Torn Apart by Solar: Tribe 02: Leader Calls Out as Members Split and Attack Each Other, Ancestors Grieve

(Continued from previous article) To develop solar power at Zhiben Wetland, the Taitung County Government, without the consent of the local Puyuma "Katratripulr" tribe, opened the door for a developer to enter and lobby, and proceeded to convene a "tribal council" on the tribe's behalf to exercise the right of consultation and consent through a vote. After a highly disputed voting process, the yes side prevailed over the no side by 187 votes to 173, agreeing to let the solar developer develop the tribe's traditional territory.

Three traditional leaders of the Katratripulr tribe, the "Rahan" (equivalent to "chiefs"), announced days ago (April 18) that they were filing a lawsuit: the above "convened" tribal council was invalid. Chief Rahan Lin Wen-hsiang, his hands trembling and furious, said: "The tribe cannot be divided. The lawsuit is to protect the existence of the tribe."

The pro-solar-development side held up signs in protest at the tribe's press conference venue, saying that there were also voices within the tribe in favor of solar power, and opposing the lawsuit. This jarring standoff also conveyed the state of the tribe's division. Lin Yu-chang, chairman of the youth association on the opposing side, said: "We are not opposed to green energy. What we oppose is the process of solar development. The tribe cannot be allowed to lose mutual trust."

Tribe Youth: "We don't oppose green energy, but the solar project has cost the tribe its mutual trust, and also its chance to develop on its own terms"

The night before the Rahan made their public announcement, a fire was lit at the Balaguan (tribal gathering house), symbolizing a proclamation to the ancestors. The youth association was ready to set up the venue, while the women's association prepared meals in the kitchen. Everyone was busy coming and going through the night.

The Katratripulr tribe has a strict hierarchical organization, divided into the council of elders, the group of adult married men, the married women's association, and the youth association. The youth association forms the tribe's main force, and all youths, including adolescent boys, must receive training under the youth association, obey the Rahan's instructions, and serve the tribe's traditional affairs. Unmarried adolescent girls, under the women's association, participate in tribal affairs alongside them.

Facing tribespeople who challenged the tribe's traditional leadership authority, outgoing youth association chairman Kao Shih-chieh could hardly hide his grief and indignation: "We received traditional cultural training at the Balaguan all along, and were taught to respect tradition. Why is it that the very people who taught us this back then are not doing so now?"

The new chairman, Lin Yu-chang, said: "We are not opposed to green energy. What we oppose is the process of solar development. The tribe cannot be allowed to lose mutual trust. Money is indeed important, but we want to develop through our own abilities, not by depending on others. Otherwise, what will Katratripulr do twenty years from now when the solar company leaves?"

Tribe Cadre: Even if the tribe disagrees, it is still a community of life. We are not enemies.

"After three years of internal confrontation and infighting, everyone is exhausted." Salreng, a young teacher who returned home and also serves as vice chairman, could hardly hide her fatigue: "The Rahan stepped forward not to target tribespeople who are for or against, but to target the injustice of the tribal council." Her involvement in passing on tribal culture has led Salreng to agree with the Rahan's decision. For her, traditional territory is the root of the tribe's history and culture; if traditional values are lost, the tribe will lose its way amid development.

Salreng believes that even if there are also voices of approval within the tribe, Katratripulr is still one whole: "The tribe is full of bonds between people; it is still a community of life. We are tribespeople, not enemies." Salreng's companion Uki added.

Tribe Cadre Criticizes: The tribe's right of consent was contracted out to the developer. How exactly does the county government regard Indigenous peoples?

Kao Ming-chih is deputy leader of the Katratripulr tribe's group and was once a vigorous participant in the Indigenous movement. Now he has returned to the tribe to promote cultural revitalization. Since the county government began pushing the solar project, he has also been a radical opponent. Kao Ming-chih specifically pointed out the conflict caused after the county government entrusted the development project to a developer, and the developer entered the tribe and co-opted it:

"In our traditional culture, to use this land, one must first greet the other lives that use this land, 'Balishi.' Now the Taitung County Government has opened the door and let the developer come in to buy off the tribe. The 1971 Jiedier development project already did this once. How many more times will this happen? Public authority is bound by law, so what it dares not do now is handed to the developer. The developer has resources - giving job opportunities, giving benefits. How exactly do they regard Indigenous peoples?"

Rahan Roars: Our People Are Split and Attacking Each Other. The Ancestors Would Be Heartbroken to See This

The Rahan holds an exalted status in the Katratripulr tribe. They are the officiants of ceremonies and the leaders of the traditional organization. Their importance is similar to the role of "chief" in other tribes, and their main mission is to be "managers of the land, guardians of the tribe, and bearers of cultural transmission."

Revered by tribespeople as the "Great Rahan," Rahan Lin Wen-hsiang of the Rafariou clan is both compassionate and dignified. At the press conference, when pro-development tribespeople held up signs in protest, Lin Wen-hsiang watched his people split. His hands trembled with anger as he gripped the microphone and rebuked: "The tribe cannot be divided. We must return to the tribe's ways to solve the problem."

Lin Wen-hsiang said his anger came from "the ancestors' sorrow": "After the solar project came in, you attack me and I attack you. Are we still Katratripulr (in the tribal language: together)?" He further criticized: "The Indigenous Peoples Basic Law has been in effect for so long - wasn't it meant to protect Indigenous peoples? How did it turn into oppressing us?"

County councilor Chen Cheng-tsung, who is acting Rahan of the Ruvaniyaw clan because his father is bedridden, said the lawsuit is not about whether the solar project is developed or not, but about defending the tribe's traditional values. As the first tribe in Taitung to exercise the right of consultation and consent, Katratripulr must not become the first to set a bad precedent.

Rahan Lin Mao-sheng of the Pakaruku clan believes the county government's process for developing solar power has been extremely unfair to the tribe: "Outside developers have brought so many resources into our poor Indigenous area and split the tribe, yet the county government sits on the sidelines watching the tribe fight among itself. The Rahan has a responsibility to maintain tribal unity and cannot be swayed by outsiders. (The tribal council held on June 1 was not fair. Those who voted did not join us in the annual rituals, and some of them are not even Puyuma.)"