Dr. Steven Andrew Martin and Dr. Raymond James Ritchie develop new social science index methodology at Prince of Songkla University, Phuket

The research employs assessment scores based on field studies of nine Phuket beaches, which were weighted against data taken from surveys of international experts from diverse backgrounds. The findings indicate that analysis of weighted data helps identify key metrics, and that weighted data provides insights not apparent from working on unweighted data.

Their work is intended to help future researchers to identify and address social, economic, environmental, and governance issues faced on the Andaman Coast and in other eco-sensitive locations around the world. Their approach to analyzing interview data can be applied to research on the management of national parks, coastal surfing resources, fisheries and dive sites.

Personal Interviews

Interview with Prof Kaye Chon | School of Hotel and Tourism Management | Steven Martin

Dr. Steven Martin interviews Prof. Kaye Chon from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), after a recent lecture at the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand. Interview topics include the meaning of hospitality, the prolific growth of the industry in Asia, and the experience of studying in Phuket. Prof. Chon describes the significance of the "Asian Paradigm".

Interview with Anna Nilsson | Thai-Swedish Student | Phuket, Thailand | Steven Martin

Representing Education Abroad Asia, Dr. Steven A. Martin interviews Anna Nilsson, Thai-Swedish student at Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus. The video looks at the student who returns to the island after ten years abroad. Anna reflects her perspective on the experience of studying in Phuket, Thailand, and shares her feelings on the importance of study abroad, learning, and appreciating and respecting local culture.

Interview with Kay Kay Zanonh | American Student | Phuket, Thailand | Steven Martin

Dr. Steven A. Martin interviews American education abroad student Kay Kay Zanonh, who has been studying at the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket. Kay Kay shares her personal experience on the cost and quality of studying in Phuket compared with her home and friends in the United States. The film is intended for Education Abroad Asia students and academic purposes, fostering international education awareness.

Professor Dr. Wilhelm Solheim II was instrumental in developing the Archaeological Studies Program at University of the Philippines, Diliman (UPD) campus. Interviews took place at his UPD apartment on the morning of 9 April, and the evening of 22 April, 2006. Wilhelm shares his personal experience in archaeology, years of work in Southeast Asia, and his views on the cultural history of Austronesian-speaking peoples. Prof. Solheim died on July 25, 2014, at the age of 89. It was an honor to have met him and I hope viewers can appreciate his humanity in these short interviews. To learn more about Austronesian prehistory and archaeology in the Philippines, visit my online article: Chasing Jade – Archaeology and the Batanes Islands Cultural Atlas.

Peter Bellwood, renowned archaeologist and scholar of Austronesian Studies, shares his personal and professional background, including his personal story of attending Cambridge University, lecturing in New Zealand. The interview took place at the Bosco Pier, Batanes Islands, Philippines, and was conducted by Steven Martin and David Blundell. Peter discusses the "Out of Taiwan" expansion of Austronesian-speaking peoples, suggesting research in linguistics, archaeology, and human genetics.

From Peter we learn about the unique history and archaeological evidence of the Batanes Islands, Philippines. Peter Bellwood is an accomplished professor of archaeology at the School of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, he is a leading specialist in Southeast Asian and Pacific prehistory.

For more on this story, including how I met and came to interview Peter in Batanes, visit my Learning Adventures page Chasing Jade: Archaeology and the Batanes Islands Cultural Atlas. To learn more about Austronesian Taiwan, visit my personal Taiwan Studies page or watch the Taiwan Video Playlist on YouTube.

Course Portraits

Course Portrait is a template-based virtual course description innovated by Steven A. Martin and Edward E. Vaughan at University Filmworks, which provide cinematic, colorful and resourceful ways to present, promote and increase interest in a given university course.

As educational systems strive to keep up with digital transformations in media and technology, particularly the increased reliance on smart phones, Course Portrait videos visually communicating important information to students and stimulate intellectual curiosity. Visit University Filmworks on YouTube.

Introduction to Indonesian Music and Dance | Southeast Asian Civilization | Dr. Steven Martin

This class music video features students from the Thai and ASEAN Studies program at Prince of Songkla University (PSU) learning contemporary Indonesian dance (Kalau Bulan Bisa Ngomong by Doel Sumbang and Nini Carlina) and traditional Balinese Pendet from the Mekar Bhuana School of Balinese Music and Dance. As part of our Southeast Asian Civilization course, we invited Imam Wahyudi Karimullah and his wife, Sari Kurnia Rahmawati, from University of Islam Malang (Unisma), Indonesia, as guest lecturers. Their visit was made possible in part by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Indonesia, Scheme Academic Exchange Mobility Program (SAME).

Burmese Thanaka Culture | Southeast Asian Civilization | Dr. Steven Martin

THANAKA features students in my Southeast Asian Civilization course, which is part of the Thai and ASEAN Studies Program at the Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand, and guest lecturer Dr. Aye Nu Khai, from the Myanmar Language Dept, Dagon University, Myanmar. Students learn how to make and use the herbal cream of that name, made from the wood of indigenous trees, which Myanmar women apply to their faces to prevent damage from the tropical sun.

Cooking, the Art of Thai Cuisine | Certificate in Culinary Arts | Dr. Steven Martin

Cooking, the art of Thai cuisine, features international students at Prince of Songkla University (PSU), in an elective course earning certificates in Thai cultural arts and cuisine during their semester study abroad program. Ajarn Pathummalai Pattaro, with the PSU Lodge, shares her experience in preparing well-known Thai meals, such as pad Thai with shrimp and massaman curry with chicken. The video was filmed in the new training facility at the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism for Education Abroad Asia.

