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Support for
Aboriginal TV station increasing
By Hung Ching-yi ¬x²M¤@
The Council of Indigenous Peoples held a public hearing on Sept. 5 to discuss
Taiwan Indigenous Television”¦s (TITV) future policy and operations. It was an
extraordinarily significant event, especially because it was the first time that
the government had invited Aborigines, academics and experts to hold a public
discussion on the matter. During the hearing it was apparent that there was
unanimous support for the Indigenous People”¦s Cultural Foundation taking over
TITV to ensure the broadcasting rights of Aborigines.
Since TITV”¦s establishment in 2004, Aborigines were never granted the right to
run the station; instead, that right was first bestowed on Taiwan Television (TTV)
and subsequently transferred to Eastern Broadcasting Co (ETTV) and then Public
Television Service (PTS). Making a profit is the essence of commercial media, so
they cannot be expected to provide cultural services for ethnic groups. Letting
PTS run TITV seems to follow the ideals of equality and the standards that are
sought within the public sphere, but it actually runs counter to the way in
which Aborigines would like to represent themselves.
According to journalism professor Chang Chin-hua (±iĄAµŲ), a multiculturalist point
of view emphasizes the identities and differences between ethnic groups, as well
as guarantees that disadvantaged groups can actively participate in society.
Chang adds that this is far more important than the independently objective
values of a democracy or liberalism. Thus, if Aborigines are not allowed to run
TITV and are denied the right to broadcast and produce programs of their own,
then talking about the transmission of cultures or respecting people”¦s place in
society is simply idle talk.
During the public hearing, independent film producer Laway and Aboriginal
singer/songwriter Suming both voiced their desire to have Aborigines run TITV.
They added that the station should have more links with people working in the
culture and creative industries so that it serves as a platform for Aborigines
to further develop these industries.
When the Indigenous People”¦s Cultural Foundation was established two years ago
in an effort to organize Aboriginal broadcast media so that Aborigines could run
their own TV station, it was a profound realization of just how important it is
to revive indigenous languages and cultures and allow Aborigines the right to
broadcast on their own. This is the foundation”¦s main mission and it has already
completed a proposal for Aborigines to run an Aboriginal TV station. The
foundation expects that TITV will be granted its television station license at
the beginning of next year and has established strategic cooperation with PTS to
manifest a suitable outlet to express Aboriginal identity. However, what the
foundation needs most is for the government to actively provide assistance,
which includes helping it obtain a channel, applying for a license, increasing
financial support, establishing a station and training producers and technical
personnel.
With its multicultural policies, the Australian government actively protects and
promotes the broadcasting rights of Aborigines. The foundation hopes that a
similar cultural revival and guarantee for the rights of Aborigines to broadcast
are given the utmost priority at TITV. As for the bureaucratic issues, we must
move forward one step at a time. Moreover, doubts about whether every single
detail is accounted for must not be used as an excuse for procrastinating.
Otherwise, all of this talk about giving Aborigines an appropriate space to
express themselves is a bunch of prattle.
Hung Ching-yi is chairman of the Indigenous People”¦s Cultural Foundation and
a professor at National Dong Hwa University.
Translated by Kyle Jeffcoat
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