Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies ISSN: 2663-7197 DOI: 10.32996/jhsss Journal Homepage: www.al-kindipublisher.com/index.php/jhsss JHSSS AL-KINDI CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Copyright: © 2022 the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Published by Al-Kindi Centre for Research and Development, London, United Kingdom. Page | 209 | RESEARCH ARTICLE Cultural Healing Rituals and Practices Used by Ati Traditional Healers Leonor S. Rosales 1 and Victoria A. Gepty 2 ✉ 1 Teacher III, Basic Education Department, Aklan Catholic College, Andagao, Kalibo, Aklan Philippines 2 Associate Professor 1, College of Teacher Education, Aklan State University, Banga, Aklan, Philippines Corresponding Author: Victoria A. Gepty, E-mail: aguilarvictoria71@gmail.com | ABSTRACT This study aimed to establish the healing rituals and beliefs of Ati (Indigenous People) traditional healers in Aklan, Philippines. The study was anchored on interpretivism, which seeks to comprehend and interpret human activity and participants' experiences. The research used narrative analysis as a qualitative method of research. The study was conducted at Numancia, Aklan, Philippines. This included six (6) participants; the Sorhana (traditional healer) was the main participant, while the chieftain, two elders of the community, and the two Ati members served as validators to the answers of the Sorhana (traditional healer). An interview guide, observation notes and audio–visual materials (photography, video and audio recordings) were used to gather data. The result revealed that the Ati (Indigenous People) continues to believe in Sorhana as their traditional healer who was guided by the tamawo (spirits that guide) and kalag (spirits of the dead) and has the power to diagnose illness and fight mystical invisible elements. The Sorhana (traditional healer) has the ability and authority to perform healing rituals in the Ati (Indigenous People) community. The healing rituals in the Ati (Indigenous People) community were; Pagbagting (beating of the agong), pag – orunungon (paying in exchange for healing, pagpatupad (appointing of the traditional healer), pagpalupad (releasing of chicken), pag – anagas (renaming of the sick), pagbutbot (eliminating diseases), and pagtabog (expelling the evil spirits). The Ati (Indigenous People) are animistic while also believing in a supreme being. Acculturation happened in the culture of Ati (Indigenous People) by adopting the Roman Catholic celebration like Semana Santa (holy week) and believing in the resurrection offered by Jesus Christ. | KEYWORDS Ati, Sorhana, Healing Rituals, Practices, Beliefs | ARTICLE INFORMATION ACCEPTED: 28 November 2022 PUBLISHED: 03 December 2022 DOI: 10.32996/jhsss.2022.4.4.26 1. Introduction Indigenous people have a peculiar culture creating a rich and rooted way of living. The Ati (Indigenous People) in Numancia, Aklan, Philippines, belongs to the Indigenous Cultural Communities registered by the National Commission of Indigenous People. These Ati (Indigenous People) strive to build and maintain their own language, culture and traditional healing ritual that characterizes the Ati (Indigenous People) identity healing and beliefs in its traditional way. Additionally, the Ati (Indigenous People) are known for their animistic beliefs (Salmorin, 2021). The belief in the unseen elements and spirits of the Ati’s (Indigenous People) ancestors influenced the process of Ati’s (Indigenous People) rituals and healing practices. According to the United Nations (2019), the indigenous people's culture is under threat of extinction due to technology and industrialization advancement. In fact, Manzano (2021) stated that the Ati of Numancia, Aklan, Philippines, is losing most of their cultural and linguistic indigenous practices faster than communities in non-urban areas. The limited studies about the rituals, healing practices, and beliefs of indigenous peoples, particularly of the Ati (Indigenous People), are among the factors that contributed to losing their culture.