Date: September 17 to September 24, 2005

[Number of Members]: 10 people
        1.Truku Little Warriors: Feng-mei, Tsai-hsia, Li-chun, Wei-chie, Shih-chiang, Hou-wei, and Si-hua
        2. Instructors: Mr. Lu Kuo-liang, Mr. Yu Wen-kuang, and Ms. Fan Su-mei
[Time]: 8:00am to 2:00pm, September 17, 2005
[Place]: Computer Room, Hong Ye Elementary School
[Presenters]: Feng-mei and Su-hua
We had been expecting the coming of today. Finally, we can meet the big brothers and big sisters from National Hua-lien University of Education. Today, 12 big brothers and big sisters came to see us. The teachers let us wait for them in the computer room. Then, they drove to the train station to pick them up and bring them back to school. It was the first time we saw them. We were both excited and nervous. We gave them a “big welcome” at the playground! It was an activity for us to get to know each other. The big sisters led us in funny dances. Then, the big brothers taught us to play some interesting games. We played happily.
Then, we went into the computer room. First, the big brothers and big sisters taught us how to register for an account at Kimo. After we all got our email, we registered at the Taiwan School Net. After we got our account, we could register at the Cyberfair! Although we were not familiar with using the computer, with the help of big brothers and big sisters, we finished registering. At last, we finished signing up for Cyberfair. We felt really great!

PS: We would like to thank the help of The Hope Agent Development Association of Republic of China and the Persian Recreation Group.

Date: September 20, 2005.

Objectives: Search for information in the internet

Feng-mei:
In today’s computer class, the teachers introduced our future research topic. The teacher told us to take our community and our tribe as topic. Our topic was to study Truku culture, our culture, because we were not familiar with our own culture. Although we were going to enter the competition with this competition, the teacher told that our major goal was to understand our own culture. The result of the competition came second. He also told us not to put too much pressure on ourselves. But we still had to finish it as best we could!
After deciding our topic, we began to separate ourselves into different groups. Then, we began to search for information in the internet, including face tattoo (famous Truku art), legends, hunting, weaving etc! Wow! We found many things on the internet. We have a lot of information to sort out! Cheerio! TOP

Date: September 24, 2005

Objectives: Truku Culture Ritual at Shiu Lin Township

Hou-wei:
Shiu Lin Township 2004 New Year’s Gala and Truku Culture Ritul – Hunter’s Soul at the holy mountain and Spirit’s Bridge
Today we came to Shiu Lin Township at the north of Hualien City to join the Truku annual event: Truku Culture Season.
When we arrived at the site, other than tasty Truku food, there were exciting song and dance shows and a beautiful handicraft display. It’s terrific!
The year’s cultural topic included “Hakaw utux” (Rainbow; ancestors’ spirits bridge). It was the Truku peoples’ spiritual totem. Our value of life lied on muda hakaw utux (walk over rainbow bridge). Walking over rainbow bridge was the highest level of self-achievement. If the person’s spirit walked over rainbow bridge, she could reach the world of eternal happiness. In the past, the tribe’s people regarded rainbow bridge as “ancestors’ spirits”; it was the bridge for the spirits to go to the world of eternal bliss after death. (If the rainbow appears in the sky, we should not point our finger towards it because it is regarded as disrespectful to our ancestors. And our ancestors will break our finger as punishment.)
Before the deceased’s spirit goes across the bridge, there is a crab responsible for checking the walker’s palm. If there is still blood on his or her palm, it means that he or she obeyed gaya when they were alive. Then, they will go across the bridge of the ancestors’ spirits and to the “home of the ancestors’ house.” Our predecessors grow sweet potatoes here for their descendants as food. Therefore, people call “death” “wada plealay mhuma bunga da” (grow the sweet potato first). If a person was loyal to gaya when he or she is alive, his or her spirit belongs to malu utux (good spirits); then, he or she will go across the rainbow bridge to the world of eternal bliss.
Truku is a patriarchic society. Men are responsible for protecting their families, wives, children, and their living space. Those who intrude into their living space are all regarded as offenders. They will become the targets of “coming out of grass” (head hunting) by the men in our tribe. For the brave warriors that hunt the intruders to protect the safety of their families, they will “go across the rainbow bridge” in the future. It is believed that the spirits of the hunted people will be converted and guard over the family’s safety as well as add to the hunters’ spiritual powers. TOP

