CAS SocSci and Hum Department, Culture and Arts Office launch SARITA 2.0

The Nueva Vizcaya State University - Bayombong Campus hosted the SARITA 2.0: IndiGENIUS Knowledge (Indigenous Knowledge for Resilience and Agency) on October 22, 2024 at the NVSU Library Building.

The forum engaged in meaningful conversation different participants including students, student group members, faculty members, staff, visitors, and university leaders.

This event, a collaborative initiative by the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities under the College of Arts and Sciences, in partnership with the Culture and the Arts Office, focused on the critical role of indigenous knowledge in promoting resilience and fostering cultural preservation.

The half-day event kicked off with the opening of an exhibit led by Mr. Alvin B. Felix, with a display of a wide-array of cultural artifacts, traditional art, and historical narratives. The exhibit featured the value of indigenous heritage as a cornerstone of identity and collective agency.

In her inspirational message, Engr. Shelley Ruth Joy S. Calata, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) provincial officer, urged the participants to actively contribute to the protection and promotion of indigenous knowledge systems. 

The highlight of the event was an insightful and thought-provoking talk by Mr. Samuel G. Balinhawang, consultant for the Kalahan Educational Foundation and former provincial Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR). In his presentation, he discussed how indigenous knowledge, systems, and practices (IKSP) offer sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges such as environmental conservation, food security, and cultural erosion.

Gracing the event, University President Dr. Wilfredo A. Dumale, Jr. pinned the clear and consistent position of the University to upholding the rights and welfare of indigenous communities through inclusive education and community-driven advocacies.

Dr. Lori Shayne A. Busa, CAS dean, represented by Dr. Gydabelle Celestino, Socsci & Hum Dep't chairperson, opened the event with a warm welcome. Meanwhile, Ms. Lorna L. Olligo, Socsci & Hum Dep't  faculty member, outlined the objectives of the forum, facilitated the open forum where the students raised clarification on critical topics relating to IPs, and provided the concluding remarks. 

SARITA 2.0 not only served as a platform for meaningful dialogue but also reaffirmed NVSU’s dedication to forming a greater awareness of indigenous heritage and championing equitable development.