The following research articles were presented by Dr. L.S. Viloria and Ms. J.L.S.Labial:
Day 1: Parallel Session on Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resource Management
- Sustainability of Subsistence Traditional Upland Farming Among Intermittent Igorot Farmers in Mountain Province
- Fishing Problems and Their Effects Among the Small-Scale Fisherfolks in Zamboanga del Sur
Day 2: Parallel Session on Traditional Arts on Cultural Practices
- Coping Strategies Among the Artisanal Fisherfolks in Region IX
- Small-Scale Fishing Technologies in Zamboanga Peninsula: Implications to Sustainable Small Fishing Community
The International Conference on Prairie and Indigenous Knowledge, Agriculture, Education, Culture and the Arts, and Health was held at Mariano Marcos State University on May 16-18, 2023. The conference brought together scholars, experts, and practitioners from various disciplines to discuss and exchange ideas on the significance of indigenous knowledge in relation to agriculture, education, culture and the arts, and health. The event provided a platform for intellectual dialogue, promoting cultural diversity, and fostering collaboration among participants, from both local and international higher education institutions.
The International Conference on Prairie aimed to explore the vital role of indigenous knowledge in addressing contemporary challenges in agriculture, education, culture and the arts, and health. The conference provided a unique opportunity for academics, researchers, and practitioners to engage in interdisciplinary discussions, share insights, and identify innovative solutions rooted in indigenous wisdom.
Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) served as the lead organizing institution for the conference. Its commitment to promoting research and community engagement in various fields, including agriculture, education, and culture, made them a fitting host for this event. The Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Staff (CHED-IAS) and the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines, through the Trade Commission on Education, Agriculture, Beverages (EduCanada), were the cooperating and collaborating institutions for the conference. Their support and involvement added international perspectives and expertise to the event.
Several esteemed partner institutions were involved in the conference, including the University of Saskatchewan (USask), University of Regina (UofR), University of Calgary (UofC), University of Alberta (UofA), Dalhousie University, and PhilCanEDUCON members. PhilCanEDUCON members consisted of Benguet State University (BSU), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Central Mindanao University (CMU), Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC), and University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP). To indicate SPC’s intuition to be pat of this high prestigious collaboration, Dr. L.S. Viloria and Miss J.L.S.Labial submitted the themes where our academic institution can collaborate. With this, we expect to be contacted anytime for potential collaboration.
The conference had both general and specific objectives. The general objective was to facilitate knowledge exchange and research documentation on global cultures, with a focus on Filipino and Canadian indigenous knowledge in various thematic areas. The specific objectives included identifying documented indigenous knowledge and traditional practices, presenting these documented practices for knowledge exchange, conducting networking sessions to foster collaborative partnerships, and publishing lessons learned and documented indigenous knowledge practices.
The conference was organized as an in-person event and spanned two days. It featured parallel sessions categorized into five thematic areas namely: Traditional/Indigenous Healthcare Management; Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resource Management; Traditional Arts and Cultural Practices; Cultural Education; Indigenous Cuisine and Food System. The opening program commenced with a plenary session, followed by parallel presentations by members of PhilCanEDUCON Magic 7+ and invited speakers, partners, and participants from various local and foreign state universities and a private HEI – St. Peter’s College. The conference also included four panel discussions, which highlighted lessons learned in indigenous and traditional knowledge research documentation and community engagements. Each session presentation was allocated 15 minutes, followed by a 10-minute question-and-answer segment after every four paper presentations.
