* 2021 Taiwan Literature Award for Best New Author
* 2021 Openbook Award

After decades away from his roots, award-winning Taiwanese Indigenous writer Apyang Imiq narrates the stories of his people, the Truku, and his return to a tribal community in early adulthood. Here, he writes of the struggles and synergies he encountered as a gay man and late returnee to the people and traditions of his community. 

Taiwanese Indigenous writer Apyang Imiq belongs to the Ciyakang tribe of the Truku people from Hualien, Taiwan. His community sits near a creek named Rangah Qhuni, meaning “tree hollow”, a depiction of the creek’s abrupt widening, like an opened tree hollow, inviting the sunlight to shine in. Apyang Imiq grew up with very little knowledge of his own heritage. It was not until he returned to farm and hunt that he started to pen the history and tales of his people.

In “TminumYaku, Weaving, and I”, he describes their tribal craft of weaving, traditionally practiced solely by female tribespeople. It is a taboo for a male to touch the weaving machine, known as an ubung. As a man who enjoys weaving, will he find a way to break the boundaries of a gendered tradition? In “Shoot Me with Your Gun Filled with Bhring”, he talks about Bhring, which is Wind, Spirit, and the energy and bonding between people who collaborate at work. He used to hunt with his older brother and uncle with ease. However, after his coming out, the family think ill of his Bhring, and would not go hunting or trekking with him anymore.…