Wild East Editorial / By Trista di Genova When I’m ‘stateside’ in the U.S., people first — almost invariably — make the mistake of thinkin’ I’m talkin’ ’bout THAILAND. Guess it’s ’cause bein’ one of the world’s WORST in geography skills, we Yanks usually don’t know the difference between the
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Voices in the Clouds
Watch Now A documentary by American Tony Coolidge about his personal journey discovering and exploring his Atayal roots in Taiwan. Tony is the founder of atayal.org. Voices in the Clouds explores issues of personal and cultural identity. Tony’s documentary is interesting because he is, from the perspective of mainstream, ethnic
Read moreTrista di Genova joins ATAYAL board of directors
The Wild East The ATAYAL organization officially welcomes Trista di Genova as a member of its Board of Directors Tainan City, Taiwan – May 13, 2013 – The ATAYAL Organization officially welcomed Trista di Genova to its board of directors on Monday. Trista has attended ATAYAL events in Taiwan and
Read moreProf. Scott Simon to speak on Seediq Bale @ Academia Sinica
Anthropologist Scott Simon will be speaking at Academia Sinica in Taipei on May 6 at 2:30pm, on the topic “Sadyaq Balae! State and Indigeneity on Formosa” in Room B202, RCHSS Academia Sinica (map) Like indigenous peoples around the globe, the Austronesian peoples of Formosa (Taiwan) have lost their sovereignty because
Read moreAboriginal New Year’s Feast in Chingchuan
Check this out – The Wild East’s Wild Feast! What can be better than being able to spend the weekend and your New Year’s outside the crush and smog of the city? ChingChuan, located in the mountains of Hsinchu, is home to a fusion of people including the indigenous Atayal
Read moreChristmas in Wulai: A heart-warming affair
Trista di Genova / The Wild East Father Christmas arrived in Wulai 23rd December. Thanks to the generosity of many Taiwanese and foreign friends alike — in particular main organizer Gary Smoke and the auspices of the Rangi Association — there was live entertainment, caroling, visits with Santa and a
Read moreImpressions of Saisiyat tribe’s Ritual of the Little Black People
Trista di Genova / The Wild East / Culture Every two years the Saisiyat tribe in Hsinchu County, Taiwan, hold the Ritual of the Little Black People (矮靈祭, ǎi líng jì). This year, it took place Dec. 1-3, in a remote mountainous village in Wufeng Township. The following is my
Read moreTop 10 reasons to check out Chingchuan’s new Youth Cultural Center
By Fr. Barry Martinson / The Wild East The Taoshan Youth Cultural Center opened in Chingchuan, Hsinchu County. Here are the top 10 reasons to go check it out! 1. CHINGCHUAN ALREADY HAD AN ABANDONED BUILDING… The old Taushan credit union/coop building had been abandoned and unusable for over ten
Read moreBehind the legend of the Little Black People Ritual
By Sean Kaiteri / Contributor, The Wild East The Story of the Legend of the Pas’ ta ay in my own words:) (editor’s note: The Basta/Pasta Ai/Ay, or “Ritual of the Little Black People” (矮靈祭) is performed by the Saisiyat tribe in northeast Taiwan) No one is really sure exactly
Read moreA Blessing for the Start of Work on the Chingchuan Community Center
Last year a group of foreigners organized the Wufeng Project, working with aboriginal kids in Wufeng and Chingchuan, Hsinchu County. They gave the kids cameras and their photography was then sold at auction, raising over NT$2 million to renovate a desperately needed community center in Chingchuan. This is the blessing
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