Tony Coolidge is the founder of ATAYAL, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the heightening awareness and understanding of the disappearing indigenous culture of Taiwan. On October 16 2004, he made Orlando the showcase of the indigenous world with the Indigenous Heritage Festival, an international gathering of tribal groups featuring films, performances and exhibits.

Mr. Coolidge is also President of PROactive Media, Inc., a web, multimedia and production company. In 1999, he co-founded and was President of the Internet auction company, which is now a publicly trading company on the American Stock Exchange as iBidAmerica. He is also a writer and artist. Tony has written several articles and is currently working on a novel about a possible China-Taiwan-USA conflict scenario.

Most recently, he returned from speaking at the United Nations during the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on a panel on issues facing indigenous youth. Soon to be published will be an article for Cultural Survival Quarterly, an internationally distributed magazine focused on indigenous world issues. His article is a summary of the issues and developments of the indigenous people of Taiwan throughout the last decade.

In May 2003, Tony Coolidge arranged for the recognition of the Taiwanese-American Heritage Festival at Orlando City Hall with Commissioner Patty Sheehan presenting a Proclamation by the Mayor.

Serving on the Board of Mr. Coolidge's organization are former Florida legislator Marvin Couch and Mr. Po-Wen Chen, who was instrumental in transforming Taiwan into a democracy.

ATAYAL recently arranged for the sponsorship and financing of the documentary film, Atayal (Taroko) Trail, which features a history of Tony's tribal heritage.

It was in 1995 Tony published Village In The Clouds in Orient Magazine. The article chronicled his discovery of his indigenous heritage in Taiwan after his mother's death. The exposure and support he received after writing this article inspired Tony to organize ATAYAL, Inc.

Tony Coolidge received a Bachelor's of the Arts in Advertising and Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992.

Shu-min Hsu Coolidge is the beautiful and amazing woman who Tony Coolidge married during the Voices In The Clouds project. She was born and raised in Tainan, Taiwan by very respectable and proud parents. She earned her Bachelors Degree in English at Tamkang University in Tamsui, Taiwan. She traveled to Florida in 1999, where she met Tony and magic occurred.

Shu-min Coolidge has been a hard-working mother and supporter of the ATAYAL organization. She has served as a translator and communicator for many projects. Her love and support has been instrumental in all of the achievements so far. She has also been a consultant to American businesses doing business in Asia.

As a character in the film, she represents the Han majority of Taiwan and her partnership with Tony is an exanple of the healing of differences between the indigenous culture of Taiwan and the Han culture.

Johan H. Coolidge is the miracle who was born on November 20, 2001 to Tony and Shu-min. Johan and all children of indigenous culture are the reason the efforts of ATAYAL and the Voices In The Clouds project is so important. Johan has been present at so many events that have transpired.

It makes a difference for all children and people to know where they come from. To be able to embrace the people and culture in person makes a difference in realizing you belong to something much larger than yourself. We are committed to Johan and other children around the world knowing that they will never be alone.

Alice Takiwatan is a well-respected member of the Bunun tribe. She has worked diligently to bring the tribes of Taiwan together to work cooperatively on projects and to share a united voice. As a leader for the Taipei Multicultural Arts Group, she travels the world to share the indigenous culture of Taiwan through music, dance and art.

Keeping and educating people about indigenous culture and arts through diverse forms and the bringing together of different ethnic groups, TMAG seeks to create an ideal social structure of mutual assistance and respect. The collective learning in the pursuit and realizing of these ideals will open up humanity's horizons.

Established in 1996, TMAG has consistently demonstrated a dynamic vibrancy. Promoting and educating people about indigenous culture and arts, TMAG has traveled far and wide, to mountain villages and towns to major cities all around the world.

Through fate, she met Tony Coolidge at the Indigenous Heritage Festival and a bond was created. He has declared that she is a heroine and mother-figure he will always look up to. Tony will be bringing his brother to Alice in Taiwan to reconnect with the "mother spirit" and become complete with his heritage. He also hopes that a special partnership can be created during the filmmaking trip.

Tien Kuei-Shih is a truck driver who has devoted his life to his passion for photography and love of his culture. He committed himself with the task of photographing and documenting the remaining living Atayal tribal persons with facial tattoos. Within the next ten years all living record of this culture may be gone, so he takes his work very seriously. His photography has been appreciated and recognized worldwide, and he maintains a studio gallery and shop in Hualien, Taiwan that is visited by international tourists.

His photographs document the Atayal Facial Tattoo Culture that was once an essential part of the Atayal tribal culture. Once considered fierce headhunters, the Atayal tribal people used facial tattoos as a way to distinguish themselves from other tribes. As a child every Atayal tribal person was given a stripe tattoo on the forehead to distinguish that they were a part of the tribe. This practice prevented accidental killings of their own people.

The facial tattoos were also a way of recognizing maturity among tribal members. The women were required to prove their cooking and weaving skills before receiving their v-shaped tattoo on their face and become eligible for marriage. The men were required to return with the head of an enemy to prove their manhood and earn their stripe tattoo on their chin.

Mr. Tien will help Tony and his brother reconnect with the culture of their birth during their trip to Taiwan.

Hedy is a member of the Truku tribe of Taiwan, is an animation filmmaker at the California Institute of the Arts. She is the first from her village and her tribe to study Character Animation at CalArts. She designed the logos, poster illustrations, and T-shirt designs for the 2004 Indigenous Heritage Festival in Orlando, Florida. Her award-winning art displays a perspective from a marginalized people who continue to struggle today for equality and justice. This year, January 14, 2004, the Truku were recognized as one of Taiwan's 12 indigenous tribes. This marks the third major addition to Taiwan's official indigenous family. Hedy is looking to follow up with another film after 'Purple Petal' while pursuing a masters degree. Her ambition is to return to Taiwan and develop a cultural arts studio for the further education and enrichment of her people.

Hedy will meet Tony and his brother during their trip to Taiwan.