A Day In the Life of Our School | School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) | Dr. Steven Martin

Produced by Steven A. Martin, and directed by Edward E. Vaughan in conjunction with University Filmworks, A Day in the Life of Our School, features the brilliant faces of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s interconnected School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) and Hotel ICON. We chose the timeless music of 18th century German composer Johann Sebastian Bach to represent harmonic form and excellence, and to compliment the accomplished learners and educators at this globally acclaimed institution. Visit our SHTM Playlist on YouTube.

Education Media

In association with Education Abroad Asia, this video was produced for the International Hospitality Management MicroMasters Program at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM). The program consists of four MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) courses aimed at management skills for hospitality and tourism students and professional around the world.

Phuket Interns introduces three SHTM students in Phuket, Thailand, gaining personal and practical experience in their chosen profession, hospitality and tourism. We learn that the internship is not only fun and exciting, but provides a strong career boost and allows the students to reach their full potential. The video presents the appeal of the school’s internship programs and the potential they unleash, including diverse opportunities for international exposure.

Hong Kong Education Venue | 1:47 | Dr. Steven A. Martin Productions | University Filmworks

University Filmworks and Education Abroad Asia present this high-impact video illuminating Hong Kong’s image as a vibrant international city where “East Meets West” and where the best of both worlds meet. The video introduces The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) and the state-of-the-art Hotel ICON, the School’s pioneering research and teaching hotel.

What Makes a University Great? | University Filmworks | 3:01 | News Report | Dr. Steven Martin

In University Filmworks' What Makes a University Great, journalist Steven Martin examines the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) and Hotel ICON complex. He discovers a little universe where students, teachers and industry professionals come together with outstanding synergy. Dr. Martin uncovers a story of high-quality educators and leadership with the Dean of School, Prof. Kaye Chon, at the top of his game. The video was directed by Edward E. Vaughan.

Produced by Steven A. Martin and directed by Edward E. Vaughan in conjunction with University Filmworks, a day in the life of our school, features the brilliant faces of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s interconnected School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) and Hotel ICON. We chose the timeless music of 18th century German composer Johann Sebastian Bach to represent harmonic form and excellence, and to compliment the accomplished learners and educators at this globally acclaimed institution.

Future leaders | Dr. Steven A. Martin Productions | 2:01 | University Filmworks

In Future leaders, we hear what students, alumni and industry professionals have to say about The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM). Through interviews conducted by journalist Dr. Steven Martin with these outstanding individuals, we learn that SHTM forms an important student-centered network in the global hospitality and tourism industry.Interviews were conducted by Dr. Steven A. Martin under the direction of Edward E. Vaughan.

Leading the Way | Dr. Steven A. Martin Productions | 2:38 | University Filmworks

A university is only as great as the people who comprise it. In Leading the way, we meet executive staff and outstanding students close-up to gain heart-felt insight to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM). Candid answers are received based on a key question posed during personal interviews: “Why is this school leading the way in hospitality and tourism education and research.” Interviews were conducted by Dr. Steven A. Martin under the direction of Edward E. Vaughan.

Joint Conference Teaser | 1:05 | Dr. Steven A. Martin Productions | 2019 APacCHRIE & EuroCHRIE | University Filmworks

University Filmworks and Education Abroad Asia present this high-impact video to promote the 2019 Joint Conference theme: “East Meets West in Hospitality and Tourism Education”, and to illuminate Hong Kong’s image as a vibrant international city where “East Meets West” and where the best of both worlds meet. The video introduces The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), highlighting the Joint Conference and the state-of-the-art Hotel ICON, the School’s pioneering research and teaching hotel.

2019 APacCHRIE & EuroCHRIE Joint Conference | 4:33 | Dr. Steven A. Martin Productions | University Filmworks

Ethnographic Film

I was a first-time graduate student, and was looking for an adventurous and rewarding research topic. Through David and senior students at the university, I was introduced to Filmmaker Tommie Williamson (1955-2017) (see my Taiwan Studies page) and Nabu Istanda with the Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation (Bunun Village) in Taitung, southern Taiwan.

Nabu encouraged me to come to the Bunun Village and meet his family who were from the Bunun tribe, an indigenous ethnolinguistic group who had resisted Japanese subjugation in the 1920s and 30s and taken refuge in a remote area of the high mountains named Laipunuk (Chinese Nei Ben Lu 內本鹿).

Nabu explained that the Bunun elders in their village, now 70 to 90 years old, were being lost to old age, and with them, their stories of traditional life, beliefs, language, trade, values, and their relationships with one-another, other indigenous tribes, the Chinese, and the Japanese, were being lost forever.

Nabu was asking for rescue ethnography.

Without hesitation, I agreed to help.

The next four years of my life alternated between the classroom in Taipei and the remote mountains of southern Taiwan. I spent most of my life savings on travel, camera gear and mountaineering equipment.

I have now documented this story and research into several pages and videos on this website. If you're inspired to learn more, please review this page and other pages and videos by following links below.

Cornerstone webpages, photos, and videos

The sample footage provided here includes ethnographic narratives from four siblings, namely two brothers, Biung and Nabu, and two sisters, Ibu and Langus. Each informant recounts their personal experience in the high mountains of southern Taiwan, including historical and cultural events of their forced relocation to the lowland areas surrounding Taitung.

