Photos from 2019 "Our Journey III" Wrap Party

 

  

Mask Gifting Ceremony for the Nisqually Tribe

(Left to Right) TECO Director Hsiao-Chu Wu, TECO Director General Kuo-Ching Chen, William Tsang, TCSS President Jeff Chang, Nisqually Council Member Hanford McCloud

March 26, 2021 - Bellevue, WA - A special cross-cultural ceremony took place at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Culture Center in Bellevue Washington on Friday, March 26, 2021. The donation ceremony started with an acknowledgement of the land that this event took place on as the traditional home of the original caretakers who are still here today. Five thousand medical face masks and “Taiwan Can Help” care packages were donated to Nisqually tribe. DG Chen, President Chang, and Council/Board Member McCloud were presented with Certificates of Appreciation from the ATAYAL Organization. DG Chen presented the ATAYAL organization with Paiwan artwork from Taiwan. The Nisqually Tribe presented Taiwanese attendees with locally made gifts and posters of Chief Leschi, a prominent leader of the Nisqually Tribe.

Project Coordinator William Tsang presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Nisqually Council member Hanford McCloud.

Representatives from the Nisqually and ATAYAL Organization shared stories of the Tribal Canoe Journeys over the last three years prior to the pandemic lockdown. The Nisqually reaffirmed their desire to bring a delegation of elders and youth to tour Taiwan. The tour, part of an effort coordinated by ATAYAL to bring host tribal nation delegates to tour Taiwan, will be planned for next year for about five delegates from the Nisqually Tribe. William shared updates from the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program and the upcoming virtual conference event centered on reviving of Indigenous tourism post pandemic.

Project Coordinator Tsang presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Director General KC Chen.

The group also discussed seafood business cooperation. The Nisqually Tribe pointed out the importance of economic development and food sovereignty. Hanford shared a youth food sovereignty initiative to establish oyster farms to teach youth to breed, raise, and harvest oysters using traditional and sustainable practices.

William Tsang with three recipients of the Indigenous Bridges Certificate of Appreciation.

Hanford pointed out that the years of cultural exchange and hosting Taiwanese delegates during the Tribal Canoe Journeys are important to making events like this happen. It was agreed that this event would be the start of a long-term relationship between the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Nisqually as well. The Taiwanese organizations were invited to visit the Nisqually Cultural Center in the Summer.

A special meeting to discuss future activities and partnerships.

This ceremony was primarily organized by William Tsang, Project Coordinator of the ATAYAL Organization. The ATAYAL Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 in the State of Florida. It is registered in the State of Florida and Washington State. It's activities focus on international Indigenous culture exchange, with its focus on Indigenous youth exchange and leadership development. The activities are organized by ATAYAL under the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP), and are facilitated in partnership with various tribal and academic groups. For more information, please visit our web site at https://www.indigenousbridges.org.

ATTENDEES

Director General Daniel Kuo-Ching Chen, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office

Vice Consul Tony Nien Tzu Hu, TECO

Director Hsiao-Chu Wu, Culture Center of TECO

Economic Development Manager, Michael Mason, Nisqually

Director of Emergency Management, Jeff Choke, Nisqually

Council Member and Board Member, Hanford McCloud, Nisqually

President Jeff Chang, Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce

VP Justin Wei, TCCS

Former President Jenny Kung, TCCS

William Tsang, ATAYAL

Hualian Archery Competition

 

Hualien High Schools

Archery Competition

2020

Judges

Venue

Trophies

The Bows

The Teams

The Competition

Tribal Journeys 2019 Results

Our participation in the 2019 Tribal Canoe Journeys in Washington State USA was focused on building on top of the results achieved in our exchanges from the previous two years, hoping to take the inter-tribal relationships to the next level, and to ensure sustainable exchanges and activities for the future.

Johan (far left) with Hanford (center) and the Hawaiian delegation.

Before this Summer, we brought a delegation from the Tao Tribe of Orchid Island to develop a relationship with the Nisqually Tribe near Olympia, Washington. Our delegation was the guests of our gracious host, Hanford McCloud, tribal council member and Canoe family captain. This year, Hanford McCloud invited an indigenous delegation from Hawaii, and we had the privilege of experiencing the journey with them.

This year, we had more quality time with Hanford. During an interview, he shared why he chose to reach out to tribes from around the world to join his Canoe Family. He also shared his desire to bring a delegation of Nisqually in 2020. We are organizing this trip to introduce them to indigenous tribes of Taiwan and to join the Tao Tribe for a reciprocal cultural exchange.

Directors Chad Yen, Gary Smoke and Kate joined us at Final Protocol in Lummi.

 In discussing expanding the relationship with the Tao Tribe, Hanford discussed MOU's, fundraising, and suggested a shift in approach, to simplify future cooperation. By focusing on indigenous youth exchange, and working through youth-oriented non-profit programs, support would be easier to achieve. With the future exchanges fostering the relationships between the indigenous youth of Taiwan and the USA, we would be expanding their horizons as global citizens and planting the seeds for future leadership.

Nisqually Youth participate in Final Protocol in Lummi.

During our 2019 journey, we also met with leaders from the Native American leaders in Puyallup, Muckleshoot, Squaxin, Lummi in Washington State. We also met leaders from a few tribes in Oregon,  California and Canada. Our discussions about possible Sister Village relationship with tribes in Taiwan were met with positive interest. Some of the leaders also discussed interest in economic cooperation to bring sustainable industries and job for their communities.

A Hawaiian delegation performs at Final Protocol in Lummi.

Throughout the 2019 Tribal Canoe Journeys, our youth representative from Taiwan, Johan Coolidge of the Atayal Tribe, paddled with the Nisqually Canoe Family, and made friends with Native American and Hawaiian youth. His experiences were documented through video and photos to compile a library of content for an upcoming documentary film about the importance of the Tribal Canoe Journeys for indigenous youth, especially in relations to international culture exchange. We had good interviews during our trip and gathered a significant amount of content.

Meeting a canoe family from the Bay area of California in Lummi.

 All of our work this year sets the table for a very productive Tribal Journeys 2020, which will have the Final Protocol in Nanaimo, Victoria Island, BC Canada.

Final Protocol in Lummi lasted 5 days and went 24/7 to showcase the culture of every participating tribe.

Our results couldn't have been achieved without the support of our donors and volunteers. Please support the magical results that can be achieved when we build bridges between indigenous peoples. To see more photos and results, visit our Tribal Journeys web page at: https://www.indigenousbridges.org/tribaljourneys.php

More supporters and team members joined us in Lummi on July 27, 2019.