On May 26, Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Mr. Sun Ta-chuan was the guest speaker at the “AIM 2020” cultural forum, sharing his views on the present situation and future of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples.
Prof. Ju noted that Mr. Sun is a scholar well-versed in literature, philosophy and history, and has a deep understanding of indigenous issues.
The spirit of the indigenous peoples
In his speech, Mr. Sun remarked that the indigenous peoples’ lives are closely linked to nature, and they have long learned to live and co-exist with nature.
The indigenous peoples are known for their dancing and singing. But it would be a bid misunderstanding to see such qualities only from an entertainment perspective, he said.
He explained that the indigenous people’s dancing and singing are part of their religious rituals, and the lyrics of their songs are teachings passing down from generations to generations through an oral tradition.
Indigenous peoples’ future relying on the politico-legal, cultural, academic and socio-economic support
The indigenous people’s future will rely on the politico-legal, cultural, academic and socio-economic support in order to unshackle themselves from various restrictions, the minister said.
The indigenous people, in the face of their own languages, cultures and arts and crafts, have to seek and preserve their traditions and spirit, and to face their historical and social situations, Mr. Sun said.
This the heavy burden of this indigenous generation because the majority of society lack sufficient understanding of the indigenous peoples. But after more than 20 years of planning by the government, where various mechanisms have been established, there is still a ray of hope for the existence and future of the indigenous peoples, Mr. Sun said.