Tribal tourism luring Alishan girls home
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"The park is the Tsou people's craft studio and farm, and a base for their cultural innovation."
Earlier this month, an original two-hour outdoor performance by Tsou youngsters debuted in the park.
The production was inspired by "Impression Liu Sanjie," a large-scale outdoor performance masterminded by the famous mainland director Zhang Yimou. The production had revived traditional Tsou nose flute playing, and ritual dancing, previously barely seen by non-Tsou people.
Kuatu said each member in the park has three specialities on average. "For example, I can give tea art performance, do some gardening work, and at the same time sing during our performance."
Tsou tribes were hit hard by the devastating Typhoon Morakot on Aug. 8 last year.
Yapsuyongu Tiakiana said "The people are in dire need of a peaceful and stable life with a house to live in and good income to pay for their children's education. But apart from ensuring survival and economic development, we also aim to pass on and revive our endangered culture."
Presently many Tsou young do not know much about their tribal heritage and cannot speak the Tsou language, although some, like Kuatu, can understand it.
"I'm trying hard to learn my language. It has become a must for me now," she said in standard Chinese.
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