Outrigger canoes are not photo props ! A conscript creates charts to help more people understand Orchid Island

▲ Outrigger canoes on Orchid Island attract many people to take photos, but if you want to touch them or take photos with them, it is recommended to ask the local residents first. (Photo / Taken by Chen Ziying)

Reporter Lin Yuling / Comprehensive report

Orchid Island has been rather unsettled lately. Recently, tourists touched or even damaged the “outrigger canoes” — considered important cultural assets by locals — just for photos. There were also conflicts between jet skis and the traditional Flying Fish Festival, followed by incidents like the theft of “five-lobed ark clam fossils.” A young man named Qiu Tengying, serving as a conscript on Orchid Island, created a series of charts titled“Orchid Islanders Have Been Feeling a Bit Down Lately”to help more people understand the island’s taboos and prevent similar conflicts from happening again.

▲ Orchid Island is currently facing various conflicts and challenges. (Photo / Qiu Tengying)

Traveling is a wonderful thing, but when the behavior of tourists clashes with that of local residents, it often ends up hurting both sides. Qiu Tengying mentioned that the Tao people on the island preserve their culture more intact than other indigenous tribes, following seasonal rituals, which differ significantly from the culture and values of Taiwan proper.

Especially from March to June each year, the entire island revolves around the Flying Fish Festival, which happens to coincide with the peak tourist season. But“The Flying Fish Festival is not a performance festival, but a part of life.”Elders regard the swordfish as God and the flying fish as Jesus. For the tribe, this is not only an important belief but also a crucial period for teaching and passing down culture to the next generation.

▲ Some facts about Orchid Island. (Photo / Qiu Tengying)

Qiu Tengying said,“The outrigger canoes parked on the shore are not photo props, but sacred vessels.”Many elders still rely on them to go fishing at sea, treating them as important assets, almost like family. However, some tourists, in order to take photos, touch them without permission and may even accidentally damage them, which could easily offend tribal taboos. Due to seasonal taboos, the tribe cannot immediately go up the mountain to gather materials to make new canoes, and they might not be able to go out to sea to fish as a result.“If they can’t go out to sea, they can’t get through the Flying Fish Festival smoothly, and their whole year’s life will be completely disrupted.”

Recently, when jet ski training was approved on Orchid Island, it happened to coincide with important events of the Flying Fish Festival. It is reported that in April, they were blocked and negotiated with by local residents. In May, a few members knowingly broke the rules, speeding into traditional waters, insisting on using their county government permit and refusing to back down. Both sides ended up in arguments, and some even later posted online insults calling Orchid Islanders “savages.”

Qiu Tengying expressed deep regret about such situations. Although associations claimed the behavior was legal, it had an impact and caused harm to the cultural lifeline of the Tao people. He hopes more people will understand that “taboos are taboos, and when you’re in someone’s home, you should follow their rules,” and that many unique, protected animals, plants, and natural resources “once damaged, cannot be restored.”

★ Friendly reminder: How to be a respectful traveler (Created by Qiu Tengying / Table)

1. Do not enter basements, outrigger canoes, or other living and working spaces of the Tao people.
2. If you wish to photograph local people, things, or events, please obtain the residents’ consent first.
3. When engaging in activities such as snorkeling or night tours, do not damage the unique flora and fauna of Orchid Island.
4. Before traveling, do some research on Tao traditions and taboos in advance.
5. Do not hold preconceived notions about people or things; approach them with empathy to understand and learn.

View the full charts here:“Orchid Islanders Have Been Feeling a Bit Down Lately.”