June 25 the Siraya Cultural Association (where I work) visited other Siraya tribes in the area. This involved an hour of driving through the gorgeous mountainside (高山) to the city of Xiaolin (literally Little Forest). Here, the Siraya community continues to practice its ancient traditions and customs such as the worship of their gods every full moon. This celebration includes feasting and traditional dances. However, the community has faced great difficulties in the wake of Typhoon Morakot.
Typhoon Morakot struck in August 2009 killing hundreds. It stands as the deadliest recorded typhoon to hit Taiwan. The disastrous typhoon caused a mudslide in the mountains that wiped out the city of Xiaolin. Only one house is left standing and over 600 residents are believed to have been buried alive. The remaining residents were relocated into three different communities by the government. We visited two of these communities to discuss the difficulties the Siraya people currently face in light of the typhoon that destroyed their homes.
The first community we visited was quite close to the actual site of the mudslide. The government has provided housing for these individuals. However, the tribe does not own the land and has to pay rent in order to plant crops and make a living. They feel that this is most unfair as these lands that the government claims have belonged to their ancestors for centuries. There are very few shops and restaurants so most young people choose to leave the community.
One of the other communities we visited had similar complaints. They live further away from their old homes but still flock to the community center for their annual night worship festivals. This community is more lively and more young people live there. We visited the main center where they make their income. They make a living selling crafts, decorations, soaps, and baked goods. The government pays them a meager salary; however, any profit they make they must give back to the government preventing the people to save or raise much money.
The people of Xiaolin have worked hard to rebuild their lives after the natural disaster. They have also built a memorial and museum to commemorate the lives lost during Typhoon Morakot.
One of Xiaolin’s mountain communities built after Typhoon Morakot.
A memorial for Typhoon Morakot. Every cheery tree represents a family who died during the mudslide.
Traditional temple Siraya people worship at.
Corners of the World 