Indigenous Healing Ritual in the Context of Ecological Disaster

Jaime Doctolero

Indigenous Healing Ritual in the Context of Ecological Disaster

Autores/as

Jaime Doctolero Missionaries of Jesus

Palabras clave:

Kankanaey Ritual, Kankanaey Beliefs, Healing Rites, Disaster Ritual, Emergent Ritual, Ritual Meal, Ritual Analysis, Community Rites

Resumen

The Kankanaey rites have displayed a healing ritual following Typhoon Ompong that devastated the communities in Ucab, Itogon, Benguet on September 15, 2018. The rites highlight the importance of harmonious relationality between the communities and the adikaila (unseen)—the nature spirits, the ancestors and Kabunyan—in a ritual meal. The rites have the popular animal butchering which has become a gesture to signify the desire for healing from the effects of the disaster. It means embarking into a moment when one community anchors itself again in their primal and foundational narratives. The meal strengthens the communities’ allegiance with the adikaila and fosters the healing of the afflicted communities. The communities harmonize their relationship with the adikaila, with those who perished, and with nature. Keeping in harmony with the adikaila, the community comes to terms with the tragedy and draws healing unto itself.

Biografía del autor/a

Jaime Doctolero, Missionaries of Jesus

Jaime A. Doctolero is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus (MJ). He finished theological studies at Maryhill School of Theology, Quezon City. As a missionary to Guatemala, Central America, he was passionately involved with the Maya Q’eqchi’ people. He is a visiting instructor of bioethics at the School of Medicine, St. Louis University, Baguio City. He is a graduate student of applied theology at the De La Salle University, Manila. His topics of interest are indigenous ritual and cultures, inculturation, and liturgy.

Indigenous Healing Ritual in the Context of Ecological Disaster