Crop change, land use change, climate change: Conversations with Indigenous youth

The River Above Asia Oceania Ecclesial Network (RAOEN) uses a method called biome-based synodality to engage Indigenous youth in discussions about their relationship with the land and faith. This approach encourages young people to share experiences regarding their local environments and how they connect to global climate changes.

In the upland village of Bendum in Upper Pulangi, Bukidnon, Philippines, the Pulangiyēn Indigenous community discussed how changes in crops relate to larger environmental shifts. These conversations help youth understand their local economy and the history of their ancestral domain, including the impact of government Timber License Agreements from the 1970s. RAOEN organizes these sessions over three days to help participants connect their personal stories with past, present, and global environmental realities.