A YEAR OF REORGANIZATION
In April 2019, the ATAYAL Organization re-organized, re-branded and streamlined its core services as Indigenous Bridges (IB) to better focus the mission and activities of the organization. A new web site (
https://www.indigenousbridges.org) was built to improve the presentation of our organization. The Indigenous Bridges Network, an international platform for indigenous cooperation, was developed to connect and consolidate volunteers, resources and opportunities. Indigenous exchange programs are facilitated within three departments: Culture, Education and Media. The organization, founded in 2001, has never been in a better position to attract personnel, partners, supporters and funding to establish sustainable programs.
Tony Coolidge,
Executive Director, and Gary Smoke,
Deputy Director, have overseen development and implementation of key programs under our new branding and streamlining directives to further our Mission Statement.
MISSION STATEMENT
Our organization is committed to preserving indigenous cultures and empowering indigenous peoples by building bridges, or cooperation opportunities, that connect indigenous communities around the world.
PROGRAMS
The organization has developed the following programs within our three core areas of service to further our mission statement:
Indigenous Culture Exchange:
The main focus of our Indigenous Cultural Exchange activities since 2017 has been centered around the annual Tribal Canoe Journeys in the Pacific Northwest of the USA and Canada. This exchange program was initiated by our Deputy Director, Gary Smoke, who is a Seattle-area native. Since the first exchange trip with the delegation from the Tao Tribe, Hanford McCloud of the Nisqually Tribe has been our host. With each trip, we continue to deepen the Sister Tribe relationship between the Tao Tribe (Taiwan) and Nisqually Tribe (Washington State), and we have reached out to initiate relationships between other Native American tribes, tribes of Taiwan and tribes from other countries that participate in this important cultural event
Tribal Journeys Indigenous Youth Exchange Program (TJIYEP)
The Summer of 2019 saw a productive cultural exchange trip to join the Tribal Canoe Journeys (Paddle to Lummi). The Tao Foundation did not send any delegates in 2019, but we brought our organization's delegates, including Gary Smoke (Deputy Director), Tony Coolidge (Executive Director), and Kate (Translator), and we brought Johan Coolidge (Youth Delegate) to represent the Atayal Tribe.
We made up for the small delegation from Taiwan by including members of the indigenous Taiwanese-American community from the Seattle area. We also had scholars, supporters and volunteers join our delegation to experience the indigenous cultural activities and to show support for our group.
Many tribal leaders we met on the Journey made it clear that the most meaningful impact from the annual event is the difference it makes for their tribal youth, helping them to reconnect with their tribal culture and communities. Our host, Hanford McCloud, clarified his commitment to expanding international outreach for his youth, and guided us to focus our international exchange program on indigenous youth. We followed his lead, and this year, he connected us with an indigenous youth delegation from Hawaii. Johan enjoyed the bonding experience with the Hawaiians. We chose to document the experiences of Johan Coolidge, in order to promote the indigenous youth exchange program in the future. Any documentary film we make will explore why the event is so important to the youth. We produced videos and took photos, and the material will be useful for a documentary film and promo video.
When we first joined our Nisqually Host Canoe Family in Olympia, WA, we were joined by an Indigenous Youth Delegation from Hawaii. We were introduced to our host Hanford McCloud's vision to expand his international cultural exchange opportunities for his tribe's youth.
Following the suggestions of our Tribal Journeys Host and Board Member, Hanford McCloud, we have refocused this exchange program on indigenous youth and renamed it to the Tribal Journeys Indigenous Youth Exchange Program (TJIYEP). One of the more notable developments from this Journey was the strengthening of relationships with leaders of the Nisqually, Puyallup, and Lummi tribes, with discussions had about a reciprocal youth exchange to Taiwan and a Sister Tribe relationship. We also had initial contacts with many other tribes.
At the conclusion of the 2019 Tribal Journeys, two of our important supporters, Jim and Yu Shea Chase, hosted a Good Bye Party for the supporters and participants in the Washington State area. This included member of the Taiwanese-American Indigenous culture group. We had outstanding hospitality, great food, and indigenous dance lessons. It was a memorable time had by all.
The Tribal Canoe Journeys 2020 will be a Paddle to Nanaimo, Victoria Island, British Columbia, Canada.
There will be a Tribal Journeys Wrap Party on November 9, 2019. The Wrap Party will invite supporters, participants and media to share the developments of the Tribal Journeys program, wrap up old business, including fundraising, and recruit volunteers and supporters for the 2020 campaign.
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Liougei Indigenous Choir
We are in discussion with the Liouguei Indigenous Choir of the Christian Mountain Children's Home in Liougeui, Kaohsiung (Taiwan) about participating in the 2020 Tribal Journeys Indigenous Youth Exchange Program (TJIYEP). We are considering having the indigenous youth choir paddling in the Tribal Canoe Journeys and singing during the Protocols. We are also proposing a visit to the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. This choir visited the Tao Tatala (canoe) in 2017 for a blessings ceremony at the Burke Museum.
Tatala Canoe Project
Gary Smoke, Deputy Director, invited a Tao tribal canoe (Tatala) builder and sculptor, Sirman (Akai) to build a canoe to serve as a symbol of the Sister Tribe relationship between the Tao Tribe and the Nisqually Tribe. The canoe would be housed at the new Nisqually Culture Center in Washington State, to be used during the annual Tribal Canoe Journeys. During a meeting in September, Sirman, Tony Coolidge, and Dr. Meiying Chen discussed the logistics, while Sirman agreed to put together a proposal to us by the end of October.
