泰雅族傳統與基督信仰交織下的日常照顧：台中市和平區大安溪沿線的初探

Practicing Cultural Care by Integrating Ethnic Beliefs and Christianity: An Exploratory Study of Atayal Tribes along the Da An River

研究目的：面對長期照顧於原住民部落推展的困境，本文探討原住民族聚居地區的日常照顧，聚焦在文化中世界觀與在地安老的關係。研究方法：本研究以民族誌為方法，於2017年3月至7月在台中市和平區大安溪流域的泰雅族部落進行為期四個月的田野工作，民族誌所分析資料主要來自參與觀察和深度訪談。研究結果：傳統信仰裡gaga（祖先的話）和utux（超自然的存在）的概念，與當地基督宗教不同宗派之間的關係相當多樣，在個人、部落和跨部落組織等層次，有著從融合、共存到排除的不同位置；各層次的行動者往往依據照顧參與者的靈性脈絡而個別化照顧方式，共同照顧的論述也會依對外或對內而調整，以顧及族人在宗教立場和生命經驗方面的個別差異。研究結論：照顧責任的實踐綿密交織在生活中，支持長者身心靈健康的照顧不只是有形的服務，也包括人際互動和日常活動，政策對於照顧內涵和服務體系的單一想像有必要展開。

Purpose: Cultural care refers to community-based and human-centered systems that support people’s aging. For indigenous people, that is, formal and informal care fit with individual, family, tribal, or institution’s cultural beliefs. We explored the everyday practice of caring for the elderly in Taiwan’s Atayal tribes. We focused on how cultural worldviews interweave with care practices to support aging in place. Methods: We conducted a 4-month ethnographic field study in 3 Atayal groups living along the Da An River in Taichung, Taiwan. We collected data through participatory observation and in-depth interviews. Results: The analysis indicated that the traditional spiritual beliefs of gaga and utux blend in different ways with Christian beliefs in everyday life. Across tribal groups, individuals, tribes, their churches, and service agencies take different attitudes that range from integration, to co-existence, to segregation. Actors at these different levels adapt to the spiritual context of individuals. The rhetoric of care can be moderated by considering the specific audience in or outside the tribe with respect to people’s religious attitudes and life experiences. Conclusions: Support for older adults’ body, mind, and spiritual health include formal services, interpersonal relationships, and routine activities.