This research is the original work of Tommie Williamson, Nabu Istanda, and Steven Martin, and is intended for academic and cultural purposes. If you would like to use a video for research, gain access to the complete archival footage, or collaborate on a project, please contact me through this website and I will be happy to help.

This video, one of 15 clips, is an oral history audio/visual recording of Tama Biung Istanda (1920-2007), recounting his life experience in the mountains of Laipunuk 內本鹿 , southern Taiwan. The interview was conducted in the Isbukun dialect of the Bunun language by his nephew Nabu. Laipunuk was among the last frontier areas of Taiwan to be annexed into Imperial Japan, and the informant tells of his childhood experiences, cultural traditions, and arrival of Japanese police who forced his family to move.

Accepting that the Japanese were a "Great and powerful tribe", Biung joined the Tagasako Volunteers, a group of Taiwan aborigine soldiers. His on-camera story includes events during WWII and his survival in the jungles of Papua New Guinea.

This video, one of three clips, is an oral history audio/visual recording of Nabu "Uncle" Istanda, recounting his life experience in the mountains of Laipunuk 內本鹿 (Nei Ben Lu), southern Taiwan. The interview was conducted in the Isbukun dialect of the Bunun language his nephew Nabu. Laipunuk was among the last frontier areas of Taiwan to be annexed into Imperial Japan. The informant tells of his youth and cultural experiences, the arrival of Japanese police, and his family's forced relocation to the Talunas area (Taidong County).

Sections of this ethnography series have been published in Religion, law and state: Cultural re-invigoration in the new age as referenced below.

Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2017). Cultural continuum among the Bunun of Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu), southern Taiwan (pp. 215–246). In H. Chang and A. Mona [C. Tsai] (Eds.), Religion, law and state: Cultural re-invigoration in the new age. Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines and SMC: Taipei.
Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2014). A new trial for the journey home to the Bunun villages of old Laipunuk, Taiwan: Contextualizing island Formosa through cultural heritage, digital mapping, and museology. Proceedings of the 2014 International Conference on Formosan Indigenous peoples: Contemporary Perspectives (p. 89). Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, September 15–17.

This video, one of five clips, is an oral history audio/visual recording of Langus Istanda (1926-2015) recounting her life experience in the mountains of Laipunuk 內本鹿 , southern Taiwan. The interview was conducted in the Isbukun dialect of the Bunun language by her son Nabu. Laipunuk was among the last frontier areas of Taiwan to be annexed into Imperial Japan. The informant tells of her childhood experiences, cultural traditions, and arrival of Japanese police who forced her family to move.

An English-language translation of this video has been published in the International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies (IJAPS) as referenced below.

This video is an oral history audio/visual recording of Ibu Istanda who was in her mid-80s at the time of filming. On-camera support for the interview was provided by her younger sister, Langus. The first of two short interviews of Ibu "Auntie" Istanda before her passing, she tells of the hardships experienced in her youth. As with other family informants in this series, Ibu recounts her life experience in the mountains of Laipunuk 內本鹿 , southern Taiwan. The interview was conducted in the Isbukun dialect of the Bunun language by her son Nabu and her sister Langus.

This video is an audio-visual recording of Shiwa (Chinese name Zhu Mei Lin). The interview focuses around the informant's understanding of her Hakka Chinese grandfather's marriage to Bunun and their relocation to Laipunuk from Lakuli, a Japanese trading station across the Central Range, west of Laipunuk. Shiwa's father, of Hakka Chinese and Bunun mixed blood, lived in Laipunuk and made and traded guns and gunpowder in the villages of Takivahlas, Halipusun, and Mamahav. Shiwa explains her family grew corn, millet, pumpkin, sweet potato, taro and tobacco.

Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2017). Cultural continuum among the Bunun of Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu), southern Taiwan (pp. 215–246). In H. Chang and A. Mona [C. Tsai] (Eds.), Religion, law and state: Cultural re-invigoration in the new age. Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines and SMC: Taipei.
Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2014). A new trial for the journey home to the Bunun villages of old Laipunuk, Taiwan: Contextualizing island Formosa through cultural heritage, digital mapping, and museology. Proceedings of the 2014 International Conference on Formosan Indigenous peoples: Contemporary Perspectives (p. 89). Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, September 15–17.

This video is an audio-visual recording of Bunun Gu Yu Chun Lan. On-camera support for the interview was provided by her friend, Langus Istanda. The second of two interviews, she answers questions about Haisul, the notorious Bunun rebel and the events leading to the Laipunuk Incident and forced removal of the Bunun from Laipunuk by the Japanese field police. As with other family informants in this series, she recounts her life experience in the mountains of Laipunuk 內本鹿 , southern Taiwan. The interview was conducted in the Isbukun dialect of the Bunun language by Nabu Istanda.

This video is an audio-visual recording of Bunun Yu Xing Yo. On-camera support for the interview was provided by Langus Istanda. The first of two interviews, his talks about his life experience, including the village of Takivahlas, where the Istanda family first built their home in the mountains of Laipunuk 內本鹿 , southern Taiwan.

The interview was conducted at the Bunun Village (Bunun Buloa 布農部落) in the Isbukun dialect of the Bunun language by Nabu Istanda.

This video is an audio-visual recording of Bia Shirakimura. On-camera support for the interview was provided by his Bunun wife, Langus Istanda. One of four clips in which Bia talks about his life experiences, including the Paiwan village of Bia (白聖賀 Bia Culture), growing up in Tubabalu (now called Tudan) South of Taidong City, and joining the Japanese military as a Takasago Volunteer. He tells us about meeting and marrying his Laipunuk Bunun wife, Langus Istanda, in Bashkal, near today’s Bunun Buloa, and the issues he faced from marrying out of his culture. The interview was mainly conducted in Japanese by Nabu Istanda.

