Process
Protests and Changes - Process
The residents rallied for on-site living, uniting the entire tribe, from children to elders, chanting slogans and collectively advocating for their housing rights. They collaborated with the National Taiwan University's Department of Urban Planning, whose students not only supported the residents during the events but also volunteered as tutors in the tribe, providing significant assistance.Ultimately, through the collaboration between Professor Wu Jinlong, guest professor Yanteng Anhong from Japan, and a construction company, the concept of Japanese "co-housing" (residents building their community, developing an inclusive living environment, emphasizing collective cooperation, self-management, and autonomy) was proposed.
In 2009, the government initiated the "Xizhou Ami Tribe Living and Cultural Park" project. In 2012, through urban planning changes, the agricultural and river areas of the Xizhou tribe were designated as exclusive zones for indigenous peoples. A new tribal park was planned approximately 100 meters away from the original tribe, with the foundation and streetlights completed by April, 2015.
▲The Xizhou residents protested for their homeland.
However, more than a year passed without further progress due to information disparities, funding allocation issues with the 333 self-reliance housing model, and rising construction material costs.
This led to discontent among the residents, prompting them to protest against the government once again. Ahead of the protest, the Indigenous Peoples Bureau attempted to persuade the tribe through family-oriented discussions and staggered meetings, hoping to change their minds. However, due to the residents' attachment to their current living environment and proximity to their ancestral lifestyle, they showed no willingness to relocate and continued expressing their demands to the government.
In the subsequent negotiations, it was discovered that the communication between the government and local residents was poor. The original agreement between the Xizhou tribe and the city government was not based on the 333 model but rather on the social housing model. In this model, the government fully funded the construction of houses, which were then rented to the tribe members. However, after the San-Ying tribe succeeded in using the 333 self-reliance housing model, the government changed its stance and allowed the Xizhou tribe to follow the same approach.
Yet, the process was not as smooth as the San-Ying tribe's experience. When the residents finally raised one-third of the funds and secured a loan from the bank with the city government's guarantee, the government's subsidy did not meet the residents' expectations. The June meeting records stated that "the city government's assistance is based on the cost of a bare house." This caused a discrepancy, as residents expected the city government to cover one-third of the total housing construction costs, but it only covered the public engineering expenses. The government justified its position by stating the need for equal treatment between the San-Ying and Xizhou tribes. The city government's subsidy for the San-Ying tribe also only covered public construction, excluding housing construction costs.
Additionally, if the government funded housing construction, it would raise property rights issues in the future. Indigenous Bureau Director Yang Xinyi suggested that the city government's substantial funding should cover pipelines, water towers, public engineering, house bases, squares, and meeting places. It was inappropriate for public funds to support private construction. Yang Xinyi further advised the tribe to uphold the spirit of self-reliance and consider adjusting the design and materials to make the construction costs affordable for the residents.
In response, the Xizhou tribe stated, "As early as 1998, public infrastructure costs and housing construction costs were clearly separated. The policy at that time was clear: 'Assist with part of the housing expenses.' Xizhou tribe did not ask for more; we are not greedy, just wanting the initial commitment from the leaders. We worked hard to save one-third of the self-raised and fundraising housing expenses and were ready to loan one-third. Please fulfill the city government's one-third commitment." During the protest, the Xizhou tribe joined forces with the San-Ying tribe in their housing rights struggle.
Eventually, the government agreed to provide a subsidy of nine million NT dollars, and with the support of Professor Xia Zhujiu from National Taiwan University's Department of Urban Planning, who approached Jason Hsuan, the chairman of ASUSTeK Computer Inc., for additional funding, the construction officially began on November 11, 2017, and was completed in July 2021. All 34 tribal members successfully relocated.
The Xizhou tribe, regardless of age, continued their resistance against the government, seeking assistance from the outside world. They ultimately achieved this hard-won result through unity, protecting their homeland, and cherishing the experience. Those children who participated in the protest years ago are now grown and occasionally think about the tribe. This spirit of unity, cooperation, and the principle of repaying kindness has gradually formed within the Xizhou tribe over these challenging years.
