Annual Report 2021

The year of 2021 was traumatic and life-changing for many people and organizations in the world. For our organization, we also had serious challenges to overcome. The cultural exchange activities of the ATAYAL organization had been suspended since March 2020, including our most important cultural exchange event, the Tribal Canoe Journeys. However, through our relationships with our partners, staff, and supporters, we were able to achieve progress and make a difference for some communities.

Instead of hanging up our paddles, our organization used the down time to be productive, strengthening the foundation for a sustainable future. Having some structures of organization in place, we were able to move forward on several fronts. Progress was made with the four pillars of our organization: Recruiting, Program Development, Partnerships and Fundraising.

I. RECRUITING

In 2021, we added key members to our Board and International Advisory Board. Each person brings to the organization their experience, skills and connections. More importantly, they bring a passion and respect for the indigenous people and their cultures. The new additions include:

Sue Babcock – Board Member

Freddie Lane – Board Member

Wally Su – International Advisory Board Member

We also recognized the contributions of two of our Staff members, and as a result, they have been given promotions. The promotions include:

Anthonie Tumpag – Regional Director

Will Tsang – Regional Director

Our team is growing, and we need more talented, committed people to develop, execute and nurture the programs for future generations of indigenous youth. Check out our Organizational Chart to see what staff positions are filled and which are open. There are also volunteer positions open for our Programs.

If you are interested in volunteering, visit our Volunteer Page on our web site.

Click here to read the Roles and Responsibilities of our Staff, International Advisory Board Members, and Board Members.

II. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

1) Vision and Purpose

We stand firm on our Vision, which is that indigenous communities around the world become connected in meaningful ways. We foresee a Network of Sister Villages bringing people together. This connection allows tribes to develop activities and programs with each other, to grow stronger together, to overcome shared challenges through cooperation. The bonds that bridge the divide are the bonds of indigenous culture, and with these bonds, they can develop many types of opportunities, including education, tourism and trade. With the indigenous culture, language and traditional wisdom being shared, the preservation of these irreplaceable aspects of indigenous identity can become a priority.

Our organization's Indigenous Bridges Programs are being developed to create "bridges" between the Sister Villages. Who will lead these tribes towards their proud, connected futures? Our flagship program, the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP), is being developed with this need in mind. As mandated by Hanford McCloud, our Board Member, and Nisqually Tribal Council Member, we shaped our main programs to serve the indigenous youth.

2) Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassadors Program (IBYAP)

The Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassadors Program (IBYAP) brings together future indigenous leaders, to share their indigenous cultures with pride, form bonds with representatives of other tribes, and learn to cooperate to create solutions for shared problems faced by all indigenous communities. This program nurtures international leadership qualities and grooms the young ambassadors to be the future caretakers of the Sister Villages network.

The Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassadors Program (IBYAP) facilitates indigenous youth taking part in international cultural exchange activities, such as the Tribal Canoe Journeys in Washington State, USA. Hanford McCloud had invited a Taiwanese indigenous delegation to join his Canoe family for several years as part of the Tribal Canoe Journeys before he became our Board Member. We are also developing cultural exchange opportunities for Native Americans visiting Taiwan. In lieu of physical international exchanges, because of the pandemic, we have supported an indigenous youth exchange in Taiwan and developed an online culture exchange opportunity.

2a) Indigenous Bridges Virtual Conference

With the Tribal Canoe Journeys suspended indefinitely, the organization has developed an online indigenous cultural exchange activity for the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassadors Program. A cornerstone of the IBYAP program will be an annual Indigenous Bridges Virtual Conference. Currently, we have a group of volunteer English teachers training our IBYAP participants to improve their presentations and conversations in English. We have also developed a partnership with National Dong Hwa University to support their Indigenous students. Click here to see more details about this upcoming virtual event.

3) Indigenous Taiwanese Cultural Exhibits in the USA

Our Regional Director in the Chicago, Illinois region, Anthonie Tumpag, had organized two successful gallery exhibits on behalf of the ATAYAL Organization. The first one was in July 2021 at the Trickster Cultural Center in Schaumberg, Illinois. The second one was at the West Loop Dot Gallery in downtown Chicago in October of 2021. The development of this exhibit, which consist of photos of the international exchanges between the Taiwanese Indigenous group and the Native Americans in Washington State, as well as some cultural artifacts, has led to the opportunities of continuous traveling exhibits around the USA.

4) Mask Gifting Ceremony for the Nisqually Tribe in Washington State

Our Regional Director in the Washington State region, Will Tsang, organized a successful exchange and gifting ceremony on behalf of the ATAYAL Organization. The special cross-cultural ceremony took place at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Culture Center in Bellevue Washington in March of 2021. The donation ceremony started with an acknowledgement of the land that this event took place on as the traditional home of the original caretakers who are still here today. Five thousand medical face masks and “Taiwan Can Help” care packages were donated to Nisqually tribe. Representatives from the Nisqually and ATAYAL Organization shared stories of the Tribal Canoe Journeys over the last three years prior to the pandemic lockdown. The Nisqually reaffirmed their desire to bring a delegation of elders and youth to tour Taiwan. The group also discussed seafood business cooperation. The Nisqually Tribe pointed out the importance of economic development and food sovereignty. 

III. PARTNERSHIPS

In 2021, we have increased discussions and activities with key partners to strengthen our partnerships and to benefit the communities that we serve. Our principals in Taiwan, Gary Smoke and Tony Coolidge travelled throughout Taiwan to establish relationships with new partners for our programs.

1) National Dong Hwa University

In May 2021, we met with the Department Director, professors and Indigenous students to present our Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP). As a result, the school will be a main partner providing and supporting participants. ATAYAL will be providing international exchange opportunities, English-language training, and scholarships to the participating students.

2) National Museum of Prehistory

In May 2021, we met with an Assistant Director to discuss the facility’s participation in our Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP). ATAYAL proposed having the international meeting facility host exchanges between Taiwan indigenous youth and the youth of Native American communities. They agreed in principal and more will be discussed when international exchanges resume.

IV. FUNDRAISING

In 2021, we had our biggest breakthrough in our fundraising results, as we actually surpassed our annual fundraising goals and continued to expand our donor base. According to our 2021 Financial Report, we did raise USD $11, 967.96 from nineteen donations.

In the Fall of 2020, our organization submitted a Grant Proposal to the Nisqually Community Foundation and was awarded a grant of USD $10,000 to cover a future exchange trip for a Nisqually delegation to Taiwan. We received the funds in January 2021. Thus, the total for donations and grants was USD $21,967.96

Our fundraising campaigns raises scholarship money and funding for our Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP).

V. ANNUAL MEETING

On January 22, 2021, we held an Annual Meeting in the English Library in Taipei, our informal headquarters in Taiwan. A video of the meeting can be seen here. We welcome new members and partners for our international culture exchange work, shared our 2021 results and our 2022 objectives.