Indigenous Peoples and Local Government: Experiences from Malaysia and the Philippines

Participation in government is an option increasingly taken up by indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia in order to regain more control over their lives and destiny. This volume presents the results of a research project on indigenous peoples' involvement in local government in Malaysia and the Philippines. It compiles existing legislation that affects indigenous participation in the two countries, looks at indigenous experiences with local government, and identifies the problems and constraints for indigenous participation.

The Centre of Orang Asli Concerns did the study on Local Government in Peninsular Malaysia. Partners of Community Organizations carried out the study in Sabah. Anthrowatch studied local governance in Mindanao, and the Cordillera Peoples' Alliance did the research in Northern Luzon. All four are longstanding partners of IWGIA.