According to Lin, the Bunun have lived peacefully with the environment of Jade Mountain for centuries. Bunun activities have been in harmony with the ecology of Jade Mountain, and not a threat. "If they want to restrict us from making a living here, then the national park might as well call itself a botanical garden or a zoo," said Lin.
The villagers' voices were finally heard by the government last year. Last February, hundreds of Bunun went to the Cabinet to protest against the national park's restrictions. Former premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
One year has passed and Lin and her fellow villagers are worried that the government's promises to built water pipes for them were again nothing but lip service.
"We've decided to do it ourselves," Lin said, sitting by the camp fire with her fellow singers. "Hunters in the Clouds and Mist is a collection of traditional Bunun tunes and Songs from the Forest Workers are contemporary love songs about our lives as temporary workers in the woods," Lin said.
Lin and her Tungpu Bunun Culture Association hope to raise NT$700,000 from selling the CDs to build the water pipe system. The Bunun will do the labor for free, said Lin.
"Bunun people are usually calm and reserved, but we never shy away from fighting. It will still be a long battle, before we truly retrieve our living rights, our lands and our culture," said Lin.
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