Lecture: Sustaining Heritage and Empowering Communities

The Ifugao Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Philippines, represent a living cultural landscape shaped by centuries of Indigenous knowledge and community resilience. This lecture will explore the multifaceted efforts to preserve and sustain this iconic heritage amid challenges posed by climate change, modernization, and globalization. Drawing on his extensive experience with community-led initiatives, Martin will delve into strategies that center Indigenous agency in the matters of conservation and ensure that the terraces will remain both a cultural and an agricultural resource for future generations.

The lecture will revisit the origins of the rice terraces, incorporating insights from the Ifugao Archaeological Project, which redefines their history as a dynamic response to Spanish colonialism rather than an ancient legacy. By highlighting the intersections of archaeology, community education, and sustainable tourism, the presentation will showcase how the Ifugao balance cultural integrity with economic opportunities.

Designed for both scholars and the larger community, the lecture will underscore the global relevance of Indigenous knowledge systems in addressing contemporary issues. It will invite a dialogue on collaborative opportunities to further engage in the preservation of the Ifugao heritage, offering pathways for partnerships that honor and amplify Indigenous voices.

Marlon M. Martin is the executive director of the Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement (SITMo), a community-based organization dedicated to the conservation of the UNESCO-listed Ifugao Rice Terraces. A passionate advocate for Indigenous heritage and community empowerment, Martin has been instrumental in bridging local knowledge and academic research. His leadership in the Ifugao Archaeological Project has redefined how heritage research can be co-created with communities, helping to challenge long-standing misconceptions about Ifugao history. Through initiatives like the Preserving Legacies program, Martin has emphasized the centrality of community participation in developing sustainable strategies for cultural preservation and revitalization. With over two decades of experience in heritage management, Martin has contributed to national and international dialogues on Indigenous knowledge systems, climate adaptation, and the intersections of cultural and environmental sustainability. His work exemplifies the transformative potential of community-driven approaches to archaeology and heritage conservation.

This talk is co-sponsored by the UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies, the Fowler Museum at UCLA, the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, the Henry Luce Foundation, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda (Senate of the Philippines). 

Host or Publisher Fowler Museum at UCLA