Initiated by Igorots in the United States in 1995, the Igorot International Consultation, now popularly known as IIC, was organized primarily to unite the Igorots all over the world and to identify issues and concerns of Igorots worldwide, and come up with paradigms for the Igorots to be globally competitive in different aspects of development.

IIC-1 was held in West Covina, California in 1995, IIC-2 in Lexington, Virginia, in 1997, IIC-3 in Baguio City, Philippines in 2000. At IIC 3, Igorot UK and the Igorot Youth UK took the challenge to host the IIC-4 in London, United Kingdom with Conchita Pooten, president of Igorot-UK, to chair the IIC4 Planning Committee. .

A total of 506 participants registered during the first day of the Consultation, increasing to 638 British guests and delegates on the third day, at the British Museum.

Of the participants from all over the world, the greatest numbers came from the USA and the Philippines. Other delegates represented Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia. The three-day conference focused on development issues and challenges that continuously affect Igorots in the 21st century.

Dressed in traditional Igorot costumes, the IIC-4 delegates awed the public and provided a colorful sight at the University College London. The Royal National Hotel accommodated the delegates and Conway Hall and the British Museum were used as venues. Notably for the first time, this Consultation attracted a large number of delegates from throughout Europe.

After the registration of delegates and participants, IIC4 was formally opened with welcome remarks from Conchita Pooten and an opening statement by Rex Botengan, the president of the Igorot Global Organization. This was followed by an ecumenical service jointly officiated by the Rev. Alfonso Camiwet (Episcopal Church Philippines), Fr. Claro Conde (Roman Catholic – London) who delivered the homily, and Pastor Renato Copa (Free Believers – London).

After the ecumenical service, Mia Abeya presided over an Igorot opening ritual, in which the IIC gong was passed on by Ursula Daoey of the Philippine delegates, representing IIC-3 Baguio City, to Conchita Pooten and the London delegates, who accepted the gong on behalf of IIC-4. After the gong was passed on, representative leaders led their groups with the striking of gongs one after the other. This is the tebyag, in which the striking of the gongs was interspersed with the baliwat/ayyeng/bogao or the loud call by IGO President Rex Botengan to acknowledge God's (Kabunian) presence and a petition to Kabunyan to guide the Consultation to accomplish its objectives. The rites concluded with various tribal Igorot dances and songs.

Conchita Pooten read a tribute in memoriam for Jay Ebbot to acknowledge his contribution and dedication in raising the profile of Igorots in the UK into the mainstream of the British Society.

Chaired by Joji Carino and Daisy Camiwet, the day's activities were guided by the thoughts presented by the plenary session’s keynote speaker, Dr. Albert Bacdayan. Dr. Bacdayan delivered a comprehensive paper on the challenges for indigenous peoples in the 21st century. The participants during the parallel sessions/workshops raised their concerns as well as the corresponding strategies in solving issues relevant to migration, consequences of loss of land and culture, and Igorot values and beliefs The enlightening and very witty keynote speaker provided a purposeful and inspirational tone for the conference. In response to the speaker, Jay Sapaen Watan (IGO USA) provided a tickling reaction based on his experience as a young Igorot born and raised in the United States. On the perception of a professional medical practitioner, Dr. Alfred Andaya, Jr. of IGO-USA emphasized the core Igorot values contributory to development, while Rev. Alfonso Camiwet presented strategies on how the church is exercising its arbitrary role during tribal conflicts and the Church’s role in economic development by encouraging and supporting community cooperatives, which proved to be quite successful in the Mountain provinces. Hilda Bounggick also gave her reaction.

1. The need for the empowerment of Igorots through education, political mobilization and advocacy to encourage participation in knowing and exercising their rights as Indigenous peoples.
2. There is a struggle in the implementation of customary laws and national laws in the Cordillera when it comes to ancestral lands and political structures. There seems to be a conflict on the interpretation of the ownership, utilization and possession of land, forest and other resources.
3. There is need to review IPRA (the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of the Philippines) and how it can be implemented, practically and economically.

1. Review IPRA for fuller understanding and implementation by local governments, communities and the various government agencies.
2. There must be a continuous education and discussions on IPRA.
3. There must be political mobilization and advocacy.
4. IGO to pick a community to help out.
5. There must be an international response on the injustices of IPs (indigenous people)

1. Stereotyping of Igorots, the challenge of preserving the Igorot identity whilst living overseas and particularly to the third and second generations.
2. Challenge of accessing social and welfare benefits and entitlements, pension scheme, disability and sickness benefits.
3. Exploitation of migrant workers, abuse by recruitment agencies, issues related to illegal migrants, the aging first generation migrants.
4. Broken families, Incest, Adultery
5. Racial discrimination experienced by Igorots overseas.

1. The need for increased knowledge and awareness about basic rights and about the Law of the Land in which the migrants live.
2. Strengthen the Local Igorot organization and build alliances with local organizations (Know your Race , Diversity and Equality Officer who is responsible for Race and Diversity Relations).
3. Develop a Youth Program to encourage networking, exchanges and the promotion of Igorot values amongst young Igorots.
4. If possible, migrate as a family.
5. In terms of addressing the issues of adultery and broken families, the group suggested that migrants should not send too much money to their children and families. (Too much “foreign aid” to families left at home seem to spoil family sanctity and productivity.
In terms of addressing the issue of INCEST, more development programs and confidence and awareness building programs should be developed amongst families at home and with migrants overseas.

1. Family Values as affected by globalization and internalization movements
2. Tribalism like kailian system in terms of its negative and positive effects
3. Spiritualism in which there is the strong belief that spirits exist which monitors especially the bad things that people. Such belief affects the making of decisions on which to do and not to do.

1. Keep tradition/values and continuously adapt such values in the rural communities or modern world when practical ( e.g. retain dances, songs, dialect, etc.)
2. Igorots though they belong to the 4th world could contribute something to the modern world.
1. To teach people to do more and live with less resources.
2. To teach people in the corporate world as in the care for the environment and family.
3. To teach other Igorots wherever they are to compete globally by maximizing their potentials as Indigenous Peoples.

1. Dr. Yvonne Belen provided an input on Traditional Medicine
2. Victoria Corpuz Tauli provided an input on intellectual property rights
3. Geof Nettleton provided an input on Mining
4. Woodcarving, film showing, etc.