Indigenous Hunting Rights on Trial in Taiwan. Image by CNA via https://international.thenewslens.com/article/148221
The Truth-Searching Indigenous Ministry Committee of The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) By Sudu Tada
Not many people know, from a historical point of
view, that Taiwanese indigenes belong to Austronesian peoples. In the early modern period of Taiwan, there were over 60 indigenous groups; now, only 16 groups are officially recognized by the government: Amis, Paiwan, Tayal, Bunun, Pinuyumayan, Rukai, Tsou, Saisiyat, Tao, Thao, Kavalan, Taroko, Sakizaya, Sediq, Hlalua and Kanakanavu. Each group has its own rich traditional heritage playing as the engine of a vibrant culture. The religious belief of each group becomes their ethical disciplines and the core value transforms into each tribe’s spiritual anchor in modern society. Though, after several centuries of colonisation, Taiwanese indigenes do enjoy some degree of quality life, certain benefits of consumption and some achievement of education; however, the indigenous well-being does not go well in general, on the contrary it becomes even worse as a matter of fact. On the rights of politics and economics, Taiwanese indigenes are forced to accept compromise for
mainstream interests. The lands handed down from the ancestor are exploited case by case by the ruling government together with some private companies; young girls can go nowhere; young boys can only choose heavy-duty labour, such as miners and fishermen. This leaves Taiwanese indigenes wandering on their own land. The most astonishing fact is the decline of traditional culture, especially the disappearance of language. These harsh conditions result in a very difficult problem of self-identity for Taiwanese indigenes, even causing the crisis for survival. Luckily, the Indigenous Ministry Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan becomes the light of hope for Taiwanese indigenes to fight against the empires. Historically, the Christian belief of Taiwan indigenous churches went through four major phases: “the initial stage under persecution”, “the positive stage of revival”, “the fragile stage of bottleneck” and “the development stage of city mission”. Until now, we still follow the spiritual disciplines from our ancestors,
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