Kankanai
- AKA: Kankanay, Northern Kankanai, Lepanto Igorot, Katangnan, Sagada Igorot, Kataugnan, Kankana-ey
- Location: Luzon: Western flank of Cordillera in Benguet, Illocos Sur, and Bontoc provinces.
- Languages: Kataugnan; many areal dialects
- Subgroups: Northern, Southern
- Subsistence: Wet rice, sweet potatoes, taro.
- Population: 59,987 (northern); 158,313 (southern) (1990)
The Northern and Southern Kankanai, while related linguistically, represent two very different cultural groups. The Northern Kankanai live just east of Ilocos Sur in Mountain Province, partially in the municipalities of Tadian, Besao, Sabangan and Sagada. Cervantes in Ilocus Sur has also a fairly large Lepanto Kankanai concentration. From Lepanto and Tiagan to the headwaters of the Chico and Abra rivers, they practice wet-terracing. Formerly they practiced dry cultivation of tubers, which was widespread among the Cordillerans. The northern Kankanay are similar in culture and social organization to the Bontok peoples to the north and northeast of them on the Chico River system. They have large nucleated communities associated with the terraces, especially in the Kayan-Bauko-Besao area. Groups are structured into wards in conjunction with the dap-ay, which is similar to the ato male meeting house of the Bontok. Unmarried women live in separate dormitories as well. Gold and copper are extensively mined in Suyoc and Mankayan.
The southern Kankana-ey occupy the area drained by the Amburayan river; the terrain is rugged and steep.. Culturally they are similar to the Ibaloi to the south, with whom they share the province of Benguet, as well as the Amburayan area in the highlands above northern La Union, southern Ilocos Sur, and the southern sections of Mountain Province. They were described in the early 1900s as being like the Ibaloy but that they celebrated their festivals “more splendidly.” Also like the Ibaloi their settlements are dispersed, and their terraces have similar mud walls with the same kind of cropping. In recent times they have begun cropping mid-latitude vegetables which are marketed to the lowland areas and cities.
