PAFID was founded on August 1, 1967 as an "an association of people interested in the problems of cultural minority groups." PAFID was formed following a series of regional conferences organized by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines in the mid-60s’ in Sagada, Mountain Province; Ayala, Zamboanga Province; and Silliman University in Dumaguete City. The conferences gathered social scientists, anthropologists, lawyers, academics, missionaries, members of different indigenous peoples' groups and other advocates to report and assess the problems faced by indigenous communities.

PAFID's founding members include Fr. Georges Piron, CICM; Fr. John Rich, MM; Fr. Vincent Cullen, SJ; Dr. Alex Grant; Dr. Rufino Tima; Mr. Timoteo Oracion; and Dr. Yusof Tan.   Dr. Nery Diaz-Pascual, an anthropologist, served as the first Executive Director. Landmark events in the defense of ancestral domains in the Philippines, such as the the Kalinga peoples' resistance against the Chico River Hydro-electric Dam and the Cellophil Resources Paper Mill in the late '70's, have shaped PAFID from its inception as a resource center for indigenous peoples' issues to its transformation as a Non-Government Organization committed to supporting community-based initiatives.

Today PAFID is an institution with over 140 members and a multi-diciplinary staff of 42 engaged in the development of indigenous social organizations, ancestral domain management, community-based natural resources management planning, community mapping, agro-forestry, technical services, policy advocacy and others. Seventy (70%) percent of PAFID staff are themselves members of indigenous communities, and 38% are women

OFFICERS AND STAFF

The Board of Trustees of the PAFID are elected every three years during the regular General Assembly of the organization attended by its individual as well as institutional members.
The Current Trustees of the PAFID are:

Fr. FRANCIS B. LUCAS
Chairperson
Fr. Lucas is the current Chairperson of the Asian NGO Coalition (ANGOC) and the FARM Program of the People Centered Sustainable Development, UNDP-FAO-UNIDO, Asian Project. He also heads the Infanta Community Development Association, Inc., an organization based in Infanta, Quezon which aims to assist communities develop sustainable development initiatives. He is also the current President of the Catholic Media Network. Co-Chair of the Cluster on Sustainable Agriculture of the Bishop Businessmen's Conference (BBC)Vice President of the Philippine Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (PhilSAC). Fr. Francis also previously held the Chairpersonship of the PhilDHRRA, Green Forum and the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE)

Dr. RUFINO TIMA
Vice-Chairperson
An Anthropologist by training, Dr. Rufino Tima pioneered development work with the Aeta peoples in Zambales where he helped establish the Aeta Development Foundation. Dr. Tima is also one of the founding members of the PAFID. A member of the Kalinga tribe in Northern Luzon, Dr. Tima has tirelessly worked for the recognition of Indigenous Peoples rights for decades. He is currently the consultant for community development of the Foreign Assisted Programs Office of the World Bank in Subic, Zambales.

Ms. ELENITA DANO
Board Secretary
Ms. Daño serves as the Executive Director of the South East Asia Regional Institute for Community Education (SEARICE). She has formal training in Development Studies and Community Development where she holds a Masteral Degree. Since 1995 she has actively led the Philippine Civil Society in the on-going campaign against Genetic Engineering in food and Agriculture and was instrumental in the establishment of the Network opposed to Genetically Modified Organisms (NO GMOS). Ms. Daño is also a current Director of the Integrated Participatory Agricultural Research (IPAR). She has also consistently written papers on Women, Biotechnology and Community-based Agricultural Research.

Rev. DELBERT RICE
Board Treasurer
Rev. Rice is one of the leading lights in the field of Upland Development in the Philippines. An Educator, Engineer, Anthropologist and Environmentalist, Rev. Rice helped establish the Kalahan Educational Foundation (KEF) a Peoples Organization of the Ikalahan Peoples in Northern Luzon. The KEF has successfully negotiated for the recognition of their traditional resource management rights over their communal forests. Furthermore, the KEF has since established the 1st Ikalahan school system which has been recognized by the Government.

Datu MIGKETAY VICTORINO L. SAWAY
Trustee
Datu Saway an Elder of the Tala-andig peoples and an Anthropologist is the founder of the School for Living Traditions (SLT), a culture-based school which aims to instill the importance of Indigenous traditions preserve it for future generations. The National Council has recognized the SLT for Culture and Arts for its exemplary work and excellence in the field of non-traditional education. He is also the current Spokesperson of the Katutubong Samahan ng Pilipinas (KASAPI) a national coalition of Indigenous Peoples.

Dr. PROSPERO DE VERA III
Trustee
Dr. De Vera is a faculty member of the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) in the University of the Philippines. He was also previously a Technical Consultant in the Philippine Senate and Congress where he helped craft various National laws on Public Governance. Dr. De Vera also regularly conducts specialized Public Administration/Governance training for leaders/elders of Indigenous Communities to enable them to have a basic understanding on the Governmental structures and the formulation and implementation of Public Policy. Dr. De Vera earned his Post Graduate in Political Science and Public Administration as a Fullbright fellow at the University of Southern California.

Bro. ALOIS GOLDBERGER
Trustee
An Agriculturist, Bro. Alois Goldberger has been working with the Tingguian Peoples of Abra, in the Cordilleras for more than 25 years. A strong advocate of Sustainable Agriculture, Bro. Alois has tirelessly worked for the recognition of the Ancestral Domains of the Tingguian Peoples of Abra. He has also assisted communities develop sustainable farm management plans. Just recently, along with the De La Salle University he helped establish a series of environmentally friendly mini-hydro plants. This initiative has resulted into concrete gains as availability of power and irrigation has markedly increased in the communities which he helps and serves.