The Ata, or Ata-Manobo, inhabit the northwest of Davao del Norte as well as Bukidnon and Compostela Valley. According to anthropological studies, “Ata” refers to a person who lives in extremely high places or on mountain summits. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts has further classified the Atas into three groups. Dugbatang, Talaingod, and Tagauanum.
The Ata people sustained themselves through farming, hunting, and fishing, which primarily served as their livelihood. Across generations, the Ata women have mastered their skills in crafting “liyang,” a woven basket used for harvesting or wood gathering. It was made directly from the forest: abaca, rattan (known as uway), and bamboo trees (known as bagtok).
