Indigenous Youth in Mindanao Fight Mining Threats with Citizen Journalism
In Mindanao, a new generation of Indigenous youth is fighting back against mining threats using citizen journalism. They aim to preserve their culture and protect their ancestral lands from destruction.
The Tampakan Copper-Gold Project poses a significant risk, threatening over 27,000 hectares of ancestral land, displacing thousands, and polluting vital river systems. To combat this, the Mindanao Climate Justice Resource Facility received a grant of $480,000 from UNOPS in 2024.
The project's centerpiece was a three-day workshop led by respected journalists Inday Espina-Varona and Froilan Gallardo. This initiative, 'Empowering Indigenous and Local Communities Through Citizen Journalism', resulted in the formation of the Kinaiyahan Youth Network, an alliance of Indigenous and environmental youth advocates.
Storytelling is viewed as a political act of cultural defense and survival by the participants. In 2024, the Mindanao Climate Justice Resource Facility also received a grant from Cultural Survival's Indigenous Community Fund, providing $480,000 to 57 Indigenous communication projects worldwide.
Despite risks such as the abduction of a volunteer staff member and red-tagging of advocates, the project continues. A three-day training called Tingog: Citizen Journalism Training was held for 30 Indigenous and allied youth, teaching mobile reporting, digital safety, and trauma-informed storytelling practices.
The youth, armed with new skills and determination, continue to resist mining threats and preserve their culture. Their stories serve as a powerful tool for advocacy and cultural survival.
