Perspectives of Indigenous Bridges

Written by Sylvia Dean St. Louis - November 12, 2019 - After hosting a successful film festival that included fundraising for the ATAYAL organization, the Taiwanese Students Organization (TSO) of Washington University in St. Louis invited Tony Coolidge, Executive Director of the nonprofit, to speak after the screening of the movie, “Long Time No Sea ( 只有大海知道 ).” The TSO hosts a variety of Taiwanese cultural events every year including banquets, cultural discussions and panels, and movie screenings. The fundraiser for ATAYAL was initiated due to the similarities between ATAYAL’s mission and the topics discussed in the film, which follows the journey of a young boy from the Tao tribe as he learns more about his culture. The 104 people who attended the showing were greeted with free food, a photo booth, and a table for attendees to learn about the ATAYAL organization. “Indigenous populations around the world have often been neglected and underrepresented, and one of our g...

Written by Sylvia Dean Taipei - October 31, 2019 - In the summer of 2019, four members of the ATAYAL organization travelled to the Pacific Northwest United States to participate in and document the Tribal Journeys International Indigenous Cultural Exchange Program (now known as Tribal Journeys Indigenous Youth Exchange Project (TJIYEP)), where cooperating tribes paddled together to Lummi island from reservations the coast of Washington State, Oregon, California, Alaska and Canada. This year, Orchid Island’s Tao Foundation did not send any delegates, but members of the ATAYAL organization, including Gary Smoke (Deputy Director), Tony Coolidge (Executive Director), Kate (Translator) and Johan Coolidge (Youth Participant), attended the event. Though the delegation was small, ATAYAL compensated by inviting members of the indigenous Taiwanese-American community in the Seattle area to participate, as well as gaining support from scholars, supporters and volunteers. The Pr...

Written by Sylvia Dean ATAYAL is seeking to recruit new, skilled members from a variety of backgrounds to serve as volunteers. An organization that supports the preservation and celebration of indigenous cultures around the world, ATAYAL depends on the work of those who choose to offer their time, expertise and creativity to further the progress of the program. “As our organization grows in scope and facilitates more exchanges, we will need to expand our team to support our activities as facilitators,” said Tony Coolidge, Executive Director. “We have been a 100% volunteer organization since our founding, so volunteers are our backbone, and provide the spirit and soul of our mission.” Volunteers of the greatest need at this time are translators and guides who are bilingual in English and Mandarin Chinese. Coordinators who can help with the organization of exchange projects are also needed. For experienced professionals, there are positions available to serve as a board m...

It was a pleasant, sunny afternoon, with a slight breeze bringing the hanging international flags to life. The weather cooperated to make the 2019 Tribal Journeys Wrap Party more enjoyable. Deputy Director Gary Smoke hosted the event at his rooftop offices in the Tienmu area of Taipei City. Our volunteers were the first to gather, including Gary and Tony Coolidge, as well as Sylvia Dean, Perseus Kao, and Robert Fisch. Johan Coolidge came to share his experiences participating as a youth delegate in the 2019 Tribal Journeys program. Guests arrived around 3:00 pm, and there was casual mingling and the opportunity to get to know each other. Around 4:30 pm, we were able to share our presentation to our guests. It was a good opportunity to share our progress with our supporters and to recruit new supporters. After the presentation, guests enjoyed food, drinks and more conversations.

Taipei - October 31, 2019 - This past summer, members of the Tao Tribe of Orchid Island travelled to the United States to participate in the Tribal Canoe Journeys. This annual event involves hundreds of indigenous canoe families paddling along the American and Canadian coast to follow ancestral migration routes, allowing participants to connect with other canoe-oriented tribes and embrace their traditions. The ATAYAL organization's third annual Tribal Journeys Wrap Party will give attendees an opportunity to hear tribal members discuss their cultural experiences, and will allow participants, volunteers, and supporters to meet each other and be acknowledged. In addition, members will share the status of the Indigenous Bridges programs and activities put on so far this year. Finally, the organization will provide information on next year's youth exchange and how its continued success can be supported. Executive Director, Tony Coolidge, is very thankful for the outpouring o...