Day 12: Tao Canoe Blessing at Burke Museum

On the twelfth day of the 2017 Tribal Journeys Taiwan-USA Exchange program, after the Tribal Journeys portion of the trip concluded, the members of the Tao tribal delegation traveled to Seattle for a special purpose. There was a traditional Tao tribal canoe that was in the storage warehouse. It was shipped to Seattle by way of Taiwan long ago by the owner of Ivar's seafood restaurant, and later was donated to the Burke Museum.

Syaman Lamuran, a member of the Tao delegation visited the vessel to see of it could regain the it's spirit. Along with the Liugui Choir from Taiwan, Syaman offered the blessing in indigenous style.

This journey is made possible with the support of our supporters and sponsors like Glossika, which supports the preservation of languages, including endangered indigenous languages, through its language databases and teaching tools.

Snapshots from the First Canoe Landing

    Throughout the 2017 Tribal Journeys, Syaman Lamuran and Syaman Manaralay from the Tao Tribe delegation is connecting with Hanford McCloud and other leaders of tribal nations in the Pacific Northwest. They hope to learn how Native American tribes engage with governments on issues of environmental stewardship and tribal sovereignty. They will bring this knowledge back to Lanyu Island where the presence of nuclear waste still persist. Many participants in the canoe journey have been curious about the Tao tribe and the delegation has been excited to share their culture. One of the videos they share is about the inauguration ceremony of newly constructed boats and the natural beauty of Lanyu Island. 

This journey is made possible with the support of our supporters and sponsors like Glossika, which supports the preservation of languages, including endangered indigenous languages, through its language databases and teaching tools.

Day 6: Meeting the Muckleshoot

On the sixth day of the 2017 Tribal Journeys Taiwan-USA Exchange program, the members of the Tao tribal delegation traveled up the peninsula to join the Muckleshoot Tribe. They met many other people during the landing ceremony, and eventually camped in the tent and proudly showed Taiwan's flag.

This journey is made possible with the support of our supporters and sponsors like Glossika, which supports the preservation of languages, including endangered indigenous languages, through its language databases and teaching tools.

Day 5: Welcomed by the Puyallup

On the fifth day of the 2017 Tribal Journeys Taiwan-USA Exchange program, after two members of the Tao tribal delegation paddled in the host family's canoe, they settled in with the Puyallup Tribe in Tacoma, Washington. They were warmly welcomed by the local tribe. Gary Smoke also took scenic photos of the area.

This journey is made possible with the support of our supporters and sponsors like Glossika, which supports the preservation of languages, including endangered indigenous languages, through its language databases and teaching tools.