INDIGENOUS BRIDGES YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM (IBYAP)

Interview with Nisqually Tribal Council Member Hanford McCloud.

The ATAYAL Organization has facilitated international Indigenous culture exchanges since 2004 and has participated in exchanges at the Tribal Canoe Journeys since 2017. During the 2019 Tribal Canoe Journeys, Hanford McCloud met with ATAYAL organizers and requested that our exchange program be youth oriented. We accepted the request and the concept for the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP) was born.

Vision

The future of the Indigenous peoples is one where tribes of the world are connected and cooperating to develop sustainable solutions from their inherent knowledge and wisdom. It will take a future generation of empowered leaders to realize this vision.

The Taiwanese Indigenous delegation participating in the 2018 Tribal Canoe Journeys.

What is IBYAP?

The Indigenous Youth Ambassador Program is a youth-oriented culture exchange and leadership development program, bringing together elements of Indigenous identity and sustainable community development. The Indigenous Bridges cultural exchange framework is one that our organization has developed with over 20 years of experience serving Indigenous youth and communities.

What type of future leaders can achieve the VISION of the program? On one hand, they must be proud keepers of the ancient traditions and wisdom. On the other hand, they must be skillful in communication, problem-solving and leadership. The IBYAP program provides holistic guidance and international resources to develop future Indigenous leaders.

Initial participants will be Indigenous Youth who have formerly participated in or plan to participate in the Tribal Canoe Journeys in Washington State. This will include the Salish Sea Native Americans and the Indigenous Tribes from Taiwan. In the future, it will expand to other Tribes, including Native Hawaiians, Canadian First Nations, New Zealand Maori and others who participate in international cultural exchanges around the world.

Native American youth try a Taiwanese snack during 2019 Tribal Canoe Journeys.

Indigenous youth who participate in the program are known as Youth Delegates, and all will virtually share their culture, stories and ideas with the world. All delegates will be given practical work experience serving as volunteers for their communities. From their stories and ideas, one person per Tribe will be selected by committee to serve as Youth Ambassador of the Tribe for one year.

Indigenous Youth Ambassadors will have opportunities to represent their tribes at International Culture Exchanges, including the Tribal Canoe Journeys and Taiwan Tribal Journeys. At these international events, the Youth Ambassadors will not only share their cultures, but they will be given a meaningful format to gain shared understanding of Indigenous issues and sustainable development, and exchange ideas to develop cooperative solutions consistent with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

As there are 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, our youth representatives will work on different topics each year and their results will be shared publicly and added to the Indigenous Collective, a guide for future indigenous cooperation and development. We also plan to raise funds to provide scholarships for the education of our Youth Ambassadors.

To summarize, the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassadors are provided with:

Instruction and lessons on sustainable development, as shared by Indigenous groups and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
Problem-solving projects with sustainable targets and measurable results
Indigenous culture sharing opportunities
Meaningful interaction with Indigenous youth from different nations
Mentoring from educators and instructors
Online Indigenous culture exchange activities
Travel opportunities for international exchange activities
Scholarship opportunities

If you have any questions or comments about the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP), please contact us at this e-mail address.

PARTNERS

The following groups are working together for the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program:

ATAYAL Organization - The American non-profit organization has facilitated international Indigenous culture exchange in the USA and Taiwan since 2001 through its Indigenous Bridges program. The organization is developing and managing this international culture exchange platform.

Nisqually Indian Tribe - The Nisqually Tribe of Washington State was the first to invite a Taiwanese Indigenous delegation to participate in the Tribal Canoe Journeys. Nisqually Tribal Council Member Hanford McCloud is a Board Member of the ATAYAL Organization, providing oversight. The tribe has provided funding and resources for international culture exchange activities. They have also hosted Taiwanese indigenous delegations and provided opportunities to interact with Nisqually youth.

