Letter From Taipei

Taiwan indigenous peoples' long road to preserving mother tongues

Despite the language gap, younger indigenous people still try to keep their cultures alive

Ms Kalitin Humi (centre) posing with her Amis tribeswomen at their harvest festival held in Hualien county. She volunteers for her tribe’s annual festivities, learning how to perform traditional dances and helping to prepare events. PHOTO: KALITIN HUMI
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When Ms Kalitin Humi decided to drop her Han Chinese name and start using her indigenous name in 2016, her mother objected.

"She was worried I would face discrimination and make things difficult for myself," Ms Humi said.

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