Using the stars and paddles, indigenous Taiwanese recreate risky sea journey of great Pacific migration | CNN

Indigenous Taiwanese paddlers navigated by stars completed a 111-mile journey to the Philippines, replicating a historic Pacific migration route. Sixty Tao people from Orchid Island took turns paddling against strong currents toward Batan Island in the Philippines, arriving the following day to a welcome of drums and dance. The voyage mirrors a route first taken more than 4,000 years ago by Austronesian ancestors whose dispersal across the Pacific spans from Hawaii to Madagascar. The canoe Ovayan, meaning Golden Friendship, was built by more than 200 people from six tribal communities using traditional methods without nails. The trip was supported by the Taiwanese government and marks a revival of a sea path not sailed for 300 years. The Tao are among Taiwan’s smaller indigenous groups and are considered ancestors of many Pacific peoples. Maraos, chair of the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation, described the voyage as a significant commemoration of Austronesian heritage and navigational skill. The mission demonstrates cultural memory and practical knowledge of star-based navigation and long-distance seamanship. Arrivals were celebrated, with family and friends documenting the journey on video.