Masunal-ung -Charcoal-Tree Forest-

The production team first came across information on Masunal-ung in the “Council of Indigenous Peoples’ Survey Results Report on Traditional Territories of Indigenous Peoples.” The records show that the Bunun people who moved onto the land did so after acquiring it from Kanakanavu people in exchange for an iron pot, but when Niun istasipal queried tribal elders about this, they gave a different explanation. They asserted that the Bunun were able to win the trust and acceptance of the Kanakanavu, because they shared their kills and intermarried. Memories of place names vary and change. There is no need to restrict ourselves to one version. The story plot in this animated clip were modified based on the recommendations of our indigenous advisor.

It is Niun istasipal’s understanding that Masunal-ung refers to the area along the Nanzixian River in the Namasia District in Kaohsiung. It was relatively large in size, but the location we can be most certain about is the Masuhuaz Community.