Indigenous Canoe Reopens Maritime Route Silent for Centuries
On Taiwan’s outlying Orchid Island, a sacred launch ceremony has marked the beginning of preparations for a voyage to the Philippines. The expedition aims to reconnect a centuries-old sea route once traveled by Indigenous ancestors.
**Orchid Island’s Sacred Sailing Ceremony Revives Ancient Maritime Route**
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A ritual to ensure a safe and smooth journey.
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The crew of this traditional Indigenous Tao canoe, called a Tao Tatala, is preparing to sail from Orchid Island off Taiwan's southeastern coast to the Batanes Islands in the Philippines.
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Our people have been part of the Pacific for over 1,000 years or 2,000 years.
Archaeological findings even suggest a history that goes back 6,000 years.
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We cannot let our seafaring culture disappear in our generation.
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So we’ve always hoped to reconnect with Batanes, a place whose people share the same language family as us and once again connect our communities.
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The voyage will cross 100 nautical miles, which is around 185 kilometers across the Bashi channel, retracing an ancient sea route once traveled by the Tao people.
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For generations, the Tao have passed down stories of similar voyages – as well as intermarriage, migration and trade with the Ivatan people of the Batanes Islands – but it's been about 300 years since anyone has made the trip like this.
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Despite the wet and windy weather, local villagers still showed up in raincoats and with umbrellas to show their support for the voyage and the crew.
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A successful launch!
We officially set sail!
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The voyage is meant to strengthen long-standing cultural ties between the two island communities. Despite the distance between their islands, about 60 percent of their two languages are mutually intelligible.
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This Tatala is called the “Ovayan – Golden Friendship.” It’s the product of a team effort between six local villages. At 12 meters long, it can carry up to 20 people – and is the largest traditional plank boat built by Orchid-Islanders in the modern era.
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For me, this is about more than reconnection with our ancestors' route.
It's also an encouragement to our island community because we hope the tradition of the Tatala will continue for generations to come.
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Now with prayers complete and the crew ready to set sail, it’s Bon voyage for those looking to brave the seas and reopen a maritime pathway not traced for centuries.
Fuhua Hung and Sandy Chi for TaiwanPlus.
