Self-Governance on Indigenous Community for Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Tayal Community in Taiwan

Abstract

Self-governance is an approach for preventing community resources overuse and degradation for a sustainable future. Ostrum (1990) proposes a concept of self-governing organisation for people whom collectively act on common pool resources (CPRs) governance. In this model, participants can make force and constraint contrasts that supplementary choices bring into new game theory framework which makes the primary control of outsiders transiting to negotiation between two participants. Hence, whilst negotiation is reached and participants cooperate with each other, the paying entire cost is far lower than the cost of central control (Ostrom, 1990). Forestry, farming landscape are sort of CPRs in many Taiwan indigenous high mountain communities, and so does Cinsbu community. Self-governance is an urgent mean to adapt to such limited living space. For indigenous community`s sustainable development and self-governance, this study takes Maqaw Industrial Group (Tayal indigenous people, belongs to Cinsbu Community in Hsinchu, Taiwan) for an instance. This group was organised in 2005, which maintained Tayal`s culture (ex. Gaga, ancestor`s words or advice, usually understood as “disciplines and taboos”) and opposed outside corporation`s control over local industries as their calling. Besides, this group emphasises community development is based on economy, which is also necessary to protect natural resources and preserve Tayal traditional culture. For this reason, Cinsbu community members and B & B operators cooperate with each other to promote community economy, ecology, and culture. In recent years, Maqaw Industrial Group has transformed from conventional farming to natural farming for depending upon chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In order to make agriculture matching up local mountain landscape, special agroforestry cultivation is a good case for explaining adaptation onto Cinsbu’s high mountainous landscape. Indigenous farmers do not chop the trees next to farmland. Instead, ancient wisdom told them to preserve trees for preventing the loss of topsoil by rainfall. Meanwhile, Tayal people know that trees stablise slopeland and water, and they keep grass as food or natural pesticides (ex. bitter or spicy plants keep insects away) for pests. The most interesting one is that “stone” is very useful in Tayal traditional cultivation. They do not eliminate stone but keep in field for faster drainage. Moreover, under solar power, stone’s temperature raise to keep crops warm from chilling injury. Also, group members develop the term “Cinsbuology” for outsiders (esp. tourists) to realise the function, beauty of the forestry, and environmental conservation in this community. The idea is that people can learn anything from forest, indigenous people`s farm, and any place without school classroom in Cinsbu. Not only the environment, indigenous people, and their Tayal culture form community landscape, but also tourists’ observation, learning, involvement to mold into “Cinsbu” and knowledge of “Cinsbuology.” This study applies literature review, in-depth interview, participatory observation, and workshops for data collection. We found three factors that composed indigenous collectively self-governing action on CPR: 1. Tayal people establish their basic idea by traditional “Gaga”; 2. regarding indigenous people as a main constituent for resource governance; 3. legislating fair and transparent regulations. We conclude this study that Maqaw Industrial Group adequately use local natural resource for tourism without valuing the seriousness of resource degradation in the beginning. Later members retrospected their way of life, and try to cultivate organically in agroforestry. Besides, tourism is an important industry in Cinsbu. However, it is a pity that tourists come and go and never learned something relevant to indigenous culture. Group members therefore created “Cinsbuology” for tourist to actually experience indigenous people`s life and their idea towards the nature in their community. Group members establish a fully self-governing organisation by their willingness and help Cinsbu community to build up self-governing ability towards conservation and economic development, which start a positive effect for a sound and harmonious community.