The Forest-Friendly Circular and Self-Care System of Dawu Tribe

Text / Ke Ya-Chih (Project Researcher, Rural Development Foundation)

Under the influence of climate change, rainfall patterns tend to shift toward short-duration, high-intensity events. Settlements located along riverbanks, coastlines, or in low-lying areas most need to guard against flooding; settlements on hillsides may face the threat of landslides, or even the destruction of vital infrastructure such as power, water, transportation, and communications by torrential rain. How should mountain village residents adapt and find a way to develop their communities under extreme climate conditions?

Dawu Tribe in Wutai Township, Pingtung County, is located on a mountain at an altitude of over 1,000 m, about a one-hour drive from downtown Pingtung. Even when driving from the nearest provincial highway, Taiwan Provincial Highway 24, one still has to travel along a winding mountain road and cross the Ailiao North Creek to arrive. Ordinarily, whenever heavy rain washes over the area, the external connecting road may be damaged and become impassable. The tribe once fell into a food shortage crisis because the road was destroyed, and only got through it after the air service team urgently airdropped supplies. Typhoon Morakot in year 98 dealt Dawu Tribe an even more devastating blow, but the tribespeople were determined to return to their homeland and properly rebuild the settlement, the local industry, and the relationship between people and nature.

21 varieties of millet catalyze the industry to sprout and culture to take deep root

The first step in industrial reconstruction began with the revival of millet cultivation. Millet plays an indispensable role in Rukai culture. At various important rituals and festivals, tribespeople make millet cakes called "abai" to give to relatives and friends as a token of congratulations; after millet is dried, it is also used to make various traditional headdresses that represent different identities and ranks. The tribe began planting millet again, which can be used for self-sufficiency and also sold. Its significance lies not only in securing the most basic food supply and source of livelihood, but also in being an important action to root and pass on culture.

Dawu Tribe originally maintained 21 millet lines. Some are suitable for making millet wine or "abai," and some are suitable for cooking into millet porridge. More importantly, under years of selection through environmental change, the millet varieties that can still grow well are the tribe's "life-saving seeds" under extreme climate conditions. Many abandoned farmlands have been gradually revitalized through the revival effort, the tribe's terraced fields have regained their vitality, and under everyone's maintenance they also protect the safety of the slopes.