Abstract
ABSTRACT This paper explores local actors’ responses to the Alimit Dam project in Ifugao Province of the Philippines. Despite intense debates over environmental and social uncertainties, representatives of local Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations proposed in 2017 a conditional yes during the consultation process, while demanding infrastructure and social services from the project proponent. This response challenges the anti-dam stance and “land is life” narrative of local Indigenous movements, reflecting global trends of dam resurgence amidst claims of sustainable development and modernization. The study reveals the complex responses of local communities, shaped by history, internal dynamics, and negotiations with state power, highlighting the nuanced realities that inform development visions in Indigenous communities. Despite limited space to express their voices due to state violence and manipulation, local actors assert their agency by adopting strategic and ambiguous positions to navigate power dynamics and uncertainty in a polarized political landscape. By analyzing intra-ethnic politics among local actors, this paper demonstrates how differing historical experiences and social relations shape development visions. Additionally, it highlights the continuously negotiated and contested meanings of land among Indigenous groups as they navigate their histories, identities, and future aspirations in the face of ongoing development challenges and uncertainties.
Published Version
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