Sirman discussed his idea bringing a team of 5 people to Washington State to build the Tatala. He said it would take 3 months to complete, so we discussed a trip that would span April-July, and then they could participate in the Tribal Canoe Journeys before returning to Taiwan. Sirman believes that this would be the most efficient and cost-effective route. They would have a team of 3 experienced builders and bring 2 youth members of their tribe. The team of builders would also be able to use local wood like pine from
the USA, and they would only need to ship two pieces of specialty wood for the bow and stern.
Another option to building the Tatala in the USA is to purchase one that is made in Taiwan and shipping it to Washington State. This would require finding a shipping partner that can donate their space.
Hanford McCloud recommended that no matter which option we choose, we should consider this to be a 2-year project. He thinks we should invite Sirman to the next Tribal Canoe Journeys to discuss the project in person.
Sirman also offered to provide carved indigenous cultural items (small Tatala and flying fish) to sell as fundraising crafts. They range in price from USD$65 - USD$300 each, depending on their size. We should consider commissioning his work to provide as gifts to our Tribal Journey hosts.
Burke Museum (University of Washington) Partnership
The Burke Museum on the campus of the University of Washington has re-opened in the Fall of 2019 after a major renovation. One of the significant new exhibits is one that showcases indigenous artifacts. One of the centerpieces of this exhibit is a Tao Tatala (canoe), which was donated by Michael Jacobson, a colleague of our organization. In 2017, Gary Smoke arranged for the Liouguei Indigenous Children's Choir to bless the tatala while it was in storage.
The Burke Museum is offering a private tour for our indigenous delegation during the 2020 Tribal Canoe Journeys, and they hope to have the Liouguei Indigenous Children's Choir performing for the Tao Tatala again.
Indigenous Education Exchange:
Since 2009, the organization has been active with indigenous education, providing lectures on indigenous cultures, supporting academic research and exchanges, and indigenous teacher exchanges.
International Indigenous Teacher's Exchange Program (IITEP)
Chad Yen, one of our core members, created this ambitious program, The International Indigenous Teacher's Exchange Program (IITEP), bringing Native American teachers to Taiwan, which will become a larger project including more tribes from more countries. The program was launched with the arrival of Ruthie Edd from the USA to Kaohsiung to join our Education partner Rachel Su and her organization, Global Link Up For Education (GLUE). Members of our organization met her in September to offer our support during her stay in Taiwan. We also met Rachel Su and Ruthie in Tainan City to discuss cooperation and fundraising effort, and finding a way to involve the GLUE organization in the Tribal Journeys program.
Indigenous Lecture Series
Tony Coolidge, Executive Director, has been giving lectures about Taiwan's indigenous culture, since 2009. On October 22, 2019, he provided a lecture for National Changhua University of Education, with the topic being International Opportunities for Taiwan's Austronesian Identity.
Indigenous Media Exchange:
Activities in this department are being directed by Gerald A. Santos, Director of Indigenous Media Exchange, who resides in the Bay area of California. He is organizing upcoming art, film and multimedia exhibits in the USA. The activities will raise the profile of our organization, helping us to recruit new volunteers and donors.
Media Events
Gerald A. Santos is organizing our participation in upcoming art exhibits, film festival and other cultural events in California to raise the profile of our organization in the USA.
Film Festival in St. Louis, MO
In November 2019, the Taiwanese Students Organization at Washington University in St. Louis, MO is hosting a film festival showcasing a Taiwanese film, and will work with ATAYAL to share our work with indigenous culture. They will also have a donation box to support our activities.
PRESS
The ATAYAL Organization is proud to have
Sylvia Dean,
PR Coordinator, on our team. As an American in Taiwan participating in the Fulbright Program for a year, she is sharing her perspectives as a reporter by writing articles about Taiwan's indigenous culture. Sylvia is also managing our press releases to promote our activities.
HUMAN RESOURCES
The ATAYAL Organization runs its Indigenous Bridges Programs with a 100% volunteer team. Since our formation in 2001, the organization has not paid salaries to anyone on the team. As a result, we rely on volunteers and our annual recruitment drive is critical to our activities. Fees may be paid for certain professional services that are not available on a volunteer basis, such as translation, video editing, etc.
- ORGANIZATIONAL CHART: The latest organizational chart has been released. Please see the chart below.
- RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN: The organization has been a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been 100% driven by volunteers since its founding in 2001. Our recruitment campaign is crucial for us to fill vital admin and staff roles as well as volunteer positions. Click here for more information on volunteering.
- NEWEST TEAM MEMBERS: Click on the links below for details on our most recent additions to our team.
- Board Member: Dr. Ming-lon Young
- Board Member: Hanford McCloud
- Advisory Board Member: Dr. Scott Simon
- Director of Indigenous Media: Gerald A. Santos
- PR Coordinator: Sylvia Dean
- PR Assistant: Robert Fisch
FUNDRAISING AND BUDGET
As required by the IRS to retain our 501(c)(3) status, all tax filings are submitted annually, and are public record. Annual reports are also submitted to the State of Florida and the State of Washington, where our organization is registered. We are committed to financial transparency, and in following this commitment, we have maintained a
Gold Seal of Transparency with Guidestar, the most reliable independent monitoring service for the charities in the USA.
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