Common-Indigenous-Materials.docx

**INDIGENOUS CREATIVE CRAFTS** **Common Indigenous Materials** **Indigenous Materials**- are materials that are naturally and locally found in a specific place or area such as bamboo, canes, narra, palms, and rattan. The Indigenous Material is an adjective meaning \"originating in and characterist...

**INDIGENOUS CREATIVE CRAFTS** **Common Indigenous Materials** **Indigenous Materials**- are materials that are naturally and locally found in a specific place or area such as bamboo, canes, narra, palms, and rattan. The Indigenous Material is an adjective meaning \"originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country\". **Importance of Indigenous Materials** - Indigenous materials also do not require costly processing, which consume energy and other resources, and can be used even in their raw, untreated forms. Indigenous Material in our Locality. The indigenous materials commonly found in our country largely consist of a variety of timbers, canes, grass, and palms. **10 DIFFERENT INDIGENOUS MATERIALS IN THE PHILIPPINES** 1. **Rattan-** It is made up of thin pliable stems of a palm that originated in Southeast Asia. - The word \"rattan\" is derived from the Malay word \"rotan,\" which refers to the plant. - It is a very good material, mainly because it is lightweight, durable, suitable for outdoor use, and, to a certain extent, flexible. - Rattan\'s versatility has made it a central part of traditional craft in many cultures across Southeast Asia, including the Bicol region in the Philippines, where it is incorporated into indigenous handicrafts. - It is a well-loved favorite of homeowners who enjoy furniture pieces and décor that bring a touch of indigenous and natural appeal to their interiors. **Examples of Rattan** - **Rattan Plant**- Rattans are used for rafting, house construction, for making baskets, as poles for carrying goods etc. Rattan leaves are used extensively as a thatching material. - **Rattan Is Bent Into Shape** - The rattan is heated and bent into various shapes. This is because the rattan is a solid material that can be bent when heated. Machines are used to bend the rattan in all kinds of shapes and sizes. - **Rattan Is Woven** - Rattan is also cut into strips of various sizes and then woven in various weaves. It can be woven onto a furniture frame. It can also be woven for caning, usually put on a wooden furniture frame. Even the rattan caning can come in a variety of weaves and sizes. - **Rattan Is Wrapped Around The Frame** - Sometimes, the rattan is wrapped around wooden furniture frames. This is another method that rattan can use for furniture and other home decor production. 2. **PALM** or buri, namely the buri palm is regarded as an essential indigenous material in many cultures, particularly in tropical areas such as the Philippines. The buri palm has a multipurpose with various uses, making it an important resource in indigenous handcraft and daily life. - Leaves: Dried buri leaves are used in weaving traditional handicrafts like baskets, hats, mats, bags, and fans. - Fibers: The fibers from the leaves, known as raffia, are commonly used for weaving fabrics, making ropes, or producing twine. - Wood: The trunk of the palm is used as a building material for rural homes, fences, and temporary structures. - Sap: Buri sap is fermented to produce traditional drinks like palm wine\ (\"tuba\"), vinegar and sweetener. - Fruit: The young fruits of the buri palm are edible and used in local dishes. 3. **SANTOL WOOD**- Santol thrives in tropical areas and is one of the easiest trees to grow in the Philippines which makes it an ideal wood alternative. This material is less dense compared to other wood variants, making it very easy to work with. With proper curing the wood can become highly resistant to wood borers, making it the ideal material to use for skeletal framework. - **Construction and Furniture Making** - Santol wood, while not as hard as other hardwoods, is strong and flexible enough to be used in small-scale construction. It is often used to make basic furniture such as stools, chairs, and small tables. - **Handcrafted Items**- It is often used to craft tools, bowls, and utensils because of its workability. Its moderately hard texture makes it suitable for carving and shaping into various objects. - **Carving**- Santol wood is well-suited for wood carving due to its relatively soft and pliable nature. It is often used to create traditional handicrafts, religious figurines, ornaments, and intricate designs. - **Agricultural Uses**-Santol