Taiwan Today

Taiwan’s indigenous peoples media is fostering a cultural revival and promoting mutual understanding.

On Aug. 9, the first radio station in Taiwan catering primarily to aboriginals began broadcasting nationwide at a ceremony coinciding with U.N. International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Alian 96.3, which derives its name from the Paiwan word for “friend,” is operated by government-backed Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation (IPCF) and reaches more than 90 percent of Taiwan’s tribal villages. It also helps bridge the urban-rural information divide and is an effective tool in enhancing disaster preparedness and relief measures.

During the ceremony in Taipei City, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said the station marks the country’s commitment to safeguarding and raising awareness of local aboriginal cultures, histories and languages. Tsai, an ethnic Paiwan on her grandmother’s side, believes that by guaranteeing access to the media for indigenous peoples, the government is recognizing and promoting the unique value of rich and diverse cultural assets for all citizens.

Strong Foundation

The launch of Alian 96.3 is in line with the Indigenous Languages Development Act promulgated in June last year. Like Taiwan Indigenous Television (TITV), also operated by the IPCF, the broadcaster is charged with assisting in the preservation of the languages of the nation’s 16 officially recognized tribes. The foundation was established in 2009 with funding from the Cabinet-level Council of Indigenous Peoples under the Education Act for Indigenous Peoples, revised in 2004, and The Indigenous Peoples Basic Law, promulgated the following year.

For Paiwan Yedda Palemeq, chief executive officer of IPCF, such progress demonstrates increasing concern for the vanishing traditions of disadvantaged groups in Taiwan. This is an extension of the indigenous rights movement emerging in the 1980s as part of a broader social liberalization trend. IPCF also runs Indigenous Perspectives, a bimonthly magazine integrated with the foundation’s internet, radio and TV platform. “We’re now in a new omnimedia age with ready access to diverse media forms,” Yedda said.

The predecessor of TITV, which commenced operations in 2005, was managed by Eastern Broadcasting Co. and Taiwan Television Enterprise before joining government-funded Taiwan Broadcasting System (TBS) in 2007. TBS includes Hakka TV—targeting the country’s second-largest ethnic group—and Public Television Service (PTS). In 2014, TITV came under the auspices of IPCF after the foundation acquired a license for broadcasting activities.

“It’s developed a mode clearly distinct from commercial channels with a focus on ethnic interests and public values,” Yedda said. On one hand, she added, indigenous peoples can express concerns and views that might be misrepresented in the mainstream media and, on the other, segments of society can develop a better understanding of aboriginals through cultural exchanges via the platform.

Broad Content

Offering a variety of programs spanning such areas as arts, entertainment, food, music, sports and youth culture, Alian and TITV also provide news shows in each of the 16 tribes’ languages so as to satisfy the Indigenous Languages Development Act. Article 23 of the legislation, Yedda said, stipulates that the number of hours dedicated to aboriginal language learning courses and programs must be at least 50 percent of that aired by government-funded indigenous television and broadcast organizations. In addition, the IPCF magazine contains at least one Romanized indigenous text per issue since mid-2017.

“But native speakers and teachers of aboriginal languages aren’t naturals when it comes to the broadcast media,” Yedda said, referring to the importance of training initiatives like a three-month TV production program jointly organized by IPCF and PTS. Concluding in February, the course turned out 25 young indigenous graduates qualified to work for TITV or other communications businesses. “They’re given training in technical areas like audio effects, cinematography, directing and lighting, as well as cultural and ethnic traditions,” she added.

Mainly designed for the 16 tribes, the IPCF platform also touches on issues concerning the nonrecognized plains-dwelling tribes. It is to this area that Mata Taiwan attaches greater importance. The Taipei-based internet outfit, named after the Austronesian word for “eye,” embraces an audience largely made up of diverse ethnicities seeking to better understand and communicate with indigenous peoples.

Founder Fang Ko-chou (方克舟) perceives it is as critical for the nonrecognized tribes to have a clear voice in the media as they have experienced greater assimilation with Taiwan society. “They’re inferior ethnic groups in terms of legal status,” he said. “This issue must be addressed with greater force in regards to achieving a higher level of ethnic sustainability.”

As such, Mata is dedicating coverage to an amendment before the Legislature to the Status Act for Indigenous Peoples including the category of plains-dwelling tribes. Other equally important topics range from the hypothesis that Taiwan is the ancestral homeland of the world’s Austronesian-speaking peoples to the dazzling aboriginal elements featured in the opening ceremony of the 2017 Taipei Universiade—the largest international sporting event ever staged in Taiwan.

According to Fang, these easily understood topics build a greater appreciation for more challenging and controversial subjects like land rights. “Our articles are mostly created by indigenous contributors acting as conduits for ideas and messages in tribal communities,” he said.

Mata is also capitalizing on these aboriginal connections by publishing books and tribal tourism tracts. Another side project involves arranging grassroots seminars across the country in partnership with the Ministry of Culture under its Civil Culture Forum project.

In September 2017, Mata organized three forums in Taipei, as well as Hualien and Pingtung counties in eastern and southern Taiwan, respectively, for exchanging experiences and ideas on indigenous tourism. Attendees included nongovernmental organizations like Association of Taiwanese Indigenous Peoples’ Development headquartered in central Taiwan’s Nantou County and local community groups.

Constructing Bridges

Sun Chia-sui (孫嘉穗), a professor in the Department of Indigenous Languages and Communication at National Dong Hwa University in Hualien, said constructing a vehicle for articulating different voices and views is a role the media can play in promoting expanded exchanges and understanding between various actors within and outside a tribe. Having indirectly assisted PTS with production of internet and TV news shows concerning aboriginal and other civic issues, Sun appreciates the distinctions among those living in indigenous communities and those belonging to the same ethnic group yet residing in different regions.

Gender issues tend to be neglected when it comes to strengthening tribal rights and ties to culture. “Customs need more discussion before being preserved or adjusted,” she said. “Media coverage can help with achieving internal consensus on these matters while introducing the views of the outside world.”

The new media is brimming with potential for raising the profile of indigenous culture in Taiwan. Online platforms and mobile devices are giving ready access to a vast amount of on-demand content, which can lead to unprecedented appreciation of aboriginal cultural assets, according to Sun.

“An indigenous internet celebrity can be effective in conveying cultural messages,” she said, adding that if younger generations feel closer to their tribal traditions through modern media channels, they will be more willing to shoulder the challenge of reclaiming cultural heritage. “As equal values of ethnicities and languages appear in quality media content, the true Taiwanese spirit and identity will take shape.”

Write to Pat Gao at cjkao@mofa.gov.tw