| dc.description.abstract | Abstract
Taiwan is a multi-ethnic society. Yangmei District is one of the main Hakka settlements in Taoyuan City. The population of indigenous people in Yangmei District, residing mostly in satellite towns, is growing year by year. Taoyuan City currently has the biggest indigenous population in Taiwan.
The main focus area and object of this study are Yangmei District of Taoyuan City and the indigenous people who reside there. The major discussion is the relations between the indigenous people and the Hakka residents by adopting the analytical metrics of “attitude of the indigenous people’s recognition toward Hakka people′′ and “interaction with Hakka people.” The method of this study is qualitative research and it is conducted by literature reviews&semi‑structured interviews. The result of the study, through organizing and analyzing research references, demonstrates several methods of identities and interactive relationships as followings:
1.Identity of primordialism: Despite residing in urban areas and living under an environment of Han people’s social value, the first generation of the urban indigenous people were nourished by the indigenous tribal culture since they were born. Thus, the urban indigenous people retain their subjectivity of indigenous ethnic regardless of the influence of Han cultural value. They still have strong affection and persistence for indigenous culture.
2.Identity of indigenous family: Indigenous family’s identity is facing a grand challenge as a result of widening gap between urban indigenous people and their traditional culture, less emphasis on mother tongues and cultures from indigenous parents, and weak connections with indigenous tribes.
3.Identity of indigenous multiplicity: Given the increase of indigenous and Han miscegenation, urban indigenous people’s lifestyle and language become similar to Han people. However, indigenous blood and official indigenous identity induce urban indigenous people showing their multiplicity of indigenous identity. These issues cause a new generation of urban indigenous people to define themselves through atmospheric changes and different interactions.
4.Identity of pan-indigenous consciousness: Given the effect of indigenous movement, indigenous people’s ethnic consciousness becomes stronger. Construction of inter ethnicity leads to broader identity of “pan-indigenous people” and turns into a tool of group interests beyond restrictions of genetic connections and geographies.
5.Identity of indigenous marginalization: Because of divorces, urban indigenous people tend to choose a different identity via conventional cultural activities so as to acquire collective identity. Nevertheless, disconnection of social relations with indigenous tribes due to loneliness of long-time staying in urban areas raises a question of “who am I.” The choice of identity of indigenous marginalization hovers on psychological wandering and complicated life.
6.Interaction between indigenous and Hakka people: Ethnic boundaries are unspecific. Because of recognition of each other’s cultural interactions, boundaries will keep moving as a result of these interactions. The indigenous ethnic groups in Yangmei District, under the influence of Hakka culture in the Hakka towns, is getting closer to Hakka people in aspects of dietary, intermarriage, friendship, and, culture.
Key words: Indigenous and Hakka people, Relations of Ethnic Groups, Urban aboriginal，Identity, Yangmei District | en_US |