Doors to Diplomacy Participants

Jiayi elementary school (2007 CyberFair Project ID 4944)
Taiwan, Ping-Tung
Official Status: Final Project: Ready for Judging
Teacher:
Category: 2. Community Groups and Special Populations

We estimate 7 student(s) from 11 to 12 will work on this entry.

Description of Our Community: The Central Mountains start from the center of Taiwan with the height of 3000m, and gradually reduces in height as they elongate south-ward. The North Dawu Mountain locating in Pingtung County is the end of the Central Mountain. Paiwan Tribe is situated west to Northern Dawu Mountain, the upper stream of Ailiao River, and the left bank of the south Ailaio River Paiwan Tribe is one of the biggest tribes in Taiwan, and is also our home. The population of Paiwan Tribe was already over 2000 people in year 1722, and was very different from the desertedness people see today. Our grandparents moved to the area by the road side of the middle part of Yanshan Highway in Pingtung County in year 1974. This community with the name of Paiwan Town has never been speculated of its correlation with Paiwan Tribe. The tribe buildings are no different from what you would see in small rural townships; the only exception would be the slightly tribal-looking name plate at the town entrance, and the tribal totems in the community center. Friendly people with big eyes and slightly darker skins are probably another hint of an aboriginal tribe. Currently the community has had three generations. Nonetheless, people are swiftly losing the tribal language, the traditional skills, and the mythical tales and legends. The remote original tribal town has become an honorable memory of our ancestors. The slate houses, slate stairs, pottery pots, the beautiful tribal costumes, the natural forests, and wild animals have all become mere memories. We still have the boldness, generosity and innocence in our blood; however, the ancestors’ wisdom, the history and the culture are yet to be restored.

Project Description: Starting from the past memories for the tribes, followed by the tribes’ history and culture, and then the current situations. The contents are as the following: 1. Looking back at the pre-historic era to the colonization by Netherlands, the colonization by Japan, the KMT government, and present. 2. Discussing the origin of the tribes and then the tribesmen’s daily living 3. Discussing the genealogy of the chiefs of the tribes 4. Revisiting the original and planning the way home 5. Discussing the migration of tribesmen 6. Discussing the tribes’ past and present 7. Vuvu talks about myths in the tribes 8. The path of exploration 9. Introducing the team members – my friends, teachers, helpers 10. Map

Click Here to View Project Narrative