Dulan Country Introduction
Dulan is pronounced as ’atolan in the Amis language, originally because there were many stones in the area, and ’atol means to stack stones or build a wall. When the Amis people of Dulan cultivated the land, they used the excavated stones to build stone walls, which is also the origin of the name Dulan. During the Qing Dynasty, it was called Dulan, and later, the Japanese government referred to it as Duluan, which was renamed to its current name in 1937. [Cultural Representation] Dulan is the largest and most prominent village in the southern section of the eastern coast, possessing well-known cultural festivals, marine culture, wild vegetable culture, and craftsmanship. With the global promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the traditional gathering culture and knowledge system of the villagers have gained prominence, as the use of natural materials and gathering culture is not just an ancient lifestyle; its modern spirit embraces the understanding of food in its original form, environmental systems, and traditional ecology. For example, in marine culture, the traditional knowledge framework of Dulan is based on the interaction between people and the ocean, which generates intertwined ecological, social, and cultural dimensions of traditional ecological knowledge. Further differentiation can classify it into seven aspects: "ritual beliefs," "coastal landscapes and memories," "naming systems for fish," "transmission of marine traditional knowledge," "livelihood activities," "material culture," and "marine domain knowledge." Regarding issues of cultural history and geography, Dulan village has been revitalizing its culture since the 1990s, particularly with the remarkable revitalization of age organizations. In traditional society, age organizations functioned as both a militia and a system of social autonomy, responsible for managing public affairs in the village. However, with the introduction of a modern national political system, the role of age organizations in public affairs has been weakened. With the gradual revival of age-class organizations and the implementation of traditional education, Dulan village has developed a unique model for handling public affairs that combines traditional organizations with modern systems, and in 2023, it was invited to participate in the Cultural Heritage Expo under the theme of "New Autonomous System." [Youth Creation in Progress] The first batch of youths returning to Dulan has opened up new possibilities, inheriting the complete cultural context from the village elders. In 2020, with the collective consensus of the village, they established "Dulan Country" as a state-owned enterprise and local agent, based on social enterprise principles. Through experience accumulation and human resource integration, the team has gradually increased product competitiveness and functionality of the base, providing more job opportunities and training mechanisms for future youth through business models. In addition to generating income and resources, they actively engage with the community in a tribal-centric manner and adopt collective consensus and decision-making approaches, continually expanding their local influence within Dulan Country. [Collective Sharing of Benefits] In 2019, the government returned 47 hectares of land to the village for management under an administrative entrustment as a demonstration area for indigenous autonomy. Thus began local creation where all benefits are shared by the village. The community can advocate for how the benefits should be utilized, especially in areas such as tutoring programs for schoolchildren, long-term care wellness centers, and cultural mobilization. It has already begun to invest in cultural and social support, facilitating rituals and cultural activities. The president of the association (who is also the leader) holds monthly administrative meetings where responsible members report on the progress of their respective duties and coordinate efforts.
Arrival Hall Shop
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