E-Gorots: Exploring Indigenous Identity in Translocal Spaces

Abstract

This paper examines how diasporic indigenous peoples from north Luzon in the Philippines explore their identification through Bibaknets, an electronic mailing group (e-group). Collectively known as Igorots, members are using e-groups to redefine and reconstruct discourses about indigenous identities within the context of their diasporic lives. The interactions of the members on Bibaknets illustrate how translocality is embodied and mediated. Indigenous peoples' identifications transcend places or spaces as these are in turn constructed by them. In investigating the online interactions of diasporic Igorots, I will illustrate how Bibaknets as a virtual community itself serves as a translocal site. It is a space inhabited by members who live and work outside the confines of their villages, regions or nations, and consequently reconfigure new relations that bring about material consequences in the localities where they live.

Towards a Definition of Virtual Community

“…Groups' began as an email list service named 'eGroups' in 1997 and was acquired by 'Yahoo!' in 2000, while now counts more than 100 million users and nine million groups (Longboan, 2011). 'Facebook' is the most popular social network site (SNS) worldwide, as well as in Europe and in Italy, and counts 1.23 billion daily active users on average and 1.86 billion monthly active users as of December 31, 2016 (Park, 2017).…”