Lummi Indian Tribe - The Lummi Tribe of Washington State hosted the Taiwanese Indigenous delegation at the 2018 Tribal Canoe Journeys and will take part in ongoing culture exchange activities with Taiwan. Their youth also interacted with the Taiwanese delegation as they shared their hospitality and culture.

National Dong Hwa University (國立東華大學) - The Department of Indigenous Studies at National Dong Hwa University has committed to working with the IBYAP program. Having one of the strongest departments in Asia for the empowerment of indigenous students, and our program will work with these students providing our cultural exchange opportunities and leadership training. National Dong Hwa University has its own Sustainable Development Goals that are aligned with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

National Museum of Prehistory (國立臺灣史前文化博物館) - The National Museum of Prehistory is a the premier museum and research center in Taiwan where visitors can gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan's Indigenous groups, past and present. For the IBYAP program, this museum is the ideal partner for educating young indigenous ambassadors visiting from other countries, as well as a host location for related lectures and cultural exchange events.

Tao Foundation (蘭嶼部落文化基金會) - The Tao Foundation is the NGO that funds cultural activities of the Tao Tribe of Taiwan, located on Orchid Island. The foundation supported the delegation from Taiwan's Tao Tribe to attend the 2017 and 2018 Tribal Canoe Journeys, and they will be a partner for future exchanges with Native Americans in Taiwan and the USA.

Council Of Indigenous Peoples (原住民族委員會) - The Council Of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) is a governmental agency in Taiwan that has supported previous projects of our organization and has promised their full support of our Indigenous Bridges programs. They will provide grants and connect our organization to other resources to support the participation of the Indigenous participants in Taiwan.

Edu-Odyssey - Edu-Odyssey is an organization in the USA that provides cross-cultural education opportunities to American students. The ATAYAL organization partnered with this organization in July 2022 to share Taiwan's Indigenous culture and provide students for online group exchanges.

HISTORY OF IBYAP

Below is the timeline of events and activities that led to and continues the development of the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP):

In July 2022, the ATAYAL organization partnered with Edu-Odyssey to co-host an online cultural and educational exchange between Taiwanese students and American university students from Texas State University.
From May 10-13, 2021, the ATAYAL organization leadership presented the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program to National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) and National Museum of Prehistory (NMP) to secure their partnership in the program.
In February of 2021, a delegate of the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program (IBYAP) representing the Saisiyat tribe participated in an Indigenous Winter Camp and shared her experiences.
On August 21, 2020, the ATAYAL organization leadership presented the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador program to the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP). The CIP expressed support and provided avenues for the organization to apply for direct support for projects.
During the 2019 Tribal Canoe Journeys (Paddle To Lummi), Hanford McCloud joined the Board and requested the exchange activities of our organization focus on Indigenous youth. This conversation was the catalyst for the development of the Indigenous Bridges Youth Ambassador Program.
In 2019, the Nisqually Canoe Family discussed an initial trip to Taiwan.
In 2019, the Taiwanese delegation discussed Sister Village relationship goals with the Nisqually, Puyallup and Lummi Tribes.
The Nisqually canoe family and the members of the Tao Tribe have been discussing a Sister Village relationship.
The Nisqually canoe family has been discussing with our organization a visit to the Tao Tribe in Taiwan.
In 2018, an initial delegation of 6 members of the Tao tribe participated in the Tribal Canoe Journey.
In 2017, a traditional canoe of the Tao Tribe (tatala) was given to the Burke Museum and blessed by a tribal choir from Taiwan.
In 2017, an initial delegation of 4 members of the Tao tribe participated in the Tribal Canoe Journey.
A relationship was formed with a Seattle-area Indigenous-Taiwanese-American culture group, who have performed at the Final Protocols of the Tribal Canoe Journeys since 2017.
In 2017, a relationship was formed with the Burke Museum at the University of Washington.
A relationship was established between The Tao (Yami) Tribe of Orchid Island, Taiwan and the Nisqually People of Washington State.
In 2016, Gary Smoke, our Director of International Affairs, established relationships with leaders of several tribes in the Pacific Northwest.