Date: Nov. 10, 2005

Objectives: Dance Contest

Su-hua:
After practicing for more than a month, we went to the contest today. The contest would be held at the activities center of Yuli Elementary School. We were very excited and nervous too. We would be No. 16 in the contest. We saw the performances of the teams by other schools; they were brilliant. They even made their props and scenery. They were really something!
However, we performed with all our efforts too. Although Truku dance is not as nice as Tayal’s, our dance has our special features too! I am happy to participate in the contest today. We not only learned Truku dance, but also the special features of the dances of other tribes from appreciating their show. I am really happy today! TOP

Date: October 7, 2005

Objectives: Story Telling Contest of Truku Mythology

Shih-chiang:
As we finished drawing the comics for the mythology, the teacher told us to tell the story in full in the way of storytelling. Therefore, we sponsored a storytelling contest. Each group would place the comics they have drawn on the stage. And the storyteller of each group would tell the story to the class.
Before the contest toady, we saw many big brothers and sisters come to see us in class. To our amazement, they came from Taipei. They were the students of Taipei University of Education. Of course, they were future teachers. We began to feel nervous because suddenly there were so many people in the classroom. We felt a bit uneasy!
Our group told a legend about a giant. Long, long time ago, there came a giant, called as Mawi. The legend said he could walk from a mountain to another mountain with a step only. As he stamped his foot, he made “Bole Bay” and “Silaon” platform. It was said that those plains in Huatung Gorge were made by him when the stepped here and there.
　　With a tall and powerful man lived near us, he must be a good helping hand to us. In fact, the giant did not use his merits well. On the contrary, he abused his ability and brought many troubles to the tribe’s people.
　　How did he do it? The giant used his quick and wide steps to rob people’s game they hunted with much effort. When he saw the tribe’s people chasing the game, he just put his head on the shortcut and opened his mouth wide, waiting for the rushing animals to run into his mouth. Therefore, he didn’t have to do anything to fill his belly. However, the people that lived near him was hungry because they couldn’t get any food. And the people could not tolerate his behavior any longer.
　　At last, the tribe’s people decided to team up and fight against him. Although all of them were afraid of the giant’s power, they thought they could find a way to beat the giant. After discussing for sometime, the people thought of a adventurous plan; they began to put that plan into operation enthusiastically.
　　On a fine day that was suitable for hunting, the warriors of the tribe gathered on the top of the mountain, pretending to go hunting. In the beginning, the giant expected a rich meal. Likewise, he hid behind a mountain, waiting for the animals to come by.
　　At that time, they set a fire and burnt a round crystal that they prepared earlier with the fire. The huge red crystal was so hot that it turned red. The time had come. Then, they push the crystal down the mountain. The warrior pushed the crystal down and cried out, “Go down! Gown down! Chase it fast!” They pretended they were really chasing after some game.
　　Hearing the warriors’ cry and the sound of the crystal rolling down the mountain, the giant stretched out his hand. He opened his mouth widely and placed his tongue on the turn of the path. Unexpectedly, a very hot thing rolled into his throat in a sudden. It was so painful that he rolled on the ground. At last, he rolled off the sea outside Hua-tong, with his feet jutting out of the sea. According to the legend the feet are the Lanyu and Orchid Island now. This giant’s life ended like this.
　　When the story comes to its end, do you pity the giant? Each person has her merit or demerit, don’t do anything like this giant Mawi. His merits eventually became his demerits.TOP