Indigenous Music of Taiwan | Part 1 | Steven A. Martin | University Filmworks

The stage at the Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation in Taidong, Taiwan, allowed an opportunity to record the musical traditions of the Bunun and other indigenous groups. The majority of the participants' families were originally from Laipunuk. Though personal interviews with the participants in this video, English-language synopses were developed (see bottom of the Ethnographic Research page).

As European powers contacted and influenced ethnolinguistic Austronesian-speaking peoples in Southeast Asia, vocal folk songs were particularly influenced by the introduction of new musical instruments. In contrast, the Bunun held on to acappella traditions, and vocal music retained rich and complicated in style and content. The acappella styles featured here range from the most basic to some of the the most complicated of all modern vocal music. With songs for nearly every occasion of life, content includes those for religious ceremonies, worship, nature, work and recreation.

Filmed at the Hong Ye Hot Springs, Taitung County, Taiwan, three friends from different ethnolinguistic backgrounds meet coincidentally.

Nikar/ female/ granddaughter of an Amis shaman and singer.
Hawai/ male/ Puyuma/ guitarist
Asui/ male/ Kavalan/ wood carver

This recording was unplanned and the artists’ cultural expressions are spontaneous, songs blending and changing tempos and lyrics as each person interjects their own feeling and cultural background when singing their part.

The blending of aboriginal music in this film exemplifies the contemporary trend of solidarity among Taiwan’s indigenous cultures. For example, Amis melody is usually one step faster than Puyuma, and individuals must adjust to each other, while Japanese and Chinese influences on indigenous music reflect the events of last century.

Notes on the content of the video based on personal interviews with the participants. Six pieces of music.

Amis
Amis/ same as song 1 but with Puyuma melody.
Puyuma/ melody from Nanwan area near Taidong/may be the type of song and feeling when meeting a friend from your home town.
Amis/ new melody with Japanese influences.
Amis/ Puyuma/ from Katiputa (Puyuma village)/ new creation/ melody may come from Ziben Hotsprings area (on the road to Kaohsiung from Taitung)/ an Amis/ Puyuma composition with some Chinese language/many aboriginals sing this song today/words indicate solidarity/we are all family.
Amis/ Puyuma/ song used to bring the spirit of friends together/usually sung a-cappella style/ it has the sense of crying out for recognition.

Ethnohistorical Research & Publication

In 2003, I met David Blundell, an anthropologist who studied aesthetic and visual anthropology at UCLA and was teaching a course at National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taiwan. The course was called Culture and Ethnic Structure of Taiwan, and several students were making a film for their class project. David and the students invited me to learn more about the course and the film project, which focused on the Bunun, an indigenous ethnolinguistic group.

The film is named Rendezvouz with the Moon.

One night, I received a phone call from Tommie Williamson (1955-2017) (see my Taiwan Studies page), a producer from the US who I had met from one of the students in the class. Tommie explained that he was planning to videotape the original stories of a particular Bunun family who had once lived in a remote jungle valley, high in the mountains of southern Taiwan.

They were among the last headhunters of the Formosan Aborigines.

The Bunun are one of the 16 indigenous groups recognized by the Taiwan government and have a rich history of living in the high-mountains.

The mountainous region of Laipunuk, pronounced Nei Ben Lu (內本鹿) in Chinese, was once a group of Bunun villages, and was among the last frontier areas to be annexed into Imperial Japan in Taiwan (see Maps below).

The remoteness of the region, coupled with the late arrival of Japanese forces, afforded the Bunun children of that time to have a traditional lifestyle and observe their indigenous way of life.

To learn more about this story, please visit my Taiwan Learning Adventure page.

In 2006, I earned my Master of Arts in Taiwan Studies, from National Chengchi University 國立政治大學 (NCCU). The research was based mainly on the translation of my ethnographic films from the Bunun language to English, and the interpretation of meaning and content. The abstract and full thesis are available below for English readers.

Thesis Title: Ethnohistorical Perspectives of the Bunun: A Case Study of Laipunuk, Taiwan [ 台灣原住民之民族史觀 : 以布農族內本鹿為例 ]

National Chengchi University (NCCU) | Institutional Repository | Author: Steven Andrew Martin 石倜文

Abstract

This thesis is a compilation of ethnographic narrative and ethnohistorical research in the form of a case study of the Bunun people of the Laipunuk geographic region of Taiwan. The research encompasses the life experiences of three members of the Istanda family, with cross verification of narrative history from extant documentation where possible. Informants were videotaped, audio taped, and where not possible, extensive and detailed notes were taken. Some informants also served as translators for others; one particularly valuable source is conversant in the Bunun language, Japanese, Chinese, and English, providing invaluable material and insight. This report begins with an overview of indigenous peoples, their prehistory, and their relationship with the greater Austronesian culture. This is followed by a brief survey of each indigenous culture’s social organization, with emphasis on the Bunun. Included is a political survey of major transformational and developmental periods in Taiwan’s history, beginning with the Dutch East India Company period, and ending with the modern Democratic Reform period. I have concluded, based on my extensive work with these indigenous peoples and my examination of available historical documentation, that Taiwan’s indigenous people have endured constant pressure from external forces and, as a direct result, have undergone acute social and cultural degradation from the loss of their native homelands. Nevertheless, vast knowledge is still available from elderly informants born into a relatively pristine Bunun culture. This knowledge contributes to the field of Taiwan Studies by providing an objective survey across the history of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples, offering a view through a previously closed window into the richness of Taiwan’s full history. It is recommended that such studies continue and expand.

