roots and reclaiming their heritage, yet expressing the heritage in new ways--musically, artistically, spiritually. It's like a rubber band that's been stretched too far apart and now the ends are being pulled back together... or maybe it's like a person looking at himself in a reflected pool of water and with each ripple of the wave the image changes, yet still remains the same.

Art, music and dance are integral to the rituals and survival of the community and of nature. There are many similarities and contrasts not only between different tribes of the Philippines, but also worldwide. I was astounded to see the similarity between how a mumbaki and babalao from different parts of the world can have very similar ways of being. Indigenous people (IPs) maintain their culture in a post-colonial Philippines, because of the necessity of survival and because they live to protect the land. This was evident with every tribal person I met with. Tribal peoples have a deep respect for the spirituality of every living creature, the earth and the universe.