24 April 2025
Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE) together with its affiliate member groups in eight countries or territories in the region expresses solidarity with the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), its chapters and members for celebration of the 41st Peoples’ Cordillera Day in Baguio City from 24-26 April 2025. Like every year, AIPNEE stands alongside its founding member CPA and its chapters, members and advocates on this annual commemoration of their steadfast commitment in supporting Indigenous communities in their struggles and defense of their rights.
The theme of the Day this year is particularly timely because growing right-wing or authoritarian regimes around the world, including in countries where AIPNEE works, have further led to shrinking civic space. That has meant increasing stigmatization and attacks against Indigenous Peoples and their defenders and organizations often portrayed as obstacles to “development” or “progress” by governments, businesses, investors and other decision-making actors usually driven by profits and greed.
There has been a “business as usual” approach – even in the face of environmental and climate crises and for energy transition to renewables. As a result, the transition has not been just with continued and increased violations of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. In Cordillera region and across the Philippines as well as in other countries in the region and around the world, hydropower, solar, wind and other renewable energy projects and mining of nickel, copper and other critical or transition minerals are being imposed on Indigenous territories – without obtaining their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Indigenous Peoples, in line with their right to self-determination, are free to decide what energy transition should mean for them and in their lands, territories and resources. In the Philippines and beyond, Indigenous communities have been leading their own energy solutions and other initiatives to use their lands and resources sustainably. We must mobilize our lands and resources to generate greater capital to further promote such solutions and initiatives and challenge the dominant political and business systems. In this context, AIPNEE is honored to have been able to provide support – even though to a very small extent – for the environmental summit on just energy transition that is being organized along the Peoples’ Cordillera Day.
As AIPNEE continues its works with CPA and Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and Indigenous defenders and their groups to support communities affected by extractive and energy projects across Asia to assert their rights and promote, we join all of you in calling to “Assert our rights. Persist in the struggle for self-determination. Advance the politics of change.”
