SMU Kicks Off Indigenous Peoples and Museum with Eucharistic Celebration
To start the observance of the Indigenous Peoples and Museum Month and to honor the Holy Guardian Angels whose memorial is commemorated 2 October, the Community Engagement and Indigenous Peoples Studies Center and the Campus Ministry Office of Saint Mary’s University (SMU) organized a Eucharistic Celebration on 2 October at the Fr. Cornelius Tonus Gymnasium. The month-long festivity revolved around the theme, “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures.”
In his homily, Fr. Marcial Lloyd Castañeda, a priest from the Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc, started with a question: “How can we be guardian angels to each other?” Fr. Marcs alluded to the Gospel of Matthew: “I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”
Let us child-like, not childish; and by doing that, we become angels to one and all. Let us be humble like a child… One of the good things that we can learn from the innocent and simple children are honesty and integrity. We are challenged to be angels just by being honest and by being humble. Children are bearers of blessings, “anawim” the “poor of God.” Children are powerless, yet powerful to attract the heart because the child is a representation of God.
Angels can fly because they do not have sin; they do not carry bitterness and hatred. If you want to be an angel, let go of pride, let go of bitterness, let go of hatred, let go of jealousy, let go of envy.
This month, we celebrate our culture. It is not just dances and chants, it’s not just our gongs, it is about our cultural values; talks about unity, solidarity of peoples. Bishop Claver quotes anthropologists and sociologists when he said, you cannot solve any problem without a dialogue. The best way to solve a problem in the indigenous way is to gather together as a community: talk and listen, stand for your fundamental truth, and meet what connect us together.
Culture cannot be separated from Mother Earth. We respect the waterfalls, we respect the rivers, we respect the riverbanks. Indigenous peoples cannot be separated from Mother Earth. Again, quoting Bishop Claver, remove us from our land, and we lose our identity. Make peace with creation, not war. Creation was completed in Jesus Christ, and we call it inculturation.
If we do not do something about mining, we will eventually be buried. Let us seek the earth that is given to us; not to exploit, not to abuse and misuse. We’re given the responsible stewardship of Creation. The use of cyanide and mercury pollutes us. Culture cannot be removed from the land; remove us from our land, and we destroy our identity. I know that you have issues about mining here. Indigenous peoples, please do not allow your lands to be exploited, you will suffer in the long term. Culture is our identity, culture is our dignity. IP culture tells us to respect Mother Earth; and, in term, Mother Nature will protect us.
In conclusion, Fr. Marcs aptly said: the indigenous peoples’ celebration is telling us to be guardian angels of our culture, of our Earth.
The Ethnicity Mass ushers in the other activities within the Indigenous Peoples and Museum Month which include cultural exhibits, a community-based forum on cultural and artistic rights of indigenous peoples, capacitation trainings, a cultural recital, and a community feast among others.
Written and photo by: PIO
