The Ugnayang Pambansa para sa Katutubong Kaalaman at Talino (a national network of indigenous political structures, indigenous peoples’ organizations and indigenous communities for the promotion of traditional/indigenous knowledge and wisdom, UPAKAT Inc.) was formed to strengthen the protection, promotion, collective practice, , innovation and transmission of indigenous knowledge systems and practices to the next generation.

UPAKAT emerged at the Philippine workshop for the protection and promotion of traditional/indigenous knowledge in 2013. It was previously set up as a loose network and the members only meet during activities. The network was formerly known as the Pambansang Ugnayan para sa Pagsasabuhay ng Katutubong Kaalaman (Philippine Traditional Knowledge Network).

To be able to establish it as a recognized national network, the council of leaders decided to formalize this with a legal identity in December 2014. In 2016, after finalizing its organizational structure and its constitution and bylaws, UPAKAT was legally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Republic of the Philippines under SEC Registration No. CN201631115.

UPAKAT membership is open to indigenous political structures, indigenous peoples and organizations and indigenous communities from the Philippines who are working for the protection, promotion and transmission of indigenous knowledge. Currently, there are fourteen (14) indigenous political structure/indigenous peoples’ organizations who are members of the network.

Programs and Activities:

• Research and documentation
• Capacity building
• Policy advocacy
• Networking