Indigenous Taiwanese Group Paddles Traditional Canoe to Philippines

Sixty members of Taiwan's Tao indigenous group completed a voyage across the Bashi Channel, paddling a traditional wooden canoe from Orchid Island to Batan Island in the northern Philippines. The group departed on Monday and arrived the following day after taking turns to paddle against strong currents.

They navigated using the stars and were welcomed upon arrival with drum and dance performances.

More than 200 people from six tribal communities built the canoe using traditional binding methods without nails. The vessel, named Ovayan, measured conditions during the crossing to demonstrate challenges faced by early navigators. The crossing covers 111 miles and recreates a route first thought to have been used more than 4,000 years ago.

Organizers said the journey aims to revive a sea route unused for 300 years.

Taiwan's indigenous people are believed to be ancestors of many Austronesian groups who settled islands from Hawaii to Madagascar. Government data show the Tao number 5,120 and make up part of the 3 percent indigenous share of Taiwan's 23 million residents.

Linguistic and genetic evidence supports the view that Austronesian expansion began in Taiwan roughly 5,000 years ago before spreading through the Philippines and onward to other islands. A representative of Taiwan's Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation said the crossing marks both a commemoration for Austronesian peoples and a significant event for Pacific history.