Keywords: Bunun, Laipunuk, Austronesian, Taiwan, ethnohistorical, indigenous

In 2011, I published a section of my MA thesis in the International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies (IJAPS), featuring the oral history of one of my informants, 84-year-old Langus Istanda. Born in 1926, Langus remembers the arrival of the Japanese police and experienced the forced extradition of her family from their region. Her childhood memories include stories of games, adventures, a safe and comfortable environment, and a sense of wonder for the modernity of the Japanese culture. She remembers the forced relocations and the period of illness and death of friends and relatives.

Abstract

The Bunun are one of the indigenous groups of Taiwan that have a rich history of living in the high-mountains. The region of Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu) was once a group of mountain villages and among the last frontier areas to be annexed into Imperial Japan in Taiwan. The remoteness of the region, coupled with the late arrival of Japanese forces, afforded the Bunun children of that time to have a lifestyle, where they participated in and observed their indigenous way of life. This research is an oral ethnography of Langus Istanda, born in 1920, remembering firsthand the arrival of the Japanese police and experienced the forced extradition of her family from their region. The research finds that the informant’s childhood memories are generally positive, inasmuch as she tells stories of games, adventures, a safe and comfortable environment, and a sense of wonder for the modernity of the Japanese culture; yet her memories move to a negative tone regarding the forced relocations and the period of illness and death of friends and relatives. The research indicates that the Laipunuk Bunun have endured constant pressure from external forces and, as a direct result, have undergone acute social, cultural, and linguistic degradation from the loss of their native homelands. This study contributes to an understanding of the value of cultural resource management by providing an objective and comprehensive record for future generations; it opens a pathway to Laipunuk and Bunun epistemology in the English language. Ultimately, the study proved to be mutually beneficial to both researcher and participant, offering extensive source of information as well as a sense of reconciliation to the Bunun elders; it represents the resilience of Bunun heritage.

Keywords: Laipunuk, Bunun, Taiwan, Central Range, heritage, indigenous, oral ethnography

Martin, S. A. (2011). Rebuilding mama’s house—An ethnohistorical reconstruction and homecoming of the Bunun on Taiwan. Journal of International Studies, 1(2) 61–78. Phuket, Thailand: Faculty of International Studies, Prince of Songkla University.

In 2011, I developed a section of my MA thesis for publication in the Journal of International Studies. Ethnohistorical methods served to conceptually reconstruct an abandoned Bunun house located in the remote mountains of southern Taiwan. The house was reconstructed in 2008 based on my 2005-2006 videotaped oral history of three informants, a 19-day expedition to the house site (see videos at the bottom of this page), and the development of drawing and architectural design videos.

Below, I have provided a some background and materials employed in the research.

Abstract

This study is the ethnography of three members of an indigenous Bunun family on Taiwan. In 1941, during the Japanese occupation era, the family was forced to abandon their home. The research moved to conceptually reconstruct their domicile through in-depth interviews followed by a 19-day mountaineering expedition to the remote village of Takivahlas in the Laipunuk region. The research reveals four stages of indigenous adaptation and reconstruction over time as access to knowledge and new resources became available. Ultimately, the study pinpoints the severity and outcome of foreign cultural incursion and sheds light on the cultural revival and homecoming of the Bunun with the house as a point of contact with the past; it serves to reconcile the past with the present to produce a lasting story and insight to Bunun epistemology and heritage for English readers.

Keywords: Taiwan aborigines, Austronesian, Bunun, Laipunuk, Ethnohistorical

2017 Book Chapter

Cultural continuum among the Bunun of Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu), southern Taiwan (Ch. 8)

Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2017). Cultural continuum among the Bunun of Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu), southern Taiwan (Ch. 8) (pp. 215–246). In H. Chang and A. Mona [C. Tsai] (Eds.), Religion, law and state: Cultural re-invigoration in the new age. Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines and SMC: Taipei.

Abstract

Over the past century, the Bunun people, an Austronesian-speaking indigenous culture of Taiwan, have withstood acute marginalization resulting from outside incursion, particularly from the Japanese (1895–1945) and the Nationalist Government (since 1945). However, in recent years democratic reforms ushered in opportunities for cultural conservation and new sustainability through cultural resource management. This research is focused on a particular group of Is-bukun Bunun speakers from the high-mountain villages of Laipunuk, Yen-Ping Township, Taitung County, Southern Taiwan. It seeks to identify aspects of intersystem cultural continuum amidst acute social change induced by external pressures. The research employed the translation of rare Chinese documents and interpretation by scholars in the discipline, the recordation of oral history through video and audio devices, by in-depth interview, and through participant observation. The study found that the Bunun have demonstrated profound cultural resilience in the contexts of ritual dance, marriage, hunting, religion, and the identification of place. Cultural traditions and behaviors were often modified and adapted to fit within the cultural norms and expectations of dominant cultures, yet deep intrinsic meanings were carried forward, crossing spiritual and generational gaps. The research offers a window to Bunun epistemology and cultural systematics, exploring how indigenous peoples perpetuate their beliefs and values through internal cultural transformation; it serves to document the home-grown cultural resource management of a Taiwanese human treasure for English readers.

