TAPROOT INDIGENOUS YOUTH EXCHANGE PROJECT

Exchange students from New Zealand meet with the leader of the Council for Indigenous Peoples in Taipei

Exchange students from New Zealand meet with David Tsou of the Council for Indigenous Peoples in Taipei

The 2013 Taproot Indigenous Youth Exchange Project (TIYEP) ended on December 17, 2013, after the visitors from the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) boarded their airplane and departed Taiwan. We sent our thanks to the Auckland University of Technology and thanked the supporters of the project. We submitted a report to the Council of Indigenous Peoples and the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation, and we thanked these organizations for their support. Even though there were many activities, it was hard to assess the tangible results of the program, as it was designed to plant the seeds for future cooperation. Much of the results are carried in the hearts and memories of the many participants on both sides of the exchange. The project provided ample learning experiences and opportunities to examine and quantify results, which will be helpful for the Indigenous Bridges Program. For now, we can summarize the results below.

The Maori visitors aroused the interest and curiosity of many people in the communities that they visited. When they had the opportunity for interaction, they touched many hearts. If you have any questions or comments about the Taproot International Cultural Exchange project, please contact us at this e-mail address.

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RESULTS

These are some of the final results of the Taproot Indigenous Youth Exchange Project (TIYEP):

Letter of Acceptance by Auckland University of Technology
A relationship was established between Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and two universities in Taiwan that could lead to future student exchanges. They include Chaoyang University of Technology (朝陽科技大學) and National Dong Hwa University (國立東華大學).
Our International Forum on Indigenous Film and Television Cooperation brought notable guest speakers who gave the students from New Zealand and Taiwan a foundation of knowledge helpful for future international cooperation.
- Guest Speaker 1: Tamati Howard, Auckland University of Technology
- Guest Speaker 2: Dr. Jonathan Chu, Chaoyang University of Technology
- Guest Speaker 3: David Tsou, Department of Planning Senior Executive Officer, Council of Indigenous Peoples
- Guest Speaker 4: Serena Chui, Deputy Director, New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei
- Guest Speaker 5: Masao Aki, Chief Director of Taiwan Indigenous Television
Our Collaborative Indigenous Media Production Workshop created a practice opportunity for a team from New Zealand and Taiwan to produce creative film ideas together. There was an evaluation of the process and suggestions provided by the students.
Our Austronesian Film Festival (南島電影節) screened a total of 4 films from Taiwan and 2 films from New Zealand to an audience of 300 people in Taitung and Hualien.
The Maori media students participated in the "Sanga Exhibition" at the National Museum of Prehistory and cooperated with the Rukai Tribe from Taromak Village.
Over 200 indigenous students at New Taipei Municipal Jinshan High School (新北市金山高中) had the opportunity for cultural instruction and exchange with the Maori visitors.
Over 5,000 people in Taiwan had cultural interaction or learning from the Maori students from the Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
The Maori visitors found more cultural similarities to their culture when visiting Taitung, especially when examining the prehistoric artifacts.
There was good media coverage of the activities in Taiwan, including television, newspapers and radio.
Thank You Letter from Auckland University of Technology