Sakaran Koushe Village

Koushe Community, situated right next to Sakaran River, is a Paiwan tribe village. Koushe's old name was Sakaran (sagaran), and it originated from the larger village upstream along the Sakaran River. In the past, two hunters, Sapantje and Salatiliman, from the Tavalan tribe of the larger village went hunting. Upon reaching a certain place (the old Koushe settlement, named Kauma'an), their accompanying hunting dogs refused to leave. The hunters then settled there, and some residents from the larger village also relocated. Hunter Sapantje returned to invite Sa'adiu, the fourth son of the larger village chief, to become the chief of the new settlement. Thus, a new tribe was formed and named 'Sakaran'. Above the slate pavilion archway at the entrance of Koushe Community are statues of the two hunters, their dogs, and the chief. To this day, when someone in the village gets married, wreaths made of betel nuts and oranges are still sent to the homes of the descendants of the two hunters, signifying respect for the heroes who established the tribe. The tribal name of Koushe Village is Sakaran (sagaran). The Sakaran River, which flows through Koushe Village, is the source of life for the sagaran people. The sagaran people have relocated three times, always staying with the Koushe River. To this day, the Sakaran (sagaran) people and the Sakaran (sagaran) River maintain an important interdependent relationship. In 2001 (ROC Year 90), an incident of illegal poisoning of fish by unscrupulous individuals led to a mass death of fish in the river, causing a significant impact on the river's ecosystem. The villagers felt profound hatred for this act. Consequently, the village chief convened the villagers and announced a river protection plan, thus beginning Sakaran (sagaran)'s river protection movement. During the nearly two-year river protection period, the community organized voluntary village labor, involving villagers in river patrol, constructing river protection trails, building stone embankments, clearing platforms for stilt houses, and more. Gradually, the Sakaran River restored its original ecological environment. Indigenous peoples have historically sustained their communities using resources from mountains, forests, and rivers, taking from nature while also conserving it. They established an ethical system for resource utilization based on the reproductive cycles of living organisms, ensuring resources are both used and endlessly sustainable. With the rich cultural characteristics of the Paiwan tribe, their unique lifestyle and customs, combined with the abundant ecological resources of the Sakaran River, we can create a high-quality eco-tourism business for Sakaran (sagaran).