Aeta

The Aeta are an indigenous people of the Philippines, among the archipelago’s earliest inhabitants. They are primarily located in Luzon, especially upland and forested areas in Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Quezon. The name Aeta is used for several subgroups.

They are often described as Negrito in older sources, a term used for small-statured hunter-gatherer groups; however some prefer to be identified by their own subgroup names. Archaeological and linguistic evidence supports a long prehistory in Luzon; traditional livelihoods included hunting, gathering, and forest-based swidden farming.

Culturally, Aeta communities emphasize kinship, mobility in some groups, and knowledge of plants and wildlife. They use simple tools, bows and arrows, and often engage in crafts such as weaving or beadwork. Shamanic and animist practices have been reported, though many have adopted Christianity.

Language-wise, Aeta speak diverse languages collectively called Aeta languages; many also speak Filipino or regional languages, leading to language shift among younger generations.

In modern Philippines, Aeta communities are recognized as Indigenous Peoples under IPRA. They face challenges including land dispossession, mining, and environmental change, but efforts by government and NGOs seek to protect ancestral domains, preserve language and traditional knowledge, and support community autonomy.