90 MINUTE WORKSHOP - A Cross-Cultural Fishing Technology Workshop Inspired by Taiwanese Indigenous Fata’an Amis' Water Culture
Tracks
Mossman Ballroom
| Tuesday, July 28, 2026 |
| 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM |
Speaker
Prof Wei-Chi Chang
Associate Professor
Department of Environmental and Cultural Resources, National Tsing Hua University
90 MINUTE WORKSHOP - A Cross-Cultural Fishing Technology Workshop Inspired by Taiwanese Indigenous Fata’an Amis' Water Culture
ISE Congress 2026 Abstract
This workshop takes the water culture of the Amis people of Fata’an in Hualien, Taiwan, as an entry point to reconsider human–inland waters relationships and the ways Indigenous knowledge systems shape interactions with riverine and wetland environments. Over generations, the Fata’an Amis have relied on meticulous hydrological observations and geomorphological knowledge to develop sophisticated techniques for managing streams, wetlands, and fishery resources. Two practices in particular exemplify this system of knowledge: pamasi, a weir-based fish-draining technique designed for the turbulent, braided-river conditions of the Stefo River; and palakaw, a bamboo-constructed fish-guiding structure used in the slower-flowing Fudeng Creek and its wetland habitats. These techniques embody collective labor, ecological insight, and social organization, illustrating how community-level practices sustain both livelihoods and cultural continuity. Notably, palakaw was granted protection under "Taiwan’s Exclusive Right to Use Traditional Intellectual Creations of Indigenous Peoples" in 2017.
The workshop consists of three components:
(1) An introductory session using film and physical models to present the ecological knowledge of river and wetland environments on which the Fata’an people depend, including observations of aquatic species and the corresponding fishing methods.
(2) A hands-on activity in which participants construct simplified models of the riverine pamasi and wetland palakaw. Through materials, spatial arrangement, operating principles, and target aquatic organisms, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the technical dimensions of Fata’an Amis fishing systems.
(3) Small-group discussions inviting participants to share fishing structures, aquatic knowledge, and resource-management practices from their respective cultural or regional backgrounds.
To promote intercultural dialogue on biological knowledge, the workshop will be co-facilitated by Fata’an elder Lalan Unak and a group of community youth. Together, they will explore the contemporary relevance and future possibilities of traditional aquatic knowledge amid increasing hydrological uncertainty and the challenges posed by extreme climate events.
The workshop consists of three components:
(1) An introductory session using film and physical models to present the ecological knowledge of river and wetland environments on which the Fata’an people depend, including observations of aquatic species and the corresponding fishing methods.
(2) A hands-on activity in which participants construct simplified models of the riverine pamasi and wetland palakaw. Through materials, spatial arrangement, operating principles, and target aquatic organisms, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the technical dimensions of Fata’an Amis fishing systems.
(3) Small-group discussions inviting participants to share fishing structures, aquatic knowledge, and resource-management practices from their respective cultural or regional backgrounds.
To promote intercultural dialogue on biological knowledge, the workshop will be co-facilitated by Fata’an elder Lalan Unak and a group of community youth. Together, they will explore the contemporary relevance and future possibilities of traditional aquatic knowledge amid increasing hydrological uncertainty and the challenges posed by extreme climate events.
Biography
Tsai is an Amis person from Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples, and his Indigenous name is Lalan Unak. He is an elder of the Fata’an community and serves as the responsible person for two registered items under the Exclusive Right to Use Traditional Intellectual Creations of Indigenous Peoples. He has made significant contributions to the conservation of the Fata’an Wetland and the preservation of traditional culture.