Keywords: Southern Taiwan, Bunun, Laipunuk, Formosan indigenous, Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation, historical cultural continuum

2022 Journal of Ethnography (Sage)

A Taiwan knowledge keeper of indigenous Bunun – An ethnographic historical narrative of Laipunuk (內本鹿), southern mountain range

Martin, S. A. (2020). A Taiwan knowledge keeper of indigenous Bunun – An ethnographic historical narrative of Laipunuk (內本鹿), southern mountain range. Ethnography, 23(2) 153–180. doi.org/10.1177/1466138120937037

Abstract

This paper offers an ethnographic life history account of a Bunun hunter, Tama Biung Istanda, from Laipunuk, Taiwan, based on academic research and fieldwork. Audio-visual tapes recorded by the author in Taitung County, Taiwan, were reviewed and translated alongside extant Chinese, Japanese and English sources. The study constructs a remembered life into readable coherent sequences on behalf of an indigenous peoples, many of whom now seek international recognition as part of their struggle for essential entitlements such as land rights, access to traditional hunting grounds, and other natural, legal, and cultural resources. The testimony of Tama Biung Istanda, translated into English and summarised here for future generations, provides a compelling new source of data on the Bunun heritage that can help to assist knowledge for the local and scholarly community and cultural resource management practices.

Keywords: Bunun, ethnohistory, hunting, Japanese Colony of Taiwan, Laipunuk or Neibenlu (內本鹿), Taiwanese (Formosan) indigenous peoples

2022 Journal of Nationalism and Ethnic Politics

The last refuge and forced migration of a Taiwanese indigenous people during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan – An ethnohistory

Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2022). The last refuge and forced migration of a Taiwanese indigenous people during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan – An ethnohistory. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, 28(2) 206–231. doi.org/10.1080/13537113.2021.2011545.

Abstract

Through ethnohistorical studies, this paper explores social and political perspectives during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan which led to the forced resettlement of an entire indigenous society. Ethnographic life histories and translations of official Japanese police announcements are used to explore the 1941 Neibenlu (Laipunuk) Incident (內本鹿事件), a critical event in the oral history of the Bunun, a Taiwanese (Formosan) indigenous people of the southern mountains of Taiwan. We examine the reopening of Neibenlu’s Japanese mountain trail and its police stations offering new access to Bunun heritage to inform present and future generations. The study offers an innovative account of a neglected topic of indigenous resistance to imperialism, combining oral ethnography, and historical textual analysis.

Keywords: Bunun; forced migration; Japanese colonization of Taiwan; Laipunuk; Neibenlu (內本鹿); Taiwanese (Formosan) indigenous peoples

In 2005, as part of my coursework in Taiwan Studies, I made several films on the musical traditions of the Bunun based on audio-visual recordings made at the Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation in Taidong, Taiwan.

Overview

As European powers contacted and influenced ethnolinguistic Austronesian-speaking groups in Southeast Asia, vocal folk songs were influenced by percussion instruments. In contrast, Taiwan aborigines held on to acappella traditions, and vocal music retained rich and complicated style and content.

Acappella styles range from the most primitive to the most complicated of all modern vocal music. With songs for nearly every occasion of life, content includes those for religious ceremonies, worship, nature, work and recreation.

Synopsis of the film

The Introduction is a newly created song for the kids to sing on the Bunun Buluo stage. The music was composed by Daganau, from the Paiwan and Rukai ethnic groups, and illustrates a variety of cultural influences. It is intended to be song by the younger generation, capturing the spirit of today’s young indigenous people and inspiring them to come together in harmony. The lyrics is Chinese and includes: “Come everyone sing… Join us to sing… May this never change… Black and white come together – no matter where you’re from – Taidong, Kaosiung… Think globally and act locally…”

Macilumaha. A newly created piece for the Bunun Buluo show. The very beginning of the song may be rooted in the Bunun tradition to call ahead to the village when returning from the hunt or from time away. In such case, the voice should be that of a familiar member of the village and signal that there is no reason for alarm.

Pasibutbut. Often called the "Harvest Prayer Song," it expresses hope for the millet to grow and provide a bountiful harvest. It features an 8-tone harmony in the chromatic style unique in the entire world. Good harmony is important for a good harvest. Today this song has evolved to represent good harmony for good luck. Gathered in a circle and holding hands, the group’s movement is counter-clockwise. According to one version of Bunun oral history, a long time ago a hunter went to the mountains and after hearing the sound of honey bees, he brought this sound home to his family group or clan.

Pisilaiya. Traditional hunting song. The music features the shaking of the reeds and is usually sung before the hunt. The music is used to worship the animal's spirits and calls them to come. The lyrics include… "May the cooked meat come to our basket…" and the performer calls the name of animals, such as goat, bear, deer, and flying squirrel.

Malastabang. Traditional Bunun announcement song or the “Report of events”. This ritual was originally used to announce the triumph or details of headhunting, as if a forum for bragging rights. During the Japanese period, when headhunting was outlawed, the significance changed to focus only on the events of hunting animals, such as how, when, where, or how many animals were killed. During the Kuomintang period, hunting was outlawed and the song fell into decline. Today, the Bunun are allowed to return to various mountain areas, and the ritual has evolved to report the events of exploring ancestral villages and tribal mapping.

Featured in this video, a young man announces which village he has actually returned to in recent years. Before drinking from the gourd, three drops of millet wine are sprinkled as an offering to heaven, earth, and spirit. The report is traditionally done by men, and when announcements or actions are favorable, his wife will enter the circle and dance to show her support.