Date: October 12, 2005

Objective: Traditional Truku Weaving Practice
Tsai-shia:
Every Wednesday afternoon, we would participate in the training of traditional weaving practice. There is a very experienced teacher teaching us how to weave cloth. Look! We are weaving seriously. In a short time, we will weave some pretty cloth!
“Traditional weaving” (demenun·Kabaon) is the essential skill for Truku women before marriage in the Truku tradition. The major material for weaving is “ramie.” And the process of preparing it is very complicated, including: 1. pulling the threads from ramie; 2. combing the threads and spinning them into yarn; 3. joining the yarn and rolling it into balls; 4. connecting the balls together and weaving the lump; 5. cooking them with ash and letting it dry under the sun and rain; 6. combing the lumps and weaving the belts; 7. putting the belts around to weave the cloth.
In traditional Truku thought, a woman’s skills in weaving can judge whether she is ready to get married or not. In addition, the women’s skills in weaving will decide whether they are allowed to have face painting or not.TOP

Date: October 22, 2005

Objectives: Culture Ritual at Silin Truku

Date: November 12, 2005

Objectives: Interviewing the Tribe (Wu-chiu Workshop)
Shih-chiang:
Before we set off, the teachers reminded us to interview in the way we had trained before. We must be polite.
Today, our topic was to interview Uncle Lin Chung-shi in the tribe. He was an expert in making wooden mortar, wooden pestle, and bows and arrows. As we arrived at his house, we found that his house is really big. Also, there were many weird tools lying around. We gathered around him curiously, and asked him different questions. But he did not feel annoyed. On the contrary, he explained everything to us. Actually, Mr. Chen-Lin was the ex-Chair of the Wan-rong Township Council. He feels deeply towards the hunters that make their living hunting; theysustain their lives with dignity, and respect nature although they take from nature. Therefore, he feels he has the mission to the pestle, mortar, and arrows our ancestors used. He has been studying these tools enthusiastically for a long time. With the traditional method, he can make better and finer tools.
After listening to his words, we were touched by Uncle Chen-Lin. We tried to feel the sensation of making arrows and other tools too. Also, the uncle even taught us how to pull the bow and shoot the arrow. When the arrow hit the target, we felt really exciting! TOP

Date: November 26, 2005

Objectives: Interviewing the Tribe (Shan-ren Woodcarving Workshop)
Su-hua:
After the briefing for the activity, we went to a woodcarving workshop in the tribe. As we listened to the teachers’ explanation, we walked to the woodcarving workshop.
The workshop was called “San-ren Woodcarving Workshop.” When we saw the owner, he told us just to call him uncle Chien. We saw many interesting and pretty woodcarvings there. We were very curious. “Why does he call this workshop “Shan-ren Woodcarving Workshop”? Uncle Chien replied, “When the workshop was established, it was found by three people: him (Bunun Tribe), Mr. Wang (Amais Tribe), and Mr. Chu (Truku Tribe). Then, they called it“San-ren Woodcarving Workshop.” We all feel very interested when we hear it.
Later, Uncle Chien introduced some of his woodcarvings. Some of them were award winning works. Some of them were not. But we felt these traditional handicrafts were very special on their own. Also, they want to integrate the tradition of Truku into woodcarving. As we appreciated the works, we kept pressing the shutter. Today, we saw something really special.TOP

