Q&A session with Minnie Degawan, a Kankanaey-Igorot activist from the Cordillera region of the Philippines

Minnie Degawan

Minnie is an indigenous Kankanaey-Igorot from the Cordillera, Philippines.   A long-time indigenous rights activist, she has participate din various standard setting activities, such as the drafting of the UN Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples, and the different policies of multi-lateral development banks.  After the UNDRIP was adopted she joined conservation organizations to see how the principles contained therein are being implemented on the ground.  She worked with the Forest Climate Program of WWF, then joined  Conservation International as Director of its Indigenous and Traditional Peoples Program.  This was followed by a stint with Re:wild as Director of Kawari – a dedicated funding mechanism for IPLCs to ensure integrity in the carbon market.  Currently, she is the Global Advisor of the FSC-Indigenous Foundation.

She studied B.S. Biology at the University of the Philippines but her passion is in raising the awareness of indigenous communities to their rights.  She believes in the power of dialogues and has represented IPLCs in different multi-stakeholder platforms, such as  The Forest Dialogue, Free Prior Informed Consent Initiative of Resolve, PEFC and FSC, to name a few.  She has advised private companies on their engagement with Indigenous Peoples – all with the aim of providing space for constructive dialogues.  

Aside from sitting down with community elders to listen to their stories, Minnie’s favorite activity is going to the beach, even if she does not know how to swim!  She loves having discussions with the youth on the traditional knowledge and value systems of her community.