With diverse races and cultures there, people in Taitung are more open-minded to perspectives and lifestyle of others so that everyone can live in harmony. To refine the living of the local, the Indigenous People Life Care Association (hereinafter referred to as the “association”) has promoted the local industry. With the tribal tradition and spirits in mind and daily demands for elaborate workmanship, the association infused the concept of “culture, life and delicacy” to search for innovation of traditional culture and show the consideration of the indigenous people. As the traditional workmanship evolves with living style, it well displays the aboriginal culture and style. While the tribal culture is fading quickly, the association has built a profound base of cultural heritage and ethnic identity development with actively participation, record and preservation.

Unity is Strength & Cooperative Platform

Joining in the Multi-Employment Promotion Program (MEPP), the association proposed the “Eastern Taiwan Heritage, Life and Handicrafts: Cooperative Platform of Tribal Handicrafts Program”, hoping to connect the nearby studios; strengthen the organizational training and cooperation of product development and at the end market on the same platform. With the emotional elements lying in the handmade workmanship brought into the designing stage, the delicacy and taste of handicrafts are enriched, thus more job opportunities are created.

The subsidy of MEPP had only taken 20% of whole share, grants of other program 20%, earned revenue 60%, which was sufficient enough to cover the personnel expense. The association achieved its financial independence in 2013 as scheduled. With the average seniority six year, the manpower in the association is relatively steady. The association arranges various trainings for research and development, production, marketing division, including basic lessons such as handicrafts, marketing. In the future, it wants to arrange professional courses for at least 10 hours annually, focusing on cultural lessons, and trend as the secondary. For the specific professional courses like finance or management, the association makes them external trainings.

With social and local contribution in mind, the association sells products from other studios in its shop, which takes about 30%, besides its own product. So far, it has four contracted studios for the shop, with other 12 local ones demonstrating their products. Intruding mature products from studios to sales location, the association also actively develops “Sustainable Engineering for Culture Industry” to promote handicrafts production training for the indigenous people and single mother. Furthermore, the association has cooperated with hotels like Taitung Luminous Hot Spring Resort, Papago International Resort to maximize sales channels. In addition, through building connection with local studios like glassware studio, fabric studio and wood product studio, the ability of its studio in organization is greatly strengthened.

In future, the Association will continue to promote its own brand and integrate studios in Taitung area to expand channels. Also, it wants to include all sorts of creative products and set foot in cultural and leisure industry. The purpose is not just for the indigenous people but for the brand establishment for handicrafts of Paiwan tribe.