Eleng Kazangiljan, Paiwan/Indigenous Taiwan Law Grad

AUNTIE: WA’TKWANONHWERÁTON SEWAKWÉ:KON DID YOU KNOW THAT IN TAIWAN THERE ARE 16 RECOGNIZED INDIGENOUS TRIBES WHO LIVE IN 700 COMMUNITIES? THAT WAS NEWS TO ME UNTIL I MET THE REMARKABLE ELENG KAZANGILJAN- WHO IS A PAIWAN INDIGENOUS PERSON AND RECENT GRADUATE OF UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA’S ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROGRAM. ELENG HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL INDIGENOUS YOUTH CAUCUS AND SHE IS FOCUSED ON GLOBALLY CONNECTING INDIGENOUS NATIONS IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE. IN OUR VISIT ELENG DISCUSSES THE REVIVAL OF HER TRIBE’S CULTURAL PRACTICES INCLUDING HUNTING THE SACRED MUNTJAC WHICH IS LIKE A SMALL DEER FOR CEREMONIES. AND HOW RECONNECTING WITH HER COMMUNITY’S SONGS IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF RECLAIMING HER IDENTITY. ELENG: I am singing the same songs that my ancestors did. That feels like they can hear me and we are in the same place again. AUNTIE: STAY AROUND UNTIL THE END OF THE EPISODE FOR THE GREAT JOY OF HEARING ELENG SHARE A TRADITIONAL PAIWAN SONG OF LONGING. HERE IS A LITTLE SNIPPET: WE ARE YETI NISTENHA NE TEKARONYAKÁNARE – THE AUNTIES DANDELION. WE BRING YOU STORIES OF INDIGENOUS CHANGE MAKERS WHO ARE REVITALIZING COMMUNITIES THROUGH THEIR LAND, LANGUAGE AND RELATIONSHIPS. JOIN US IN SENDING GREETINGS LOVE, AND RESPECT TO CANADA’S INDIGENOUS SCREEN OFFICE – TEYONKHIWIHSTAKÉNHA – WHO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT TO SHARE THESE REMARKABLE VISITS. LIKE SHARE AND FOLLOW OUR POSTS AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE - TO LISTEN TO YOUR AUNTIES.