Taiwanese Aborigines (Research Paper Sample)

Name
Course Title
Instructor
Due Date
The Taiwanese Aborigines
Introduction
The Taiwanese Aboriginals are some of the largest indigenous groups in Taiwan. Such groups have been attributed to many tribes from which their distribution has been enhanced. The island population is their central mixture. They are also believed to be almost 2% of the total island population mixture. According to the analysis of the current history concerning the central talents and engagement of the communities, music and art are some of the specific talents that have been attributed to the Taiwanese Aborigines. According to the statistics, the Taiwanese Aborigines are estimated to be about 510,000 in number (Clark, 34). The historical perspectives of the Taiwanese aborigines can be traced from the existence of the Austronesia ethnic groups. The ethnic group defines their genetics and linguistic ties within the specific characters and traits. This paper aims at discussing the Yami tribe as part of the Taiwanese Aborigines.
The History of the Taiwanese Aborigines
The historical description of this group has been based on several issues involving their association as well as the cultural development and implications. The culture of the civilizers, the location, behavior, and other issues related to the prior contacts that the people met from different environments. The colonizing forces were some of the elements that engaged the division of the Taiwanese aborigines into different groups and subgroups called the tribes. The Taiwanese government made official recognition of the 14 tribes of the aborigines (Clark, 94). According to the historical origins of the aborigines, they were associated with living in the mountains. They later migrated to the cities as a way of ensuring earning of income as the social worker groups.
The aboriginals lived in frightening conditions; they were given deficient water and food allotments and not enough sanitation facilities. Not only that the accesses to amenities like pubs, cafes and swimming pools were all denied to Aboriginal people. Charles Perkins was an organizer for the freedom rides. He got university students on a bus trip to see if they could help. They named themselves the SAFA, the student action for aborigines. They were objecting to increasing awareness of the issue. At one swimming pool,, aboriginals weren't allowed into the pool (Clark, 75). This influenced the SAFA to oppose and ultimately the local government approved the aboriginals to swim. This was a great breakthrough that pointed to the desegregation of that society. Charles Perkins then went on and brought justice and fairness to the lives of many aboriginals around the state.
During these years, the government was shifting its views constantly on aboriginals; it wasn't till the 27th of May 1967, that aboriginal's right to vote and be counted in the census were granted (Clark, 4). However since the beginning, each state had their different views on the matter. However in the end the aboriginals were given their rights.
What are Aboriginal rights?
Aboriginal rights are collective rights that flow from Aboriginal peoples' continued use and occupation of certain areas. They are inherent rights that Aboriginal peoples have exercised and relished since European contact. Since each First Nation has historically operated as a distinguished society, there is no one executive overarching Indigenous representations of what these rights are. Although these discrete rights may deviate from Aboriginal associations, in general they cover powers to the land, rights to income resources and activities, the right to self-determination and self-government, and the right to practice one's culture and customs including language and religion. Aboriginal rights have not been granted from external sources but are a consequence of Aboriginal peoples' ownership of their home territories as well as their ongoing social structures and political and legal systems (Davison, and Barbara 12). As such, Aboriginal virtues are separate from rights afforded to non-Aboriginal Canadian citizens under Canadian common law.
The Yami People
The Yami people are among the 14 tribes of the Taiwanese Aboriginal in the Taiwan. This group is considered to be much nearer and closer to the Ivatan people as compared to the other groups. These groups are known for their ability to make the native canoes as a way of expressing their tribe. This group originally identified itself as the Tau from the Chinese term meaning the people. Yami also lived in the islands. They currently live in the Lanyu Island that is considered close to the Philippines. The closeness of these groups implies that there is a closeness in the language that exists between the Philippines and the Yami people (Hiatt 1). According to the statistical estimation of the distribution of the Yami group, there are about 4000 Yami people in the Island of Lanyu (Hiatt 98). According to the information provided about the Yami, they were the last to gain encounter with the Chinese groups. The natural barriers are some of the specific reasons that hindered the migration of such groups to the Chinese regions. According to the information provided about the Yami, the tribe engaged in sustenance fishing activities as some of their central means of survival. According to information, the men were some of the groups that engaged in the fishing activities with an aim of forming an existing all-around community in their operational perspective.
The political organization of the Yami people is based on the various activities involved in their advisory roles. For example, from the historical perspective of the people, it is approximated that there are no chiefs involved in the advisory roles. Instead, the family elders are always selected to enhance the explanations as part of the advisory roles and duties (Hiatt 19). The young people were meant to learn from the elders through the observation of practices that may ensure the increase in the moral practices and maintenance in the
The Modern Life of the Yami
The modern life of the Yami people can also be elaborated in numerous perspectives. The group is considered the most peaceful among the other groups of the aborigines. The existence of the community within the Lanyu Island has led to the development of a different culture that is considered expressive as the oceanic culture. The culture is associated with the summer and the spring periods in which there are active jumping fish and other oceanic incidences. There are events that exist in the fishing season and associated with their ocean-oriented cultures. The Yami group also perform activities related to the increase in the fishing practices. According to the implications of the group, there were some issues related to the fishing rituals that were considered of much importance (Hiatt 34). The Lanyu Island as one of the dwelling place of the people is considered one of the tourist destination in Taiwan. The tribe has a patrilineal nature of kingship. Concerning some issues such as taboos and the revenge circumstances, the tribe applied the kingship rules related to the matrilineal systems. Pottery making is also part of the cultural activities of the Yami as performed in their daily activities. The launching of a finished boat that would be used for their fishing activities is also marked as an essential activity among the Yami.
The Geography and the Diets Affecting the Lives of the Yami Tribe
The diameter of the orchid is estimated to be around 42 kilometers. The volcanic rocks and the oceans are part of the surroundings within the island that they inhibit. Along the shores, the Yami tribe perform farming practices in which they grow the sweet potatoes in enhancing the diet. They plant the sweet potatoes due to their roots and leaves. In the diet of the Yami people, the vegetables, and the indigenous fruits have been introduced as a way of ensuring food security. However, as stated earlier, fish and the ocean food forms part of their main diet within both their traditional and the modern lives (Hiatt 11). Millet farming is also another source of their livelihood as part of the ongoing operations. The flying fish are highly considered among the Yami people.
The Customs of the Yami People
The Yami people have their customs based on the issues of interest such as the spirits of the land. According to the Yami, there exists a natural spirit within them called the Kami. According to their custom, kami is considered one of the natural spirits existing in their land. One of the aspects of this spirit is that it exists in all aspects of the society. It exists in all things that exist among the Yami people. There are many dance cultures that are also associated with the existence of the Yami community (Hiatt 56). According to the existence of the Yami, there are two major categories of the dances that exist in the tribe. The hair dance and the spiritual warrior dance are some of the categories of dances that exist to the Yami community as part of their association with their custom activities.
The Social Structure of the Yami
The social structure of the Yami can be divided into three essential sections that can be used in describing the social structure of the Yami group. One of the instances involves the definition of the overall social structure of the people. The general social structure of the people is based on the facts of kingship and the bloodline. According to the information offered on their historical development, the patriarchal clans also form their basis for the existence. There is no social stratification affecting the groups of people existing within this category (Hiatt 11). According to the formation of their social nature, even the united leadership systems do not exist. According to their general formation, the authority of th...