Malastabang is also a method of identification when clans came together, revealing who you are, where you’re from, and serves as an indication of eligibility for marriage. For example, the performer states: “Taki-Luvun” meaning his mother’s clan came from "Luvun".

Bibliography | Papers and proceedings

Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2022). The last refuge and forced migration of a Taiwanese indigenous people during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan – An ethnohistory. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, 28(2) 206–231. doi.org/10.1080/13537113.2021.2011545.

Martin, S. A. (2022). A Taiwan knowledge keeper of indigenous Bunun – An ethnographic historical narrative of Laipunuk (內本鹿), southern mountain range. Ethnography, 23(2)153–180. doi.org/10.1177/1466138120937037

Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2017). Cultural continuum among the Bunun of Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu), southern Taiwan (pp. 215–246) (Chapter 8). In H. Chang and A. Mona [C. Tsai] (Eds.), Religion, law and state: Cultural re-invigoration in the new age. Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines and SMC: Taipei.

Martin, S. A., & Blundell, D. (2014). A new trial for the journey home to the Bunun villages of old Laipunuk, Taiwan: Contextualizing island Formosa through cultural heritage, digital mapping, and museology. Proceedings of the 2014 International Conference on Formosan Indigenous peoples: Contemporary Perspectives (p. 89). Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, September 15–17.

Martin, S. A. (2011). Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu)—The last frontier of the Taiwan aborigines during the Japanese occupation on Taiwan: Ethnographic narratives of a Bunun elder. The International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies (IJAPS), 7(1) 123–142.

Martin, S. A. (2011). Rebuilding mama’s house—An ethnohistorical reconstruction and homecoming of the Bunun on Taiwan. Journal of International Studies, 1(2) 61–78.

Martin, S. A. (2010). Laipunuk (Nei Ben Lu)—The last frontier of the Bunun during the Japanese occupation on Taiwan: Ethnographic narratives of an Isbukun elder. Scholarly presentation [PowerPoint]. 3rd Annual PSU Phuket Conference: Multidisciplinary Studies on Sustainable Development. Nov. 17–19. Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand.

Education

Back to School

The first step in my schooling was to take the General Educational Development (GED) test at the University of Hawaii at Hilo in 1991. This gave me a certificate equivalent to a high school diploma.

Next, I enrolled at the University of Hawaii. I began my studies in 1992, at the age of 30. The first courses I took were Physical Anthropology and World Civilization. These courses, and the professors who taught them, encouraged me to continue learning. Twenty-five years later, I am still learning and sharing my enthusiasm with my students.

Experiential Learning

In my teens and twenties, especially while working as a beach lifeguard and American Red Cross instructor in Hawaii, the ocean was my teacher.

Over time, and as I traveled, I gained an appreciation for learning and teaching (see The Jewel of Travel). Everywhere I went, there were new things to learn, and when I returned, I was able to teach those lessons to others.

I believe that experience has to come first, and as we naturally gain intellectual curiosity, we develop the mental qualities that enable us to really enjoy and benefit from university education – providing us with something that may have otherwise remained inside, undiscovered.

Thank you for looking at my Education page.

–Steven A. Martin

Education Abroad Asia

University Filmworks

UFW currently provides film and production opportunities to schools, universities and international education organizations.

Our projects develop cinematic and resourceful approaches that visually and intelligently communicate information to students and teachers.

We offer training and education in filmmaking though courses and workshops.

University Filmworks was made possible by Ed Vaughan (1942-2018), an accomplished Associate Director (CBS News) and Assistant Director, Production Manager, Producer and Director on many popular TV shows and movies.

Please take a moment to remember Ed and visit his personal website, Oceans Above And Below, which he built to share his early years in California and amazing international sailing adventures.

MAY, 2018 | Published Online

New social science index methodology developed at Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand

Dr. Steven A. Martin, Faculty of International Studies, and co-author Dr. Raymond J. Ritchie, Faculty of Technology and Environment, have published the results of their research into a social science index and weighting schema for coastal planning and sustainable development in Phuket, Thailand.

Dr. Steven Andrew Martin, Faculty of International Studies

Dr. Raymond James Ritchie, Faculty of Technology and Environment

The research was published in Tourism Planning and Development, an Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) -recognized journal which is currently listed on the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) database.

About the Research

“A Social Science Index and Conceptual Framework for Assigning Weights in Surf Tourism Planning and Development”

Movie stars from Bangkok try surfing for the first time at Kalim Beach in Phuket | Click to Tourism Planning & Development Vol. 16 / Issue 3...

Abstract | Click to enlarge...

Surf meteorology of Phuket, Thailand | Click to enlarge...

Bathymetry and beaches of Phuket, Thailand | Click to enlarge...

