The government is protecting Austronesian peoples’ common heritage while supporting their economic development.
Dilmei Louisa Olkeriil, Palau’s Ambassador to Taiwan from May 2014 to August 2022, is an avid proponent of closer ties between the Austronesian groups spread throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Courtesy of CIP)
During her tenure as Palau’s Ambassador to Taiwan from May 2014 to August 2022, Dilmei Louisa Olkeriil dedicated herself to promoting cultural exchanges while deepening bilateral cooperation in disease prevention, education, health care and tourism. With over 20 years of diplomatic relations, the two countries share a rich Austronesian heritage and commitment to advancing peace, stability and sustainable development across the Indo-Pacific.
As an avid proponent of closer ties between the Austronesian ethnic groups spread throughout the region, Olkeriil hailed the launch of the Austronesian Forum proposed by Taiwan’s Cabinet-level Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) for its potential to serve as a bridge connecting people to their ancestral roots. The forum held its inaugural meeting in 2008 before establishing regular operations in 2018 with the reopening of its headquarters in Palau and the establishment of its secretariat in Taipei City a year later. Currently it has 14 members encompassing Taiwan’s Pacific allies—Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu—and partner nations including Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines, with Central American ally Belize participating as an observer.
“The forum is a safe place for Austronesian peoples to work together toward more healthful lifestyles and sustainable economic models,” Olkeriil said. “I expect it to play a key role in the preservation of cultural heritage and empowerment of youth and women, as well as the development of cultural and creative products and teaching materials in local languages.” During her tenure, the diplomat attended numerous forum activities including Executive Council meetings and keynote presentations in youth training workshops on environmental governance, ocean conservation and tourism development—bread and butter issues for Palau and many other Pacific island countries.
Such events offer valuable learning experiences while providing a venue to build lasting international bonds. “Palau is well known for its conservation laws and regulations that govern our land, ocean and the harvesting of marine resources,” Olkeriil said. “We welcome all visitors willing to help preserve our pristine environment.”
Close Kinship
Approximately 400 million people of Austronesian descent reside in the broad area ranging from Taiwan in the north and New Zealand in the south to Madagascar in the west and Chile’s Easter Island in the east, speaking roughly 1,200 interconnected languages in total. Austronesian peoples and their many distinct cultures have proven an intriguing topic for multidisciplinary research, according to academics tracing their historic migration patterns and maritime navigation technologies.
CIP Minister Icyang Parod (Courtesy of CIP)
Many findings point to Taiwan as the probable ancestral homeland of Austronesian-speaking peoples. Comparative studies by American linguist Robert Blust and Australian archaeologist Peter Bellwood give further credence to the “out of Taiwan” hypothesis for Austronesian expansion as indigenous peoples have lived in Taiwan for millennia. The latest statistics reveal that the population of the country’s 16 officially recognized tribes stands at 581,694, or 2.5 percent of the total 23.2 million.
According to CIP Minister Icyang Parod, Taiwan’s indigenous peoples share close cultural and linguistic links with other Austronesian groups. One example is the word “mata,” meaning “eye,” in Amis, his mother tongue. The word is identical in indigenous languages spoken by the Bunun, Paiwan, Rukai and Thao in Taiwan as well as those used in Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines. The different communities additionally have numerous similarities in traditional architecture, arts and crafts, and tattoo styles.
“There are common features possessed by indigenous populations across the Pacific in terms of language, living environment, social structure and way of life,” the minister said. “The core task of the Austronesian Forum is to safeguard this shared heritage.” Identified as the source of early Austronesian migration, Taiwan is now a leader of related regional development, he added.
Anjerick Topacio from the Philippines (front center) and other participants of the youth training workshop perform a traditional dance during a cultural night. (Courtesy of Anjerick Topacio)
Galvanizing Youth
To facilitate the Austronesian Forum’s development into a permanent organization, the government formulated a six-year plan (2020–2025) in 2019 and has since implemented five major strategies covering academic and policy research, cultural and language exchanges, talent cultivation, regional industrial development and administrative affairs management. Under the plan, the CIP has organized a variety of conferences, cooperation and exchange programs, language surveys, training courses and workshops in addition to the production of a National Geographic TV series and release of a book exploring the origins of Austronesian peoples. The initiatives are designed to forge partnerships between government agencies, research institutes and nongovernmental organizations for capacity building and cultural preservation.
“The establishment of the Austronesian Forum marked a milestone in acknowledging fundamental rights and freedoms of the Austronesian peoples,” Icyang said. “Our mission is to work with like-minded partners in the Pacific to advance cultural, economic and social prosperity for indigenous communities based on the principles of democracy, justice and respect for human rights.” Given that young people are key agents of economic growth, social change and technological innovation, the CIP has made youth empowerment a top priority. The Cultivation Program of Young Talents for International Affairs, for instance, seeks to enable young people to participate in decision-making bodies at all levels through cultural tours, group discussions, lectures and workshops.
One of the beneficiaries of such initiatives is Anjerick Topacio, a member of the Philippines’ Kapampangan ethnic group. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in civil engineering at Chung Yuan Christian University in the northern city of Taoyuan. Over the last three years, he has progressed from trainee and facilitator to speaker in the program. As a member of an ethnic minority, Topacio said one of the critical issues his community faces is environmental degradation caused by overexploitation of natural resources. “Our belief systems and customs of treating nature with deep respect are being replaced by greed,” the 31-year-old said. “In advocating for sustainability, I want to encourage the use and preservation of traditional knowledge.”
Participants in the youth training workshop visit Orchid Island off the coast of Taitung County and an indigenous Paiwan community in the southeastern county. (Courtesy of CIP)
The student said he has become increasingly aware of the importance of protecting his cultural identity and wants to help the Philippines balance conservation and development. “The forum serves to build connections among participants who prize their Austronesian heritage and pave the way for future cooperation that is essential for progress,” Topacio said. “I intend to give back to my community by promoting youth volunteerism to effect positive change in society, especially regarding the environment.”
Enshrining Protections
In addition to creating the Austronesian Forum, Taiwan joined Australia, Canada and New Zealand in co-founding the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA) March 29. IPETCA, initiated during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings held in 2021, is the first nonbinding multilateral arrangement to focus on strengthening the economic empowerment of indigenous peoples. It strives to embed indigenous trade concerns more firmly in the international agenda and raise the profile of the critical area of work.
Austronesian crafters discuss different fiber materials used for weaving. (Courtesy of CIP)
“Being a co-founder of IPETCA reflects international recognition of Taiwan’s accomplishments in protecting indigenous rights,” the CIP minister said. “It also demonstrates our government’s determination to deepen cooperation with other APEC economies in order to tackle major challenges facing the region.” Numerous laws enacted in Taiwan to guarantee such rights and interests have become models for other IPETCA participating economies, including the Indigenous Peoples Employment Rights Protection Act (2001), Indigenous Peoples Basic Law (2005) and Indigenous Languages Development Act (2017).
The Austronesian Forum and IPETCA are leading efforts to safeguard indigenous peoples’ intangible cultural heritage and improve their economic well-being while increasing Taiwan’s international participation and visibility. “The two initiatives will promote regional tie-ups and unlock potential for further cooperation and exchanges across the Asia-Pacific,” Icyang said. “More importantly, they develop strong frameworks for sustainable capacity building—an essential component for lifting up indigenous communities.”
Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw