Re-examining Igorot representation: issues of commodification and cultural appropriation

ABSTRACT

The Igorots, the indigenous communities in North Luzon, Philippines, continue to be hounded to this day, due to the countless photographs and documents whose ultimate purpose was to project the Igorots as the Other. Igorot representation, issues of commodification and cultural appropriation have been, in recent years, one of the most widely discussed sources of ethical problems. The prevalence of these issues indicates the continuing challenge in representing the Igorots. Given a colonial past of appropriation and stereotyping that persists to the present, I argue that representations of Igorot culture are highly contestable and undergoing change: these representations provide a venue for critical examination that permits a deeper awareness of Igorot culture. Colonial records serve as a repository of information that is valuable in restoring aspects of Igorot historical existence. These records are vital in re-examining how Igorots were represented in the past, and how these materials are used in popular modes of representation and recuperation of Igorot identity in the present. This contributes to the self-determination of the Igorots in the contemporary period. Today, modern Igorots often find ways of asserting aspects of their cultural identity, and they draw on their cultural memory as a people to sustain their enduring heritage.

KEYWORDS:

• Igorots
• North Luzon
• commodification
• appropriation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).