Asst Professor Dr Steven A Martin

PERSONAL ON-CAMERA INTERVIEWS

Interview with Mr James Lu | Hong Kong Hotels Association

Interview with Calvin Yuen | Shang Palace, Kowloon Shangri-la Hotel

Interview with Prof Kaye Chon | School of Hotel and Tourism Management

Interview with Prof Sombo Manara | Khmer historian | Nha Trang, Vietnam

Interview with Robert Habibi | English Teacher | PSU Phuket Campus

Interview with Anna Nilsson | International student | PSU Phuket Campus

Interview with Kay Kay Zanonh | American student | PSU Phuket Campus

Part 1 | 9:29 | Prof. Wilhelm G. Solheim II Interview | Dr. Steven A. Martin | University Filmworks

Prof. Peter Bellwood 2006 | Remastered | 5:53 | Dr. Steven A. Martin | Batanes Islands | University Filmworks

Course Portraits | Education Media | Ethnographic Film | University Filmworks | Video Production | YouTube Channel

Asst Professor Dr Steven A Martin

COURSE PORTRAITS ® | CINEMATIC COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Introduction to Indonesian Music and Dance | Southeast Asian Civilization

Burmese Thanaka Culture | Southeast Asian Civilization

Cooking, the Art of Thai Cuisine | Certificate in Culinary Arts

A Day In the Life of Our School | School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM)

Education Media | Ethnographic Film | Personal Interviews | University Filmworks | Video Production | YouTube Channel

Asst Professor Dr Steven A Martin

EDUCATION MEDIA

University Filmworks ® | Education Video Production | Click to our YouTube Channel...

edX | MOOC | Hospitality and Tourism China | Global Perspective

edX | MOOC | International Hospitality Management | Micromasters Program

Phuket Interns | SHTM | 2:23 | University Filmworks

Hong Kong Education Venue | 1:47 | University Filmworks | SHTM

What Makes a University Great? | 3:01 | University Filmworks News Report

SHTM | A Day in the Life of Our School | 2:08 | Faculty Portrait Music Video

Future leaders | Off-camera Interviews by Steven Martin | 2:01 | University Filmworks

Leading the Way | Off-camera Interviews by Steven Martin | 2:38 | University Filmworks

Leading Hospitality and Tourism | SHTM | 8:43 | University Filmworks

Joint Conference Teaser | 2019 APacCHRIE & EuroCHRIE | 1:05 | University Filmworks

2019 APacCHRIE & EuroCHRIE Joint Conference | 4:33 | University Filmworks

Course Portraits | Ethnographic Film | Personal Interviews | University Filmworks | Video Production | YouTube Channel

Asst Professor Dr Steven A Martin

Ethnographic film and Bunun oral history | Nabu Istanda (left) and his uncle (right) | Click to learn more...

ETHNOGRAPHIC FILM AND BUNUN ORAL HISTORY IN SOUTHERN TAIWAN

Nabu Istanda at home in the mountains of Laipunuk | Nei Ben Lu 內本鹿

Cornerstone webpages, photos, and videos

In Our Hearts and Minds | Project backstory | 2004

ETHNOGRAPHIC FILM AND RESEARCH | BUNUN ORAL HISTORY

Memories of a Culture, the Istanda Family of Laipunuk 內本鹿

Filmed primarily at the Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation (Bunun Village), Taoyuan Village, Yenping Township, Taiwan.

Tama Biung Istanda 1920-2007 | Ethnohistorical Research | Bunun of Laipunuk, Taiwan | Steven Martin | University Filmworks

Nabu (Uncle) Istanda 1929-2005 | Ethnohistorical Research | Bunun of Laipunuk, Taiwan | Steven Martin | University Filmworks

Langus Istanda 1926-2015 | Ethnohistorical Research | Bunun of Laipunuk, Taiwan | Steven Martin | University Filmworks

Ibu Istanda | Ethnohistorical Research | Bunun of Laipunuk, Taiwan | Steven Martin | University Filmworks

AUDIO-VISUAL RECORDINGS FROM BUNUN INFORMANTS WITH EXPERIENCE IN LAIPUNUK

Lin Zu Mei (Shiwa) | Ethnohistorical Research | Bunun of Laipunuk, Taiwan | Steven Martin | University Filmworks

Gu Song Shan | Ethnohistorical Research | Bunun of Laipunuk, Taiwan | Steven Martin | University Filmworks

Gu Yu Chun Lan | Ethnohistorical Research | Bunun of Laipunuk, Taiwan | Steven Martin | University Filmworks

Yu Xing Yo (Biung) | Ethnohistorical Research | Bunun of Laipunuk, Taiwan | Steven Martin | University Filmworks

Bia Shirakimura 白木村 | Ethnohistorical Research | Paiwan | Steven Martin | University Filmworks

ETHNOMUSICOLOGY AND THE STAGE AT BUNUN VILLAGE

Indigenous Music of Taiwan | Part 1 | Steven A. Martin | University Filmworks

Indigenous Music of Taiwan | Part 1 | Steven A. Martin | University Filmworks

THE ETHNOGRAPHIC MOMENT | MUSIC AND SOLIDARITY IN TAIWAN

The Ethnographic Moment | Music and Solidarity in Taiwan | Steven A. Martin | University Filmworks

Thank you for visiting my Ethnographic Film page.

I hope you enjoy the videos and the information in the links provided. If you feel motivated to learn more about my experience in ethnographic research, Taiwan Studies, or would like to arrange for me to give a public presentation, please let me know – I’d love to hear from you.

Cornerstone webpages, photos, and videos

Course Portraits | Education Media | Ethnographic Research | Personal Interviews | Taiwan Studies | University Filmworks | YouTube Channel

Asst Professor Dr Steven A Martin

AMONG THE HEADHUNTERS OF LAIPUNUK 內本鹿 LAST REFUGE OF THE TAIWAN ABORIGINES

Rare 1932 photo of a young Bunun couple in Laipunuk 內本鹿 Nei Ben Lu, Taiwan

How it began

Interview set up | Bunun Educational and Cultural Foundation in Taitung, Taiwan | Tommie Williamson (1955-2017), left, and Langus and Nabu Istanda, right

My first film project