The Taitung County Government is actively shaping Taitung as a capital of Austronesian culture. On September 3rd, a grand 'Austronesian Maritime Culture Symposium' will take place at the Shanhua Bay Building Hall, focusing on the theme of 'Austronesian Maritime Culture.' The event aims to bring together domestic and international Austronesian maritime experts, scholars, and researchers to create a significant gathering that centers around the maritime culture of the Austronesian language family. This event will also connect with neighboring Austronesian communities, allowing participants to deeply experience the ancestral spirit and wisdom of Austronesian navigation through the shared insights of maritime experts.
Registration is open from now until September 2nd. Interested individuals are encouraged to participate actively.
For registration, please visit the website: https://www.accupass.com/go/Seafaring-wisdom.
Taitung County Magistrate Yao,Ching-Ling. mentioned that Taitung County retains traditional shipbuilding culture within its borders. This includes various ethnic groups such as the Amis and Tao tribes, who annually hold ocean-related ceremonial events like the flying fish festival and sea rituals. These communities also preserve traditional fishing groups and age-stratified organizations. Shipbuilding culture encompasses ecological knowledge, economic industries, artistic craftsmanship, and ethnic identity. It's regarded as a crucial cultural asset for the indigenous peoples. Nonetheless, many of these skills have been lost and need to be reclaimed.
Through the organization of this symposium, people hope to learn from the maritime masters and experts of neighboring Austronesian communities, thus reviving the maritime skills and spirit. This will further strengthen the cultural heritage, with the aspiration that in the near future, like the ancestors, people can set sail from Taitung and connect with the world.
The Indigenous Peoples Department noted that the symposium has invited several renowned navigators and researchers to participate. They will delve into the history of Austronesian maritime navigation, share contemporary revitalization experiences and practices, and present research and achievements. Notable figures include Ali Ali Haleyalur, an advocate of traditional navigation from Yap Island in the Federated States of Micronesia, who is a mentor to many celestial navigation learners; Sesario Sewralur, a master navigator of the Palau Micronesian Navigators Association and the son of the great navigator Mau Piailug. In 2019, he was bestowed the title of PWO (Pwo Master Navigator) by Ali Ali Haleyalur, continuing Mau Piailug's legacy.
Ron Acfalle from Guam is the leader of Ulitao, a Guam Chamorro maritime revitalization organization that currently possesses four traditional wooden sailing vessels, making it Guam's most significant maritime revitalization entity. Dr. Gena A. Rojas from the University of Guam has extensive knowledge of the Para Hulo' Island Wisdom Strategy Plan and holds positions as a co-founder of the Micronesia Regional Center for Public Policy and as a member of the University of Guam's Island Wisdom Council. Kyoko Miyazawa, an ocean documentary filmmaker from Japan, has long been dedicated to the revitalization of Polowat Island's navigation and has produced several documentaries on indigenous maritime navigation.
The Taitung County Government's 2023 'Austronesian Maritime Culture Symposium' will be held on September 3rd from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The government sincerely invites all those interested in traditional navigation and shipbuilding culture to actively participate. For more information, please refer to the Taitung County Indigenous Peoples Community College Facebook page or contact Mr. Zhang Yehai and Ms. Lin at telephone number 0920-590730.