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 ...
Living as they do surrounded by the ocean, both the Taos’ fishing techniques and their boat-building skills are well developed. Since canoes and fishing are so important to their livelihood, it is not surprising that in the course of history, a number of rituals, ceremonies and taboos sprang up around these aspects of Tao life, as well as fishing collectives organized along clan lines. As a result, the Tao have developed a “boat culture” that is unique among all the indigenous peoples of Taiwan, and the design, sturdiness and aesthetic appeal of their canoes (often decorated with elaborate carvings) place them among the great seagoing peoples of the world.
The Tao settlements are built on the very edge of Orchid Island’s primeval forest, and this is where the tribe finds firewood as well as raw materials for building houses and boats, and for making kitchen utensils and other everyday tools and appliances. The canoes are more than a means for fishing: they also symbolize the unity of clans, and ultimately the entire tribe. That is why much time is devoted to decorating them with carvings of various design, including wavy lines, triangular patterns, human figures and spiral patterns, as well as intricate concentric sun patterns featuring wavy circular designs made up of triangular shapes.