Sustainable Taiwan: 3 Indigenous and eco-friendly experiences to have in Taiwan
Respect for nature runs deep in Taiwanese culture and has a long history – going back to the first Indigenous peoples, who maintain many of these practices today. Here are three sustainable ways that you can support Indigenous culture in Taiwan.
In 2022, the Taiwanese government made a bold announcement: all single-use plastic cups would eventually be banned at drinks shops across the country. This would be difficult anywhere, but in Taiwan – the home of bubble tea – it was near-impossible to comprehend. However, the government – who plans to phase out all single-use plastics by 2030 – was unfazed. Incredibly, the last shops stopped selling plastic cups in September this year.
To those familiar with Taiwan, this was no surprise. Respect for nature runs deep in Taiwanese culture and has a long history – going back to the first Indigenous peoples, who maintain many of these practices today. Here are three sustainable ways that you can support Indigenous culture in Taiwan.
1. Meet Indigenous artists using nature as their canvas
The Na_Chiao brand was launched in 2016 by two young entrepreneurs: Yawi Akin of the Atayal tribe, and Rahic La’om of the Amis tribe. The duo create homewares from betel-nut leaf sheaths; to minimise their environmental footprint, they collect only sheaths that have fallen to the ground. They then soak the sheaths in cold water (rather than hot water or chemical softeners) for four hours. Once soft, they bend the sheaths into shape, then let them dry in the wind.
The simple sheath box remains one of Na_Chiao’s most popular items. They’re sold plain or with Alishan mountain tea inside, or as a gift box containing betel nuts, tobacco, millet wine and handmade soap. They also sell card holders and sheath “paintings,” which turn the natural patterns of interwoven sheaths into two-dimensional art.
You can purchase Na_Chiao products at Taiwanese stores such as Earthing Way and Cloudhues in Taipei, and Island Floral in Kaohsiung. Doing so helps to support Indigenous artists and sustainable practices.
2. Learn Amis-style self-sufficiency at the Malasang Hunter School
The Amis are the largest of Taiwan’s Indigenous groups, making up 37% of the Indigenous population. They mostly live in the counties of Hualien and Taitung, where there are many tourism centres offering a taste of Amis culture and cuisine.
One of these is the Malasang Hunter School in Ji’an Township, Hualien. Under the guidance of your Amis tutors, you’ll immerse yourself in the tribe’s culture of self-sufficiency and living in harmony with nature.
Wearing the tribe’s red-and-black woollen costume and white feather headdress, you’ll learn archery, trap-making and net fishing. You’ll also stuff rice into bamboo and cook up pork with native vegetables, learning how to light the fire yourself. Note that the tribes people do not speak English, so you’ll need to bring a translator – or rely on the universal language of hand gestures.
3. Forage, craft and cook with the Indigenous people
Tourism has been vital to the revival of Taiwanese Indigenous culture: fewer young people are leaving their villages for the city, now that economic prospects have improved at home. Amis people in the coastal Taitung village of Dulan have made this an art: the village is now a popular spot for backpackers and expats, who mingle with tribespeople while surfing at the black-sand beach and hanging out at the Dulan Sugar Factory Culture Park.
At the Culture Park you’ll find ‘Etolan Style, an Amis handicrafts store through which you can book Indigenous tours and experiences. Set out on a mountain walk, foraging for edible herbs that most would discard as weeds, then cook together at the foot of the mountain. Alternatively, learn to make wool pendants and betel-sheath tools with an Amis craftsperson, or head to the beach to collect shellfish with local youths.
