While Taiwan's 14 tribes of indigenous people make up only two percent of the population, their rich cultural heritage contributes some of the most colorful threads to Taiwan's cultural fabric.
Original Waves is a 15-part series dedicated to these aborigines – Taiwan's original inhabitants. Each episode offers an in-depth look at one of the 14 tribes, sharing with listeners the legends, rituals, music and customs that are a focal point in indigenous life.
Original Waves is sponsored by Taiwan's Council of Indigenous People, and produced by Shirley Lin, Huang Shih-han and Andrew Ryan. For more information, or to offer feedback, please send an email to: rti@rti.org.tw  07-17 Learn how Taiwan's 14 aboriginal tribes have a common legend to do with water.
07-24 Find out why the Pas-taai is such an important ritual to the Saisiat people.
07-31 Tune in to hear about the love story between the Bannen Princess and the Serpent King of the Rukai tribe.
08-07 This episode is about the Atayal tribe and their famous legend about shooting down the sun.
08-14 Learn about the Tao Tribe which is the only oceanic people among the various aboriginal cultures in Taiwan.
08-21 Learn how the Sea Festival Legend of the Puyuma tribe teaches people of the risk of going overboard when playing pranks, and how it can hurt their own people.
08-28 Find out why the Paiwan people call themselves the 'descendants of the hundred-pace snake.
09-04 It wasn't until 2007 that the Sakizaya people were officially recognized as Taiwan's 13th indigenous tribe.
09-11 The Bunun people have a beautiful harvest song called Pasibutbut which is sung in a unique eight-part harmony.
09-18 The Kavalan tribe is the only indigenous tribe of Taiwan that weaves cloth from the fibers of banana leaves.
09-25 The Truku men must have good hunting skills and the Truku women must possess good weaving skills in order to get facial tattoos.
10-02 The biggest and the final rebellion against the Japanese colonial forces in Taiwan had to do with the Sediq tribe.
10-09 The Tsou tribe is known particularly for its connection to one of Taiwan's most famous mountains – Alishan.
10-16 The Thao tribe lives in the Sun Moon Lake area in central Taiwan, one of the most famous tourist spots on the island.
10-23 The Amis tribe is the largest tribal group, making up almost 38 percent of Taiwan's total indigenous population. |