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

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.

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.

Videos from the 2017 Tribal Journeys

Gary Smoke, Director of International Affairs of the ATAYAL organization has taken many videos of the cultural exchange program with the Tao Tribal Delegation from Taiwan while they participate in the 2017 Tribal Journeys.

You can see more video on the Gary Smoke YouTube Channel.

 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 3: Made it to Nisqually

On the third day of the 2017 Tribal Journeys Taiwan-USA Exchange program, Will Tsang (He is from Taiwan's Atayal tribe), Gary Smoke and three members of the Tao tribal delegation finally had a chance to meet Hanford McCloud and the host Native American family in Nisqually, WA. It was there that they witnessed the first canoe landing.

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.