The Past as the Future - Discussion, Cultural Celebration and Ukulele Music

Please join us for the 2nd annual celebration of Taiwanese and Pacific Island cultures. Enjoy Ukulele music and the inspiring story of BulauBulau Village for bringing aboriginal culture beyond museums and back to everyday life.
 
Studies suggest that Polynesians may have originated from Taiwan thousands of years ago. The adventurous journey by Taiwan aborigines passed through the Philippines and reached islands such as Guam, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Zealand, and possibly Hawaii, Easter Island and Madagascar.
 
This year’s event will feature Kwali Wilang from BulauBulau Village, a new aboriginal village established in 2004 in Yilan, Taiwan. The Atayal village has not only enabled sustainable living but also made aboriginal tradition a living culture again.
 
For many years, the tribal culture in Taiwan languished and their villages abandoned as the results of colonization and the migration to the urban areas for work. In the recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in aboriginal culture in Taiwan. More and more urban aborigines are returning to the villages to reclaim their heritage – A trend that’s also embraced and welcomed by mainstream Taiwanese, many of whom have indigenous ancestors. Although some have succeeded in creating aborigine-themed businesses or restored certain traditional skills, few have managed to incorporate the values and culture of the indigenous tribes into their everyday life like the residents of Bulau Bulau where hunting, growing millets and weaving are part of the communal activities. We will talk to Kwali Wilang through video chat to understand how a project that started with a simple idea of living in the mountains blossomed into a powerful testament that Taiwan aboriginal culture can stay relevant and enrich our lives in the 21st century.
 
We will also be joined by Ukulele San Jose who has a beautiful voice and is an amazing ukulele performer. He will present music from Taiwan, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti and the Philippines. So put on a Hawaiian shirt, Taiwan aboriginal costume or facial tattoo -- and come enjoy live music. Appetizers will be provided.
 
Agenda -
 
2:00 – 2:45       Check-in and Networking
2:45 – 3:00       Ukulele Opening Performance
3:00 – 3:45       Discussion with Kwali Wilang
3:45 – 4:30       Ukulele Performance Continued
4:30 – 5:30       Networking
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Interesting Read - 
Genetic link confirmed between Polynesians and indigenous Taiwanese
Bacteria and languages reveal how people spread through the Pacific
Tribal Culture Survives in Taiwan 
 Taiwans Aborigines Hope A New President Will Bring Better Treatment
 DNA shows first inhabitants of Vanuatu came from Philippines and Taiwan



 
Bio of Kwali Wilang

Kwali Wilang is the founder of Bulau Bulau Aboriginal Village. In 2004, he led his family and a group of villagers in Atayal land to build a sustainable community where they harvested from what they have been given by nature.
 
Born to a Han father and an Atayal mother, Kwali found his passion for cooking when he was a teenager and went to Australia Griffith University for his bachelor’s degree in hotel management and multimedia. He was the first Taiwanese aboriginal leader to be awarded internship at Hawaii’s Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) and received a scholarship for Asian Executive Management Program at BYU, which offers experiential learning in sharing tribal arts and culture.
In Year 2015, he founded The Root Vocational School in BulauBulau Village. The school integrates vocational education with indigenous knowledge and modem technology to develop aboriginal youth.
 Since its founding, BulauBulau Village has sustained its development without government subsidies or corporate sponsorship. Its sustainable growth is based on resource sharing, cultural tourism and the support of the volunteers. They have successfully developed a business and lifestyle model where village elders recognize the importance of cultural continuity and knowledge sharing while providing the youth with economic opportunities.
 
Bio of Lenny San Jose
 
Lenny San Jose, aka Ukulenny, is an ukulele performer and educator based in Oakland, CA. He grew up in San Diego playing piano, guitar, cello, and saxophone, and earned a B.A. in Music at UC Berkeley. A credentialed Music Teacher, he taught for 5 years in Oakland and Berkeley public schools, and is now a full-time musician. He is proudly sponsored by Kala Brand Ukuleles, performing and leading ukulele circles in Oakland, Alameda, and all across America. For more, check out @ukulenny on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and www.ukulenny.com.   

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