Indigenous peoples face significant challenges in cultural transmission. Against this backdrop, the craft of weaving has emerged as a promising avenue for cultural practice and transmission for Taiwan's indigenous peoples. Weaving is not merely a manifestation of material culture; it is an action that can connect different social networks. For the Seediq people residing in Nantou County, weaving is one of the core elements of their culture and a critically important tradition. In this context, the NTU Center for Indigenous Studies has launched the "Weaving It Together" action plan in collaboration with the Seediq people. The Center, headed by Prof. Mei-Hsia Wang from the Department of Anthropology, is dedicated to interdisciplinary research in Austronesian studies, local revitalization, urban indigenous issues, and life history writing. In 2023, this action plan was honored with the Gold Prize at the Taiwan Sustainability Action Awards (TSAA).
This initiative stems from a long-term collaboration since 2015 between the NTU Anthropology Museum and the Seediq tribe in Nantou County, aiming to promote cross-ethnic dialogue through weaving workshops. The action plan continues previous collaborations with the Seediq Alang nakahara tribe, showcasing traditional textiles of the tribe within the community through teaching weaving techniques and reproducing items from museum collections. The action plan brings cultural practices into the tribe and deepens participants' understanding and appreciation of weaving techniques through learning and discussions during the workshops.
Despite delays in workshops due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where students were to learn from elders, local artisans confidently continued with the planned activities when it was safe to do so. Simultaneously, at the NTU campus, efforts to cultivate weaving materials such as ramie and other ethnic plants continued to promote cross-ethnic interactions. The Center has also compiled years of results and published teaching manuals and videos to bring the public closer to indigenous cultures, achieving the goals of ethnic exchange and cultural sustainability. This initiative has strengthened the collaboration between the university and the tribe. It has also advanced social education and local revitalization while embodying the spirit of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
Weaving It Together Textile Traditions in the Seediq Community
A workshop in which tribal artisans teach weaving techniques.
Students preparing the land and cultivating tribal crops on campus.
The Center for Indigenous Studies is awarded the Gold Prize at the 3rd annual TSAA for the "Weaving It Together" action plan.