Date: December 4, 2005

Objective: Visiting the natural landscape in Houng Ye Tribe

Tsai-shai:
Today was a fine and sunny day. After the teachers explained the purpose of today’s visit and the way of interview in the interview, we got into Mr. Lu and Mr. Yu’s cars and set out for the scenic spots in each tribe, and planned to visit the special architecture and organizations there.
First, we arrived at the tribe. At the entrance, we saw a beautiful “The Eye of Ancestors’ Spirits.” It was a huge rhombic structure built with colorful flaxen strings and a wooden frame. It was nice to represent the logo for the entrance. No matter what we do, the ancestors will always guard over us and protect us.
Then, we came to the only clinic in the tribe (Habishin Clinic), and paid a visit there. Dr. Fan was a Taoke native too. He was kind and enthusiastic. He was willing to abandon the opportunity to operate a clinic in the city and returned to this remote country to serve his tribe’s people. Also, his clinic looked like an art museum!
Other than the great landscape and gorgeous rivers, we have some amazing scenery too. Under the ground here, there are rich resources of hot springs. More surprising, there are two different kinds of hot spring water here. The water of the hot springs near the mountain is calcium carbonate in nature. Meanwhile, the water on the other side has ferric sulphate. In the tribe, there is Hong Ye Hot Spring, and Ruei-suei Hot Spring is located outside the tribe. Both of them have long histories, with high acclaim. Just wait, we are going in to enjoy a spa!TOP

Date: December 11, 2005

Objective: Participate in aboriginals handicraft seminar
Hou-wei:
Early this morning, we promised to meet the teachers at the Community Development Association because its director Mr. Lin Huai-rong was going to give a seminar on aboriginal handicraft. As soon as he arrived, he asked us how well we knew Truku culture. Our answer was not quite satisfactory because we only knew a little. Sometimes, our answers were bizarre.
When we first started, Mr. Lin told us the migration history in early times. Then, he continued with the tribe’s future goals. Many of our parents and relatives were working outside. Only the women and elders remained here. But our tribe was discovered to have rich hot lode. We could blend the natural resources with our traditional culture to create business opportunities. After hearing his explanation, I began to understand. Next time when there is any aboriginal handicraft class, I will sign up to learn the important skills to make fine aboriginal crafts. Then, we all can help preserve Truku culture.TOP

Date: December 23, 2005

Objective: Visiting the elders in the tribe (Mr. Huang Te-cheng, the School Head)
Su-hua:
Today we paid at visit to the school head’s home. Our school head was the elder we visited. His age was old enough to be our grandfather. He knew pretty much about the origins of the Truku tribe and its history of migration.
In the past, Hong Ye was the habitat of Amais. They scattered around the slope. As there were many “bobcats,” they called it “Kao Yau.” Due to typhoons and floods, the Amais natives lost much of their land. Also, because of the Bunun Tribe’s invasion, they moved to the west of the mountain ridge (He Gang now) and settled there. After the Bunun tribe moved here, they lived on both sides of the Hong Ye river. They had a very small population only. Since 1933, Tayal came here and called it “Y-hunang.” As the land was long and shady, they translated it as “Hong Ye” (red leaves). But the people of their tribe still called it “Y-hunang.”
Hong Ye Village belongs to the Torako system of Sedek Clan. When they first moved here, they lived on the left bank of Hong Ye River, at the west of Ruei Suei Hot Spring and the southern slope of Hutau Mountain. A small portion of them lived on Dichishanchi Slope. As Hong Ye was located at the opposite side, they called it “Sibao.” Then, the Mawanhou Clan of the Bunun Tribe settled down at the eastern corner of Hong Ye Tribe.
During the Japanese occupation, Hong Ye Village was divided into two clans. Their members were as follows:
Hong Ye cluster: It was made up of Sibao, Leshao, I-po, Waheier, and Silaq clan, including a small number of people from Kelan Clan.

Date: January 4, 2006

Objective: Appreciating Truku Music

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Date: January 21, 2006

Objective: Interviewing Granny Li

Date: February 11, 2006

Objective: 950205 Finished setting up the website and weaving the webpages
Wei-chie:
We had completed setting up the website and categorized the framework too. Then, we began to sort out the information one by one according to the categories each team was responsible for. I was responsible for traditional taboos. After arranging the data, we had to key in the missing information. We felt tired. But we felt very happy when we finished the task!

The teachers helped us with part of the website because we did not know the skills of image processing and webpage weaving very well. The teachers taught us at one side and had us learn to finish it. But we needed to ask for help when we came to the more difficult parts.TOP