Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Shares Experiences of Indigenous Winter Camp

 

A member of the Saisiyat Tribe of Taiwan participated in an indigenous Winter Camp at National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) in Hualien, Taiwan over the winter break and offered to share her experiences with other Indigenous youth participating in the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP). Her participation was facilitated by a scholarship by the ATAYAL Organization of USD$100 (NT3,000). As a member of IBYAP, she was eligible to receive support in the form of a scholarship for Indigenous educational and cultural exchange programs.

The Saisiyat delegate of IBYAP

It was a student Winter Camp which taught traditional Indigenous dance and music culture from Taiwan's Truku Tribe. The 2021 High School Vocational Students Indigenous Music and Dance Talent Training Camp focuses on learning to sing Taroko ballads and dance Taroko dances taught by a tribal instructor named Wadan. The group of students also learned how to perform traditional aboriginal myths through acting, with a lesson on combining contemporary and traditional arts to create something new.

Creation and creativity was a running theme, as the students learned to make their own traditional Truku harps (jew's harp) carved out of bamboo. The event concluded with a final cultural performance, where the Indigenous students could come together to share what they learned and share their newly reconnected Indigenous spirit.

When asked what the experience meant to her, the IBYAP representative expressed, "This experience meant a lot to me. I was able to bond with brothers and sisters of different tribes in Taiwan, as we were all given the gift of traditional knowledge and customs. I was surprised by way each student was able to express their spirit in the performances after the instructors connected us to the Indigenous traditions in just a few days."

She also added, "What does my ethnic language mean to me? Not the tribe or even myself. But what is 'indigenous' supposed to look like? Is cultural innovation and expression limited by mere words? The instructor (Wadan) shared his life story, his art and his work with us, and it is amazing how free he is able to express himself, ignoring all the closed-minded criticism all around him. Maybe this experience will help me find this courage and freedom to be myself."

Gary Smoke, the Deputy Director of the ATAYAL Organization explained why the organization provided a scholarship, "Our mission is to support future Indigenous leaders for international exchanges, and by supporting participation in exchange opportunities to give our Indigenous Youth Ambassadors, a stronger connection to their Indigenous identities can be developed as a foundation for leadership."

Deputy Director Gary Smoke (center)

The Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP) is the flagship program organized by the ATAYAL Organization. The program supports international participation in cultural exchanges for youth of Indigenous tribes. The support can be provided in logistical support as well as financial resources. The program provides a leadership development curriculum centered on sustainable community development that respects Indigenous traditions and customs. The Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program provides a platform to exchange ideas and develop solutions consistent with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

The ATAYAL Organization is the caretaker of the Indigenous Bridges programs. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the State of Florida in 2001, and registered in Washington State in 2019. The organization's mission is to facilitate youth-oriented Indigenous leadership and exchange programs that will protect Indigenous knowledge and culture and develop sustainable community projects within in an interconnected international tribal framework.