【Local Humanistic Studies】2024 Intercollegiate Indigenous Youth Leadership Training Camp
From August 17 to August 19, 2024, our center held the 2024 Intercollegiate Indigenous Youth Leadership Training Camp. The students immersed themselves in the Wulai tribal area, learning about the local traditional territories, migration patterns, historical narratives, and participating in fishing and hunting courses. The camp centered on the theme of fishing and hunting, combining team consensus-building and activity design. Through practical experience, students were able to express their unique qualities and abilities while deepening their understanding and appreciation of traditional culture, with significant results.
Throughout the learning process, students not only strengthened their cultural identity but also sparked a sense of responsibility for protecting and preserving their heritage. Moreover, through teamwork activities, they developed communication and collaboration skills, established a sense of team unity, and laid a foundation for future learning and work. The leadership training segment enabled students to enhance their problem-solving and decision-making abilities through challenges. In summary, the Indigenous Youth Leadership Training Camp successfully integrated traditional cultural learning with modern leadership development, fostering both personal growth and team collaboration, and preparing the students for leadership roles in their Indigenous communities.
Additionally, the program delved into environmental conservation issues. Students participated in ecological preservation activities, such as tree planting and river cleaning, gaining firsthand experience of how the Atayal people practice environmental protection in their daily lives. They learned that Atayal hunting and fishing activities are not merely for subsistence but are a way of maintaining ecological balance. These experiences helped students recognize the importance of preserving ecosystems and prompted them to reflect on how modern society can better integrate traditional wisdom with contemporary environmental sustainability practices.
Through these experiences, students not only gained greater respect and appreciation for Atayal culture but were also inspired to engage in ongoing environmental protection efforts. They came to realize that passing on the wisdom of Atayal culture is not merely about preserving a tradition but also about contributing to future environmental protection and cultural sustainability. This comprehensive learning experience led to significant growth in both cultural identity and environmental awareness, laying a solid foundation for their active participation in society in the future.
