Philippines Davao Mindanao Dagoba Tribe Real Photo Postcard
The Igorot are an umbrella term for various indigenous peoples inhabiting the Cordillera Central mountain range of northern Luzon in the Philippines, including the Bontoc, Ifugao, Kankanaey, and Kalinga. This photograph, likely taken in the early 20th century during the American colonial period, captures a group displaying distinctive traditional garments, intricate beadwork, and feathered head adornments that signify their rich cultural heritage and tribal identities.
These ethnographic images were prevalent during the American administration of the Philippines (1898-1946), serving to document the archipelago's diverse indigenous populations. They were frequently published in academic studies, promotional materials for tourism, and showcased at international exhibitions, most notably the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. Such photographs, while providing visual records of traditional life, also formed part of a colonial discourse that aimed to categorize and represent the so-called "non-Christian" tribes.
These ethnographic images were prevalent during the American administration of the Philippines (1898-1946), serving to document the archipelago's diverse indigenous populations. They were frequently published in academic studies, promotional materials for tourism, and showcased at international exhibitions, most notably the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. Such photographs, while providing visual records of traditional life, also formed part of a colonial discourse that aimed to categorize and represent the so-called "non-Christian" tribes.
