Introduction / History

The Yami people live on Orchid Island (Lanyu), off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Their language, Yami (Tao), belongs to the Western Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family. Linguistic and cultural ties connect them to the Ivatan people of the Batanes Islands in the Philippines.Historically, the Yami have maintained a maritime culture, with traditions centered around fishing, boat-building, and seasonal rituals like the Flying Fish Festival. Despite external pressures, they have preserved much of their language and cultural identity.The Yami live in six villages on Orchid Island. Their lifestyle is rooted in subsistence fishing, agriculture, and communal cooperation.

What Are Their Lives Like?

A nuclear waste storage facility was imposed on the island in 1982 without proper consultation, leading to health and environmental concerns.Mass tourism and youth migration to Taiwan’s mainland have disrupted traditional practices and strained local resources.Despite these pressures, the Yami continue to engage in cultural preservation, including traditional crafts and community-led environmental initiatives.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of Yami people identify as Christian, with Protestantism being the dominant tradition. However, ethnic religious practices remain influential, especially in rituals tied to the sea and ancestral spirits. Christianity is often blended with traditional beliefs, and discipleship efforts are still developing.

What Are Their Needs?

Environmental justice is needed, particularly regarding the removal of the nuclear waste facility. Youth engagement is critical to prevent cultural erosion and encourage local leadership. Economic development that respects traditional lifestyles would help reduce migration and preserve community integrity.

Prayer Items

Pray for effective discipleship programs that equip Yami believers to grow in faith and lead others.Ask God to bring healing and justice regarding the environmental damage caused by the nuclear waste facility.Intercede for economic opportunities that align with the Yami’s values and protect their land and sea.Pray for unity among the Yami churches, that they would be a light to their community.

Scripture Prayers for the Yami, Botel Tabago in Taiwan.

References

AI generated by CopilotIntercontinental Cry: The Yami of Orchid Island – Stewards of the Sea