(1) Abundant natural resources
Namasia Junior High School is located in Namasia District. The district belongs to part of Yushan Mountain(the tallest mountain in Taiwan, with a height of 3952 meters). Therefore, we have abundant natural resources in the district. Besides, the district is surrounded by splendid mountains and babbling streams. It has a variety of landscapes and a rich ecosystem.
(2) Diverse ethnic groups
In the south part of Taiwan, Namasia Junior High School is located in the Namasia District, which is in the remote area of Kaohsiung City. It takes about two hours to drive from our school to the urban area in Kaohsiung City. In Namasia District, there are diverse ethnic groups including indigenous people, Hakka people, Han people, etc. Of all the ethnic groups mentioned above, indigenous people are the majority in Namasia District. In Taiwan, we now have sixteen indigenous groups which are officially certified. There are three main indigenous groups in Namasia District. They are Bunun People, Kanakanavu People, and Hla’alua People. Each group has its own unique and traditional culture.
First of all, the Bunun People has the largest population among the three groups. Each year, the Bunun People hold their traditional ritual in May, which is called the “Ear-Shooting Ceremony.” For children, this ceremony is the symbol of coming of age.
Second, the Kanakanavu People is the earliest resident who has lived in Namasia for centuries. The Teng-Bao Mountain is the most sacred place for the Kanakanavu People because it’s believed to be their origin. Each year, the Kanakanavu People hold two important rituals, one is the “Mikong Ceremony”, and the other one is the “Pasikarai Ceremony.” The former one shows their thanks for the spirit who taught their people farming; the latter one shows their thanks for the spirit of the river. For Kanakanavu People, the spirit of the river symbolizes the one who gives life to the Kanakanavu People.
Third, the Hla’alua People hold their ceremony in January, which is called “Takiaru.” The ceremony is held to memorize the spirits of the shell. There are twelve kinds of shell spirits in their culture. The population of the Hla’alua People is the least of the three groups. However, their culture also plays an important part in Namasia District.
(3) Local curriculums
With the abundant natural resources and diverse ethnic groups, our school is blessed with the opportunity to develop different kinds of local curriculums. We not only develop the courses for students to recognize their identities and traditional rituals but also encourage students to take part in their ceremonies. Besides, different seasons have different species for students to get close to nature and know more about their hometown.
For example, we have firefly season from March to early May. We would take the seventh graders to the mountains and observe the fireflies. From April to May, we have a plum season. We would teach students how to harvest the plums and then make pickled plums. For eighth-graders, we would take them to trace the river because the river brings life to the Kanakanavu People in the past.
As for the ninth graders, we would bring them to the mountain and live there overnight. This is an important coming-of-age activity before their graduation from Namasia Junior High School. Students have to learn how to lead their life in the mountains with traditional methods. For male students, they have to make bamboo bowls and chopsticks, build up the blockhouse for sleeping at night, and set up the fire for the female students to cook dinner. And for the female students, they have to harvest the vegetables, kill chickens, and cook dinner for everyone. In this way, our students can absorb tremendous nutrients from the local curriculum.
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