Perspectives of Indigenous Bridges

      2022 Indigenous Bridges Virtual Conference: Revitalizing Indigenous Tourism In The Post-Pandemic World A virtual cultural exchange event of the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP) hosted by the ATAYAL Organization.   Vision Statement   This virtual cultural exchange conference and exhibit strives to build connections between indigenous youth that starts with interactive culture-sharing opportunities that promote understanding. From the position of mutual respect and understanding, we offer a platform of learning and problem-solving activities that build leadership potential. While the pandemic has forced many of us to remain apart, technology has allowed our generation to remain connected digitally, where we can continue to advocate methods of sustainable development and environmental protection while respecting cultural traditions.   Objectives   The virtual cultural exchange event of the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Progr...

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - On Tuesday, October 27, 2020, Executive Director Tony Coolidge and Deputy Director Gary Smoke of the ATAYAL Organization were invited to attend a meeting with Professor Huang, Chi-ping, Director of the Center for Aboriginal Studies (ALCD) and her staff. The Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) assigned the ALCD the task of finding Taiwanese NGO's to cooperate with the ATAYAL Organization on indigenous cultural projects. The goal of the meeting was to gain an understanding the activities and needs the American non-profit organization in order to match the appropriate counterpart in Taiwan. After sharing the projects and history of the ATAYAL organization, the group discussed the upcoming trip to Taiwan of the Native American delegation and the prospective indigenous group they should visit. Also discussed was the Indigenous Youth Ambassador Program (IYAP). The goal of the meeting is to find appropriate NGO partners and sign Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) by the ...

Written by Chloe Hsia Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan On October 9, 2020, the ATAYAL Organization hosted an event at the Tamsui Art Gallery with Mi Sra Ko Sirman (Akai), the builder of the traditional Tatala boat from Orchid Island. Akai is a Dawu (also known as Tao) tribe member, who builds the boat by hand and dreams to paddle around Taiwan in the Tatala, introducing everyone he comes across to the Dawu people and their culture and customs.  During the event, Akai spoke with ATAYAL Executive Director Gary Smoke and detailed the plans for his journey. He noted that the journey may take up to three months, as he plans to break down the distance into shorter rowing segments. Akai also interviewed with Taiwan Indigenous Television and Taipei Times and answered questions about his journey and his canoe building process.  For the past four years, ATAYAL and Indigenous Bridges has accompanied a group from Taiwan to America to join the Native American and First Nation tri...

October 6, 2020 – New Taipei City, Taiwan On Friday, October 9, Mi Sra Ko Sirman (Akai), the builder of the Tatala boat on Orchid Island will host a discussion about his plan to circle Taiwan in the Tatala. The event will be held from 4 to 8 PM in the Tamsui District of New Taipei City. The event will be hosted in partnership with The ATAYAL Organization, a non-profit that aims to build bridges between indigenous tribes of the world. The ATAYAL Organization aims to support Akai in his journey around Taiwan and will invite Native American tribes to participate. The Tatala boat will be on display during the event. Dinner will follow the event. Date: Friday, October 9, 2020 Time: 4 PM to 8 PM Location: 300 Zhongzheng Road, Tamsui District Tamsui Art Gallery, TAG 淡水藝術工坊   The ATAYAL Organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in Washington State and Florida. It was founded in 2001 with the mission of building bridges between indigenous tribes of t...

The ATAYAL organization is proud to announce the addition of our newest member of our International Advisory Board, Mark Sussman. He is an accomplished American entrepreneur who has lived in Taiwan for the past 6 years, and has supported the ATAYAL organization for years. Before Mr. Sussman moved to Taiwan, he led 83 employees in multiple locations while owning Vogue Fabrics in Chicago, IL USA. Since his arrival in Taiwan, he has built a consulting company focused on the textile and apparel industries, Sussman International Co. He also teaches part-time an Assistant Professor at Oriental Institute of Technology. Mark's direct experience as Chairman of the Board of the Greater Pilsen Economic Development Association can provide insight into the creation of sustainable economic development projects. Micro-Entrepreneurship Training is one of his passions and integral Mark credits it to his success in retaining cultural richness and Mexican businesses of Chicago Pilsen while growing...

The ATAYAL organization is proud to announce the addition of our newest member of our International Advisory Board, Michael Sidebotham. He is an accomplished educator and entrepreneur who has supported the ATAYAL organization for many years. Mr. Sidebotham grew up in the American Southwest, which has a very interesting history,  in terms of people and cultures. At first, it didn’t interest him and he studied engineering and programming. Michael was lucky with employment, but left corporate telecom jobs after several years. He decided that entrepreneurism seemed the best way to have success and help people. He built a wholesale and retail computer business and a fun pop culture retail store. Through these companies, Michael was able to help promote reading, technology in classrooms, and English language instruction in poor areas of town. In the late 1990’s, Michael went back to the University of Arizona to study Cross Cultural Communications. In 2000, he moved to Taiwan and st...

The ATAYAL organization is proud to announce the addition of our newest member of our Board of Directors, Associate Professor Guy Charlton. Guy C. Charlton has a broad range of legal experience. He is currently an Associate Professor in Law at the University of New England located in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia where he assisted in the establishment of the UNE First People First Peoples Rights and Law Centre. He has lectured law in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan and published law articles in 5 different jurisdictions. He was awarded his PhD thesis at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law for a thesis entitled, "Constitutional Conflicts and Aboriginal Rights: Hunting, Fishing, Gathering Rights in Canada, New Zealand and the United States." This thesis argues that the present approach courts have taken toward the determination of the source, content and scope of usufructuary rights has been affected by historical and contemporary disputes concerning t...