The Encounters of Jessie

Since Taiwan is my home country, I try to always make my stay in Taiwan to be as culturally engaging as possible. Many people might not know this, but Taiwan is actually a very ethnically and culturally diverse country. There are around 14 recognized aboriginal tribes in Taiwan, with a few more still in dispute. One time, I joined a day trip to visit a village populated with the Atayal aboriginal tribe located in the township of Tatung, Yilan County. I was really excited to have this opportunity, because I have never been to an aboriginal village before. I am on my way to learn about one of the most well known aboriginal tribes of Taiwan.
The Atayal tribe is the second-largest in Taiwan. They are known for their tradition of facial tattoos. This tradition, however, was banned soon after the Japanese occupation in Taiwan. Fortunately, there are talks of a movement to bring back this unique practice.
Yilan County is located roughly an hour away from Taipei, making it a popular tourist destination on the weekends. The area we visited was located in the mountains.
We were there to meet our guide, the hunter "Ashong". Apparently, Ashong used to be a truck driver; one day he took a few people around the mountains in his village, and they were amazed how knowledgeable he was. Thus they recommended that he be a tour guide and representative of his village. And voila! luckily for us, we get to learn about the tribe and their nature with one of the specialist. Traditionally the tribe lived by hunting, fishing, and gathering roots, vegetables, fruits, etc. in the mountains. To be considered a "hunter" one needs to have a special set of skills and knowledge.
It was quite extraordinary to see which plants were edible, which ones cure diarrhea,stop bleeding, etc. etc. I felt like I was walking into a natural buffet and pharmacy. During the tour, it was hard not to admire the beauty of the mountains. This tiny trail, which had been closed due to a flood has just re-opened. After a few hours in the mountains, we headed back to Ashong's house, where he showed us a few traditional tools, crafts, and materials that are rarely made in the modern times. I wish I had more time to spend in this village as well as the mountains. I find that there is still so much more to discover regarding the Atayal tribe and their environment. I can only wish that the people in Taiwan will take the time and effort to learn the people and culture that first inhabited this beautiful island.