wood can also be fashioned into simple farm tools and implements like handles for hoes, knives, or digging tools. Its availability in rural areas makes it a cost-effective option for\ local farmers. - **Musical Instruments**- In some indigenous cultures, santol wood is used to craft musical instruments like flutes, drums, and other percussion instruments. Its ability to be carved easily and its pleasant resonance make it a valuable material for creating musical items. - **Fuel and Charcoal Production**- Charcoal: Due to the availability of Santol wood, it can also be turned into charcoal, which is used as a fuel source for cooking in many indigenous and rural households, especially in areas where electricity or gas may not be readily available. 4. **ABACA-** regarded as the \"strongest natural fiber in the world." - a plant closely related to the banana, has unique fibrous leaf stalks originally used in making rope. - Filipino interior designers love it because it\'s versatile and easy to find. - Fashion accessories -- the abaca's sturdy fibers can be crafted into shoes and\ hats. - Garments - the abaca's fiber can be crafted into a myriad of clothing pieces. 5. **COCONUT SHELLS**- Coconut shells, which come from the fruit of the coconut palm, are becoming popular in Philippine design and decoration. - After being cleaned and split, these shells can be used as decorative pieces. - They can be cut and glued into artistic designs or left in their natural round shape. **USES OF COCONUT SHELLS** - **Household utensils** - Coconut shells are crafted into bowls and cups, often used in traditional households and as eco-friendly alternatives to plastic. - **Decorations** - Skilled artisans use coconut shells to create decorative pieces like carvings and wall art. These items are valued for their unique texture and natural aesthetic. - **Musical instruments** - coconut shells are used to create traditional musical instruments, such as rattles or drums, because of the unique sound they produce 6. **NARRA** - Narra Wood - Narra Cabinet - Narra Center Table - Narra Bowl - Infusion of the leaf used as shampoo - Used for bladder ailments, diarrhea, headache, stones, sores and dropsy. - The young leaves applied to boils, prickly heat and ulcers. - Young leaves and flowers are reportedly edible; the flowers, a source of honey. - Decoction of shredded bark taken orally for diarrhea and dysentery. - Decoction used as a gargle for sore throats; as an astringent; as a mouthwash for toothaches - Decoction of wood used for dropsy and to dissolve bladder stones - Old narra is a much sought-after wood for its durability and use in floorings, cabinetry,\ construction, furniture making, decorative carvings, and musical instruments. - A preferred wood for boat-making because of resistance to seawater. - A source of red dye, narrin. - Wood is also a source of kino, a gum used as astringent and for tanning. 7. **BAMBOO**- a woody plant with a hollow stem that\'s in the grass family. - a common sustainable construction materials that can be found here in the Philippines and even in the other countries - The lightness, strength, flexibility and cylindrical structure of bamboo is suited to functionality as well as artistic applications, and the material has been used to\ create houses, furniture, artisan's tools, kitchen utensils, fencing, fishing and animal traps, children's toys, musical instruments - **Construction Material** - Housing and Buildings: Bamboo is widely used for constructing homes, shelters, and even modern buildings. Its strength and flexibility make it ideal for frameworks, walls, roofs, and flooring. - Scaffolding: In many countries, especially in Asia, bamboo is used for scaffolding due to its lightweight nature and durability. - Bridges and Walkways: Bamboo is also used to build temporary or permanent bridges, as its strength allows for spanning small distances. - **Furniture** - Bamboo is a popular material for making chairs, tables, beds, and other types of furniture due to its aesthetic appeal and durability. - **Baskets, Bowls, and Utensils** - Bamboo is crafted into kitchenware, storage baskets, trays, and other household items. - Decorative Items: Bamboo is used for making traditional crafts, souvenirs, and decorations such as wall hangings, lampshades, and picture frames. - **Textiles** - Bamboo fibers are used to create eco-friendly textiles, such as bamboo fabric, which is soft, breathable, and biodegradable. Bamboo clothing is growing in popularity due to its sustainability and antimicrobial