Once, while working as a lecturer and general administrator at National Taiwan University, I looked into the possibility of promoting high-altitude farming in an effort to advocate the preservation of natural resources in mountainous regions, particularly at the Chun-yang Farm (
I also visited numerous Aboriginal groups. My extensive travel allowed me to become immersed in Aboriginal life and culture and to discover that our Aboriginal friends are blessed with exceptional talents in music, sport, dance, art and sculpture. These deserve to be cherished and promoted.
During Japanese occupation, the outstanding performance of the Kano Baseball Team (嘉農棒球隊), which consisted of mostly Aboriginal players, at Hanshin Koshien Kyujyo (甲子園) reverberated around Japan and Taiwan. More recently, the striking achievement of Yang Chuan-kuang (楊傳廣) at the Olympic Games boosted morale.
The artistic achievements of Aboriginal singers such as Chang Mei-yao (
I have always expected myself to be the closest friend of Aborigines and an advocate for their interests.
During my term as Taipei City mayor, I therefore set up a small house for the Aborigines arriving in the city for the first time.
Later, government units were requested by my administrative decrees to ensure 25 percent of their gifts to foreign visitors were Aboriginal artifacts.
While serving in the Executive Yuan, I also proposed numerous bills to promote and safeguard the rights of Aboriginal people.
Although unable to continue the unfinished proposals after the transfer of political power, I remain concerned about the Aboriginal people as always. I continue to do my utmost on the Olympic Committee to train Aboriginal youths to become track and field athletes, in the hope that some day they will compete for glory for Taiwan.
Aboriginal groups have had a tragic history, even if we ignore the era of rivalry with the early Han Chinese settlers. While World War II raged in the Pacific, many aboriginal youths were drafted for front-line jungle warfare in the South Pacific. Some aboriginal lives were also lost in the 228 Incident in 1947.
The quality, quantity and culture of Taiwan's Aboriginal population have been devastated by a series of historical incidents.
I believe that the most urgent task of the moment is to develop policies focusing on the population growth and education of Aborigines. Promoting the quality and quantity of the Aboriginal population in one generation should be the target of a comprehensive program.
The government should set up an effective mechanism to promote the growth of the Aboriginal population and provide comprehensive, professional education to Aboriginal children and young people.
In order to provide a fully comprehensive education, students in elementary and high schools should board at school for a few days per week for at least three years.
To ensure a bright future for the next generation of Aborigines, the educational and other relevant authorities should also employ qualified professionals who specialize in sport and art to discover, train and develop the talents of Aboriginal children.
Aboriginal groups are an important asset to Taiwan. If they are given a brighter future, Taiwanese culture will be profoundly enriched.
Thomas Huang is the president of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee.
Translated by Grace Shaw
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