Page 16 - Hualien Sustainable Living Bilingual Magazine

Survey and Restoration of Old Bunun Settlements at the Laklak River Basin in Hualien County Introduction This project builds on the foundations established by prior research to develop an action plan that focuses on contemporary Bunun people. By building connections between disparate government departments as well as experts and scholars from different professional fields, and by introducing GIS digital technology, the project reconnects Bunun people who have migrated to other areas with the land of their ancestors. These goals are accomplished through censuses and in-depth investigations of old communities in the Laklak River Basin and the restoration of traditional stones houses and roads. In doing so, the project aims to discover and pass down the knowledge and practices that the Bunun people developed centuries ago. Benefits The project provides an opportunity for contemporary Bunun people to learn about their ancestral lands. It allows them to take a leading role in the research of old settlements, the renovation of traditional houses and roads, and the subsequent management, thereby enabling them to better understand the legacy and wisdom of their ancestors and empowering them to manage traditional resources and deepen the connection between people and the land. This project was implemented with full coordination between Yushan National Park, the Forestry Bureau, the Indigenous Peoples Department of the county government, and the Zhuoxi Township Office. It serves as a good model for inter-agency collaborations. Moreover, the project brought together experts from fields such as architecture, archeology, anthropology, mountaineering, and GIS to help the Bunun people establish comprehensive geographic data and historical literature on old settlements. This can form the basis for historical and cultural discourse centered around the Bunun people. The project will continue to maintain tourism and cultural resources for the Jiaxin old settlement and is currently developing plans to restore the Asang Daingaz Suspension Bridge, which will connect the Japanese and Qing-dynasty era paths and the old settlement resources on the northern and southern sides of the Laklak River, and will become a source of revenue for the local community. 13