Igorot << EE goh roht >> is a term used to refer to a number of mountain-dwelling ethnic groups of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in the northern Philippines . The term Igorot means peoples of the mountains in the languages of the region. Several groups identify as Igorot, including the Bontoc, Sagada, Kankana-I, and Ibaloi peoples. However, some highland groups, including the Ifugao , Kalinga, and Isneg, find the term to be offensive and do not identify as Igorot.
Languages and cultural customs vary widely between different Igorot ethnic groups. However, similarities can be seen in their agricultural, religious, and other practices. Traditionally, Igorot peoples believed in spirits and multiple deities (gods). They also engaged in ancestor worship . Today, most Igorot observe a combination of traditional and Christian religious practices.
Rice farming is central to Igorot culture and daily life. Magnificent rice-growing terraces, called payo, are cut into many of the mountains in the Cordillera region. Igorot groups mark harvest time and other stages of the rice cycle with feasts and celebrations. Rice is the staple food of the Igorot peoples. Farmers also grow sweet potatoes, beans, and other food crops. Domesticated animals provide meat, as do a variety of hunted animals such as wild pigs and deer.
The Igorot and other peoples of the Cordillera region are known historically for their successful resistance to Spanish colonization in the 1500’s. Historians believe that a combination of fierce armed resistance and the challenging mountain terrain led to successful resistance against the powerful Spanish. The arrival of American colonizers in 1898 marked the beginning of Igorot assimilation (integration) into the larger Philippine society.
