Taiwan Indigenous News
Friday, 20 February 2009
TB Treatment Delays In Taiwan
It should also be noted that the mortality rate and incidence of TB are much greater in aboriginal communities in Taiwan than in non-aboriginal areas. ...
Taiwan's indigenous population up 2.05 percent
MOI officials said the increase was about six times that of the 0.34 percent rate of growth of Taiwan's overall population. Taiwan's indigenous people were ...
Not the same old song and dance
He aims to present a more authentic picture of Aboriginal performing arts and culture. “I want our customers to see the performances in their most original ...
President pushes to boost tourism in Taiwan's indigenous areas
8 (CNA) Concerned over the development of tourism in Taiwan's indigenous areas, President Ma Ying-jeou asked government agencies Sunday to work with travel ...
Saisiat culture centers on their highly regarded traditions and rituals. An amalgam of myths, legends and unique totemic rites, these rituals and celebrations have shaped the essence of the tribe’s religious beliefs, value system and collective memory. While many of the customary ceremonies are organized around individual clans (families sharing the same family name) with a clear distribution of duties and roles, the strong feelings of unity and identity extend well beyond the clan to embrace the entire tribe. This is the reason why the Saisiat, even in the face of constant cultural assimilative pressures from other ethnic groups, have been able to preserve and sustain their own traditions. Although many features of Saisiat culture and society have changed with the times, their core beliefs and values are still strong. To this day, the Saisiat keep their customs alive and perform their rites and ceremonies with great verve and enthusiasm. While the form and some details may have been adapted to modern times and attitudes, the essence of the tribe’s ancestor worship and the Dwarf Spirit Ceremony, the most important of the Saisiat’s festivals, are still the same, and the importance of these occasions undiminished.
Today, the Pasta’ai, or Dwarf Spirit Ceremony, is widely perceived as the most singly representative event of everything that is special and unique about Saisiat culture. It has its roots in a mysterious legend, and the ritual and concomitant celebrations last for four days and three nights. The ceremony is held in grateful memory of the Ta’ai, who had taught the Saisiat how to sing and dance and till the fields. The participants come from all corners of the tribe’s territory, and during the ceremony everybody strictly obeys the relevant taboos and worships the “dwarf spirits” with the greatest reverence. It is usually held in the middle of the tenth lunar month when the tenth full moon of the year is in the sky. It takes place every other year, with a grand celebration every tenth year.