National Center for Indigenous Peoples of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, in cooperation with the Yushan Association Indigenous People Care Association of Tainan City, has recently held the annual “Atayal Thanksgiving Cultural Festival” on its campus. In the activity, the Cultural Promotion Student Club also arranged a camp for weaving experience and bracelet weaving, which allowed young students to participate in the event, learn and understand the wisdom and skills and traditional sports skills of the indigenous peoples in the rituals.

【Mr. Zheng-Guang Guo, head of Simaqun tribal in Taian Township of Miaoli County (left) and the tribal elder Mr. Vai su ya wi (right) were giving a joint speech.】

The Atayal People, living in the Central Mountain Range, is the most powerful indigenous people in the ancient northern Taiwan mountain area. It is also the oldest and most widely spread ethnic group in Taiwan. The Atayal people are known for their exquisite weaving techniques and unique tattoo art, together with their particular social organization and ancestral spirit. However, due to changes in time and changes in belief, the Atayal people are seeing the fastest loss of traditional festivals among the major aboriginal ethnic groups in Taiwan.

【An Atayal Girl was singing a traditional song of her people.】

In view of this, during the cultural festival, Mr. Zheng-Guang Guo, head of Simaqun tribal in Taian Township of Miaoli County, and Mr. Vai su ya wi, the eldest man with tattoo on his face, were invited to lead the Atayal people to present traditional rituals and design a series of bamboo dances and traps. In addition, Mental Handicap Care Association brought together the aboriginal people's rituals and social services to make the activity more socially meaningful.

【Experiencing the Atayal People's Traditional Ritual Bamboo Dance】

On the day of the event, a number of booths were also arranged for aboriginal cultural characteristics, including indigenous barbecues, tribal agricultural products, aboriginal handicrafts, original products, employment service consulting, recruitment of the National Army, and other specialty stalls. There were also 500 cups with Atayal tattoo patterns to give away to those who participated in the activity.

【The Atayal People's Traditional Sacrificial Ritual】

According to Director Yang-Zhi Wang of Student Affair Office, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, STUST has been promoting the cultural business of indigenous people since 2016, enabling students to have a deeper understanding of aboriginal cultures and experience the beauty of aboriginal skills. It also established a resource center for aboriginal students to help other administrative units promote the culture of Indigenous people. In addition to promotion, the center also assists in counseling indigenous students on campus. They are able to obtain adequate resources and assistance through the promotion of academic tutoring, certification exams, career planning and employment counseling. All these have helped promote the quality of education and employment of indigenous students on campus.

【Participants were experiencing weaving in the activity.】

【On-site trap making experiencing activity that made participants feel fresh and interesting】

【The Atayal Thanksgiving Culture Festival is an annual event that attracted many people, teachers and students.】