The UW Taiwan Studies Arts & Culture Program is thrilled to invite you and your young ones to our first ever kids program!
This April we will be hosting four child-friendly events at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture!
- Kids Storytime: “LOKOT: the Fish that Lived in a Tree” with Nikal Kabala’an (Pangcah / ‘Amis, Taiwan)
- Kids Workshop: ‘Alofo Lover’s Bag from Pangcah, Taiwan with Chu-mei Lin (Pangcah / ‘Amis, Taiwan)
Join our kids program to learn about Indigenous knowledge of Taiwan’s Pangcah / ‘Amis Peoples through the stories of Lokot and the ‘alofo (lover’s bag). Please check out the event details below. We look forward to seeing you in April!
In-person ONLY. Registration is FREE but REQUIRED to attend the program. Please check out the links below to register.
Saturdays, April 15 and April 22, 2023, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Storytime | “LOKOT: the Fish that Lived in a Tree” with Nikal Kabala’an (Pangcah / ‘Amis, Taiwan)
Visit https://lokot-storytime.eventbrite.com/ to register. Registration is FREE but REQUIRED to attend the storytime. Participating children must be accompanied by a responsible adult(s) through the entire session.
Long, long ago, Lokot was a mild-mannered fish that lived in the sea.
On his torso he had a dozen or so appendages hanging off him like flaps of seaweed. His legs were very short, and had hundreds of pairs. Not even Lokot himself knew how many pairs of legs he had. His body was dozens of times longer than his legs, so he was able to swim without the least difficulty.
For a sneak peek of the storybook, check out: https://fb.watch/jsftbnOGS6/
During the storytime, our host, Nikal, will take us onto a fascinating journey with LOKOT, the fish that lived in a tree! We will meet all of Lokot‘s old and new friends: Talacay the Screw Pine, Rorokoh the Green Sea Turtle, Alilis the Crested Serpent Eagle, Falidas the Sugar Palm, Tana the Ailanthus Prickly Ash, Sakol the Bishop Wood Tree, and many more!
l have heard fragments of such stories from the mouths of the elders, and recorded them in writing. I have no way of knowing for sure what these stories really mean, but here is what I think: the Pangcah ancestors put their wisdom and their knowledge of nature into their stories to educate younger generations. For thousands of years they have enchanted youngsters with their stories. For thousands of years they have guided youngsters to open their eyes and see hidden truths of nature. These stories are like the fossilized footprints the Pangcah ancestors have left behind them on the island of Taiwan.
– Kuei Chun Miya (Pangcah / ‘Amis, Taiwan) , Writer of Lokot
Saturdays, April 15 and April 22, 2023, from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Kids Workshop | ‘Alofo Lover’s Bag from Pangcah, Taiwan with Chu-mei Lin (Pangcah / ‘Amis, Taiwan)
Visit https://alofo-workshop.eventbrite.com/ to register. Registration is FREE but REQUIRED to attend the workshop. Participating children must be accompanied by a responsible adult(s) through the entire session.
At this workshop, you will learn about the history behind the ‘alofo (lover’s bags) that are made and widely used by the Pangcah (‘Amis) People, one of the sixteen officially recognized Indigenous communities in Taiwan. You will have the opportunity to take a close look at the ‘alofo hand crafted by our instructor, Chu-mei Lin, as she introduces the process of making ‘alofo and how they are used at ceremonies and as everyday accessories. After learning everything about these ‘alofo, you will customize your own ‘alofo to take home and use as you explore the outdoors in spring!
Please note that this workshop is designed with young kids in mind. Instead of making ‘alofo as they are traditionally crafted with threads and needles, we will provide canvas bags printed with patterns identical to an ‘alofo for the kids to color. Coloring tools will be available at the workshop.
Meet Our Hosts
Nikal Kabala’an a.k.a Margaret TU and Chu-mei LIN of Pangcah / ‘Amis, Taiwan
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The Kids Storytime and Workshop is a collective effort between the UW Taiwan Studies Arts & Culture Program and its generous partners: the UW East Asia Center with Title VI funding provided by the U.S. Department of Education, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, the DER Documentary Educational Resources, and the UW Tateuchi East Asia Library.