properties. - **Agricultural Tools** - Farmers use bamboo to make tools such as baskets for harvesting, fences for protecting crops, and even farming implements like hoes and rakes. - **Musical Instruments** - Bamboo is used to create various musical instruments, including flutes, drums, and string instruments, due to its excellent acoustics and ease of crafting. - **Weapons and Tools** - In some indigenous cultures, bamboo is used to make spears, arrows, fishing\ rods, and other hunting tools 8. **NATURAL FIBER** - Abaca: Known as Manila hemp, it\'s famous for its strength and is a primary material for ropes, textiles like sinamay and t'nalak, and paper products. - Raffia: Flexible and easy to weave, used in baskets, hats, mats, and decor. - Buri: Extracted from the Buri palm, this fiber is used for making durable hats, bags, mats, and fans. - Piña: A delicate fiber from pineapple leaves, prized for formal wear textiles like barong tagalog and terno dresses. - Cotton: Traditionally used in indigenous textile weaving such as inabel and hinabol. - Pandan: Commonly used for making intricate mats (banig), baskets, and hats. - Banana Fiber: Utilized for textiles, ropes, and handicrafts in various indigenous communities. - Tikiw: A wetland plant fiber, used for baskets and mats, often dyed for colorful designs. - Coconut Coir: Derived from coconut husks, it is tough and used for ropes, mats, and agricultural tools. - Nito: A shiny vine used in fine weaving, often found in baskets and trays. 9. **STONES-** A Timeless Indigenous Material - Hard solid nonmetallic mineral matter of which rock is made, especially as a building material. - Stone, a durable and abundant material, has been a cornerstone of human civilization, providing building materials and serving as a canvas for art and a repository of ancestral knowledge. - The word \"stone\" itself, derived from Old English \"stān\", reflects its solid, enduring nature. - Stones, due to their natural hardness and durability, were readily adapted for crafting\ tools and weapons. - Flint, obsidian, and chert were particularly prized for their ability to be chipped into sharp edges, making them ideal for arrowheads, spear points, knives, and scrapers - Larger stones were used as axes, hammers, and adzes, for tasks like woodworking\ and carving - Stones have also been used to build sturdy and durable shelters and structures. **ART AND SYMBOLISM** - Stones have served as a canvas for artistic expression and symbolic representation **CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE** - Stones hold deep cultural significance for indigenous communities, often representing ancestral knowledge, spiritual beliefs, and connections to the land **FIRE MAKING** - Many indigenous cultures relied on fire for cooking, warmth, and light. Stones played a crucial role in fire- making techniques. - Flint was often struck against pyrite (iron sulfide) to create sparks that ignited tinder - Stones are not just inert objects but symbols of resilience, creativity, and cultural heritage. They continue to play a vital role in the lives of indigenous peoples today, reminding us of the enduring legacy of these ancient materials. 10. **CLAY-** A Versatile Indigenous Material - A stiff, sticky [fine-grained] earth, typically yellow, red, or bluish-gray in color and often forming an [impermeable] layer in the soil. It can be [molded] when wet, and is dried and baked to make bricks, pottery, and ceramics. - Its name, derived from the Old English word \"clæg,\" meaning \"sticky earth,\" reflects its key characteristic: becoming malleable when mixed with water. - Beyond its physical properties, clay holds profound cultural and spiritual significance for indigenous communities, representing connection to the earth and ancestral knowledge. - POTTERY AND VESSELS - Clay\'s ability to harden when fired has made it ideal for creating pottery and vessels for various purposes. - TOOLS AND UTENSILS - Indigenous communities have also utilized clay to create tools and utensils for daily life. - BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION - Clay\'s strength and durability have made it a valuable material for building and construction. - ART AND SYMBOLISM - Clay has been a medium for artistic expression and symbolic representation across indigenous cultures. - Clay, a seemingly simple material, has played a profound role in the lives and traditions of indigenous peoples. Its versatility, durability, and cultural significance continue to inspire and\ connect us to the rich heritage of these ancient crafts.