Taiwan’s Hakka Public Communication Foundation (HPCF) is launching a series of programs with seven other public broadcasters to celebrate the nation’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day in August.
The HPCF President Chen Ban-jen (陳邦畛) says that the Hakka people and the indigenous peoples are actually facing very similar predicaments in many aspects. The multilingual public radio stations are working together to learn from one another, rebuild connections, and promote ethnic mainstreaming regardless of cultural identities.
Radio Taiwan International (Rti) is also involved in advocating for public engagement in indigenous cultures, and showcasing the country’s ethnic diversity. Rti President Cheryl Lai (賴秀如) says that Rti values the cultural traditions, music and foodways of indigenous peoples and is committed to ethnic integration and prosperity.
Rti has produced four episodes in Korean, French and Russian to introduce different aspects of indigenous cultures. These include interviews with the indigenous singer Abus Tanapima, a special episode on indigenous cuisines, and introductions to the Tao people’s cultural and ecological preservation works on Orchid Island.
Through this collaboration, the public broadcasters are aiming to promote equal status among ethnic groups, highlight Taiwan’s cultural diversity, and ensure all people’s rights of access to public media.