champoy lim, ancestors calling collection walu, 2021.
Through the Eyes of Elders
Weaving Histories of the Philippines & U.S. through Story & Ritual
Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
Thursday, April 15th at 6pm (Pacific) | 9am (Philippines)
In researching the colonial circulation of objects from the Philippines to U.S. museums (the Hearst Museum at UC Berkeley houses over 8,000 objects from the Philippines), MFA student champoy lim began weaving together narratives of the travel of these objects with moments from his own life. This exploration prompted the questions - How does knowledge spread through ritual and stories? How can belongings in museums, separated from their cultures, become reconnected through dialogue?
At this event, champoy will bring together elders and youth from Mt. Kitanglad (Mindanao Island, Philippines), one of the most active protected areas in which tribal leadership is recognized in land management. Tribal elders will build connections between themselves, youth representatives, and cultural objects through storytelling and ritual. In turn, these youths will speak about their empowerment to serve as culture bearers for the next generation and reimagine how their own histories are interwoven with the histories of these institutions and objects.
This program, in parallel with other cultural revival projects led by the panelists, will serve as a bridge for indigenous knowledge, skills and practices to build toward a more just and inclusive future respectful of indigenous governance and traditional lifeways.
PRESENTERS:
champoy lim is an interdisciplinary artist, educator and performer currently pursuing an MFA at UC Berkeley. Born in the highlands of Bukidnon, a landlocked province in the island of Mindanao located in the Southern Philippines, lim has been based in the US/Turtle Island since 2002.
Easter Canoy is the NGO manager of the Kitanglad Integrated NGOs. She has been immersed in working with the elders of Mt. Kitanglad and the protection of the ancestral forests of Bukidnon. Canoy will act as a bridge facilitator with champoy during this event.
Tribal Elders: Datu Makapukaw/Adolino Saway is a representative of the Talaandig Tribe and the overall chieftain in his community and the Kitanglad Council of Elders. Bae Inatlawan/Adelina Tarino is a representative of the Bukidnon Tribe, overall chieftain, and a Babaylan (priestess, shaman) of the tribe.
Youth leaders: Salima Saway-Agraan is the youngest sister of Datu Makapukaw, and descendant of late Datu Kinulintang Saway, the Supreme Chieftain of the Talaandigs. Merly Omarol-Suday is the niece of Bae Inatlawan and a recipient of the Young Southeast Asia Leaders Initiative of the US Embassy. These young women are soil painters, dancers, performers of tribal instruments and chanters.
If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) to fully participate in this event, please contact Katie Fleming at pahma-programs@berkeley.edu with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.
SPONSORED BY:
Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
Townsend Center for the Humanities
Center for Southeast Asia Studies, UC Berkeley
Department of Anthropology, UC Berkeley