The Native Aboriginal Tribes of Taiwan
Taiwan, previously named Formosa, by one of the island’s numerous colonizers, means the beautiful Island in Portuguese. It is located 90 miles on the opposite side of the Taiwan Strait from China’s Fujian province, with a population of 23.57 million and an area of only 36,192 km².
|
Before the 17th century, when the Han Immigration began, Taiwan’s population consisted of many different indigenous tribes scattered across all parts of the island. Now, the native population has decreased dramatically. Forced by violent confrontations and government policy the aborigine people had to give up their settlements in the plains to live in the high mountains and along the remote east coast of Taiwan. Gradual assimilation into the dominant Han society has meant that their cultures and languages are being lost. With only around 530,000 Taiwan aborigines left, each year they host the Austronesian Cultural Festival in Taitung City to promote tourism, which helps with economic self-reliance and preservation of their cultures.
These 530,000 aborigines are what is left of the Ami, Atayal, Bunun, Kanakanavu, Kavalan, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyat, Tao, Tsou, Truku, Sakizaya, and Sediq Tribes. |
|
