107-year-old Yaki, Taiya Tribe ~ Interviews by students of Kiyang Elementary School

* Date: Feb. 2, 2007 (Fri)

* Location: Chun-lan Huang’s home

* Interviewee: Yaki_ipay (Chun-lan Huang) Translated by: Wilung (Wang-sheng Chiang)

* Interview contents:

Yu-wen: how old are you?

yaki ipay：I’m 107-years old now.

Yu-wen: What is the secret in it?

yaki ipay：The secret is living happily every day.

Jun-ying: could you tell us something about previous tribal life?

yaki ipay：We worked every day in the mountains at that time, and we worked very hard. Our houses were built with slates and rocks, and we ate pachyrhizus, dasheen and potherb every day. The daily work of Taiya Tribe’s girls was weaving cloths. There were no lamps, but the people used the gas lamps. The people lived a happy life.

Yi-jie: Why did the clansman of Taiya Tribe make facial tattoo in the past? What would happen if the people couldn’t weave or hunt?

yaki ipay：The young people of Taiya Tribe could take the facial tattoo after 20 years old. The facial tattoo was a symbol of beauty and bravery. Only the people with facial tattoo could get married. We had to weave clothes and go hunting by ourselves, otherwise we had nothing.

Jun-an: could you tell us some important events in Kiyang Village in the past?

yaki ipay：during Old Kiyang, the Tailuge Tribe once attacked our village, the battles happened frequently. Kiyang Village migrated continuously from one place to another place until we arrived here. I want to return Old Kiyang, which is my birthplace.

Yi-jie: at the end of this interview, what would like to speak to us?

yaki ipay：You are very happy, so you must cherish everything. You should face the difficulty and do your best to live a happy life.

107-year-old Yaki~Interviews by students of Kiyang Elementary School Afterthoughts of students

Yu-wen: grandma, you like laughing. I think you must live a happy life! I will learn from you. I heard that you wish to go back to Old Kiyang. I hope that one day I can go to Old Kiyang along with you.

Jun-ying: Grandma, thank you for telling us the stories. We learn a lot about the lives of the past from your stories. You are old now, but you are optimistic. May you live longer and be healthier.

Yi-jie: I am very happy that I can interview with an old Grandma of 107 years old. Her hearing is poor, so we had to speak loudly.

Jun-an: today we interviewed with 107 years-old Yaki. Though old, she is still optimistic. It is very lucky that an old lady like her can still walk and talk. I am impressed by her optimism. I really hope that I can also live as long as the grandma.