Taiwan tribe struggles to keep traditional culture
The tribe is also under siege from Taiwan’s majority Chinese culture.
About 4,000 Tao live on Orchid Island, 39 miles east of Taiwan’s southern tip. They are among the country’s 460,000 aborigines — 2 percent of the population — whose ancestors migrated from south Pacific islets starting 6,000 years ago.
Last month, villagers filled the new boat with taro roots. They slaughtered about 40 pigs near the shore for a mass barbecue. Then the men waved their fists angrily at an imaginary enemy to summon strength for the sacred task of launching the boat.
The launch was the culmination of a process begun three years earlier when fisherman Syman Koten went to Orchid Island to search for the bread tree, dragon eye and other types of wood. The boat is made of 27 wooden planks from five kinds of trees, held in place without any nails or fastening devices.
Leave a Reply