Last week Bunun people throughout the nation sparked controversy as they organized traditional Ear Shooting Festival hog-catching contests. The Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) also issued a request that the Animal Protection Act not be violated at tribal events, which has caused a backlash among local Aboriginal councilors. During a regular meeting of the Taitung County Council on May 12, councilors lambasted the CIP and animal protection groups for not respecting traditional culture, demanding that Taitung County’s Indigenous Peoples’ Department Director Chang Chi-hsu share local sentiments with the higher-ups.
Ethnic Bunun Councilor Hu Chiu-chin, Amis Councilor Chen Lanmulo and Paiwan councilors Tsai Yi-yung, Lin Tsung-han and Chu Lien-chi all on May 12 questioned the legitimacy of the CIP’s handling of the issue. Hu and Chu said that Aborigines have always had this tradition of catching hogs and that every festival makes use of pork, adding that hog-catching contests do not equate to the abuse of animals. They have suggested inviting animal protection groups to hold discussions that would reconcile their misunderstandings.
The ways that a hog is caught or tied up always carry unique significance, Lin says, adding that Aborigines care first and foremost about protecting nature and wildlife. Lin asks if Aborigines are not allowed to catch hogs, should Taiwanese still be allowed to eat pork? In that case, all of the meat markets could just as well be shut down, Lin says.
Photo: Chang Tsun-wei, Liberty Times
照片:自由時報記者張存薇
Every person has a different interpretation of traditional Aboriginal culture, Chang says, adding that every culture must be respected and that he will deliver this message to the central government.
(Liberty Times, Translated by Kyle Jeffcoat)
全國布農族射耳祭上週因抓豬比賽引發爭議,原民會也發文要求部落活動「不得違反動物保護法」,引發原住民議員反彈,五月十二日在台東縣議會定期會痛批原民會及動保團體不尊重傳統文化,要求原民處長張其旭向上反映地方心聲。
布農族籍議員胡秋金、阿美族議員陳.藍姆洛及排灣族議員蔡義勇、林琮翰、朱連濟五月十二日均質疑原民會處理不當。胡秋金、朱連濟說,原住民原本就有抓豬傳統,各種節慶也會用到豬肉,抓豬比賽不等於虐待動物,建議邀動保團體好好談,化解誤會。
林琮翰說,連怎麼抓、怎麼綁都有一定的意思,原住民是最愛護自然、保護野生動物的,如果不准抓豬,那是不是台灣人都不要吃豬肉?肉品市場乾脆關門好了。
張其旭表示,每個人對原住民傳統文化的解讀不同,但必須尊重各族群文化,會再向中央反映。
(自由時報記者張存薇)
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