Taiwan Aboriginal Projects 臺灣原住民14族

Posted by on Sep 25, 2012 in Aboriginal, blog, Taiwan | No Comments
Seediq Taiwan Aboriginal Tribe

Seediq Taiwan Aboriginal Tribe

I have photographed Aboriginal festivals, everyday Aboriginal village life and shot many assignments on Aboriginal art and artists. I will showcase some of the photos here and link to some assignments and projects. The above photograph is from a recent project photographing all fourteen of Taiwan’s Aboriginal tribes. Other than some reference books my wife owns, I rarely see all 14 tribes compared together. It is a good resource, the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Culture Park’s performances and clothing are quite authentic and I often refer to these photographs when I want to identify a tribe by their costume.

The Taiwan Photographer – 14 Taiwan Aboriginal Tribes

Aboriginal Dance

Aboriginal Dancers at Malatangia Bunun shoot the ear festival, Namaxia, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

My favorite festival is the Bunun Malatangia (Bunun Ear-Shooting Festival 布農族射耳祭) held annually around April in Namaxia. Photos from that festival have been well published; they have been used in several China Post newspaper articles, as a banner for the China Post’s Travel section, magazine articles including two covers, on the web and as the cover for Steven Crook’s Bradt Travel Guide, Taiwan. A project of portraits of Aboriginal people in traditional dress at festivals is online here.

Portraits of Taiwan Aboriginals in Traditional Dress

Tsou Man

Tsou Man smoking, Kanakanavu Mi Kong Zhou Aboriginal tribe festival, Ming Shen Village, Namaxia Township, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan, August 16th, 2008

A smaller Namaxia Festival is the Kanakanavu Mi Kong Festival held in Takanua. The Kanakanavu are considered part of the Tsou Aboriginal Tribe and this festival is a more intimate look at Aboriginal life.

Sakizaya

Sakizaya, Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Culture Park, Sandimen, Pingtung County, Taiwan

I’ve never seen the Sakizaya Tribe as I rarely get to the north of Taiwan, so the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Culture Park in Sandimen is a great place to see all the tribes without going all over Taiwan.

Aboriginal Artisan with tattooed hands

Aboriginal Artisan with tattooed hands makes traditional glass bead art at Shatao Dance and Glass Bead Art Studio, Sandimen, Pingtung County, Taiwan

Taiwanese Aboriginal art, like the glass beads of Sandimen, is generally good value and can be a great souvenir from Taiwan. Aboriginal villages are always full of arts and crafts to admire or purchase. Photos of Sandimen Aboriginal Artisans

Bunun Man

Malatangia Bunun shoot the ear festival, Namasia, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Tao (Dawu) Aboriginal

Tao Aboriginal, Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Culture Park, Sandimen, Pingtung County, Taiwan

The Tao, or Dawu, Aboriginal women throw their hair over their heads when they dance. I really need a beach or sea as a background, though.

Aboriginal Children

Bunun Aboriginal Children pose in Namaxia Township, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

The Aboriginal children in mountain villages are always willing and appealing subjects.

Rukai Girls near Sandimen, Pingtung County, Taiwan

Rukai Girls near Sandimen, Pingtung County, Taiwan

On assignment for Topics Magazine in Wutai I happened upon the Dawadawang Aboriginal Christian Church where Rukai Aboriginals were preparing for a festival. This girl is eating from an instant noodle package (科學麵 – a common Taiwanese snack) which was casting a beautiful light into her big round Aboriginal eyes.

Bunun shoot the ear festival

Malatangia Bunun shoot the ear festival, Namaxia

Elderly Bunun tribeswomen

Elderly Bunun tribeswomen hold hands at the annual Bunun Ear Festival, Maya village, Ming Chuan, Namasiya Township, Kaoshiung County, Taiwan

This somewhat clichéd image of two elderly Bunun Aboriginal women was used for the cover of an ebook — Taiwan Folktales.

Bunun_Hunters

Bunun Hunters at Malatangia Bunun shoot the ear festival, Namaxia, Taiwan

Pingpu Night Ceremony, Liuchonghsi, Tainan

Pingpu Night Ceremony, Liuchonghsi, Tainan

Pingpu Aboriginal Night Ceremonies are an interesting blend of  Traditional Han Temple festivals and  Mountain Aboriginal festivals. I wrote about the Xiaolin Pingpu Night Ceremony and the Liuchonghsi Pingpu Night Ceremony.

Aboriginal Schoolgirl

Aboriginal Schoolgirl performing in Maya (Ming Chuan) Village, Namaxia District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Rats ready to cook

Rats ready to cook, Maya (Ming Chuan) Village, Namaxia, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan

Aboriginal Food is a popular topic. This photograph of rats ready to cook has been published in several magazines. More photos and information about Aboriginal food

Bunun tribeswomen eat at the annual Bunun Ear Festival

Bunun tribeswomen eat at the annual Bunun Ear Festival, Maya village, Ming Chuan, Namasiya Township, Kaoshiung County, Taiwan

Aboriginal BBQ Food

Formosan Maqaque and barking deer(Reeves muntjac) cook on a barbeque in Maya village, Ming Chuan, Namasiya Township, Kaoshiung County, Taiwan

Tourists in Taiwan often marvel at the exotic food eaten by Taiwanese. Taiwanese marvel at the exotic food eaten by Aboriginals.

Bunun tribesman at the annual Bunun Ear Festival, Taiwan

Bunun tribesman wearing feathers and deerskin headgear at the annual Bunun Ear Festival, Taiwan