Yukan Sabi - Atayal Peoples - Taiwan

The following are the cultural Essay and Video submitted by Yukan Sabi, a member of the Atayal Peoples of Taiwan. He is a volunteer coordinator for the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP). On this page, he has provided these samples for the youth ambassadors to view as an example.

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Yukan Sabi - Atayal Peoples

Taiwan has been home to a number of Austronesian Indigenous groups since before 4,000 BC, the Atayal peoples being one of them. Atayal peoples are known for using facial tattooing. Those with tattoos could marry, and, after death, only those with tattoos could cross the Spirit Bridge. In the past, both men and women had to show that they had performed a major task associated with responsibility and adulthood before their faces could be tattooed. For a man, he had to take the head of an enemy, showing his valor as a hunter to protect and provide for his people, while women had to be able to weave cloth. Atayal people were known as skillful warriors that are fierce, yet prideful.

I’m proud of my Indigenous background. Born in a family that speaks English and lives far from my ancestors' indigenous village made it difficult for me to truly immerse myself in the culture to get to know it. But with the help of my father, I got to go back to our Indigenous village of Wulai every year. I also had weekly Atayal language lessons through Taiwan's education system. When I thought I completely knew my culture, I was shocked when participating in the ATAYAL Organization’s culture exchanges. Representatives from other tribal groups knew dances and stories about their culture, making me feel ashamed that I had nothing as special to share on my culture’s behalf.

The exchanges gave me a chance to reflect on myself and seek more knowledge about my culture, in pursuit of becoming a better representative of my tribe. Being a part of the ATAYAL Organization gave me the opportunity to improve myself and further understand my culture.










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