歷史
History
舊名為「白米甕」的白米木屐村地位於宜蘭縣蘇澳鎮的西南方，因盛產形狀如米的小石子因而得名。白米村三面環山，並有白米溪貫穿社區。相傳在清道光年間有漢人在此開墾。在日據時期，白米村也因盛產製作木屐的江某樹，發展出木屐產業。白米木屐村優渥的地形、豐富的林業、礦業編織出一份屬於白米獨特的文化。那個時候，村民們都很喜歡穿著會發出"喀啦喀啦"的木屐走來走去。
Baimi Wooden Clog Village, previously known as White Rice Urn, was named after its local production of rocks shaped like rice grains. Influenced by the Japanese during the Japanese Occupation, Baimi Village began producing and became a main provider of wooden clogs using wood from local Jiangmo trees. At that time, villagers would wear the wooden clogs, and produce a "kyat kyat" sound as they walk.
八十年代: 白米社區轉型為採礦業
1980s: Introduction of the Mining Industry
一九九三年: 成立白米發展協會
1993: Emergence of Baimi Community Development Association
由於白米社區擁有豐富的資源，所以遭到人為的大肆開發，很多油庫、水泥和採礦工廠在短時間內進駐白米社區。村內豐富的自然生態及自然景觀也因為那些工廠的進駐而遭到破壞。當時的木屐產業也因為許許多多的工廠進駐與塑料鞋的發明而變得沒落。
在七十至八十年代，白米社區優美的環境一去不復返，而且還變成落塵量名列全台第一。
Rich in its biodiversity and natural resources, it attracted projects for oil refining and mining. Overtime, more factories were built and more mines were connected. It had not been long before the area was taken over by the mining industry and became a primal site for cement production. The wooden clogs industry further declined with lesser resources and with the introduction of plastic shoes.
In 1970s and 1980s, environmental pollution severely worsened living conditions and the Baimi community became the most dusted neighborhood in Taiwan.
在這種惡劣的環境下，引發社區年輕又有鬥志的居民逐漸往外遷移。慢慢的，居民意識到了人口逐漸遷移和環境污染問題的所造成的負面影響，所以他們決定做出改變！村民們逐漸投入社區環保運動並且有了健全的環保意識。一九九二年，台灣水泥公司與宜蘭縣政府簽訂合同，以六百萬台幣作為對白米社區的補償。
但是，那些賠償金被蘇澳鎮公所盜用了。當地領導者和一些活動分子覺得相當的生氣，因為他們認為那些補償金是給整個社區，不是蘇澳鎮公所隨便能支配的。因此在一九九五年，以發展及美化環境為首要目的,成立了白米發展協會。
Poor living conditions led to outward migration of the younger population. This serve as a call for the natives to make a difference. Taiwan's environmentalism efforts in 1992 led to the contract signing between Taiwan Cement Company and Yilan County government to pay NT$6 million each year as compensation.
However, the fees was misappropriated by Su’ao Township office and the local leaders and activists were angered as they feel that they should have rights to the deployment of the monetary compensation. Hence, in 1995, the Baimi Community Development Association (BCDA) was established.
九十年代中期: 恢復生態環境與大自然
Mid-1990s: Recovery of Biodiversity and Nature
白米發展協會成立之後，他們要求縣政府授予他們權力支配賠償金的用途以及成立環境監試委員解決環境污染問題.。不僅如此，白米發展協會也獲得內政部和環境局的小額贈款。
保護環境變成了白米社區的基礎發展，村民們也努力不懈地游說當地的工廠參與這些發展計畫，例如：改變之前不良習慣、購買除塵設施、參與以及贊助環保與綠化環境的活動。早期的發展涉及整合村民和重振社區：
- 專注在環境問題-喚醒人們對環境的意識和對白米社區的歸屬感
- 集中在經濟與政治方面的發展和推廣社區服務
After its establishment, the Association requested the County government to grant them the right to mobilize compensation and formulate an environmental supervision committee to deal with the pollution. The Association had obtained small grants from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Bureau of Environment.
Environmental protection became the foundation for Baimi's alternative development and the villagers persuaded the factories to join re-development by changing their practices, purchasing dust removal facilities, participating in green initiatives and provided funding towards improving the environment. The earlier developments involved integrating the locals to revitalize the community:
1. Focus on environmental issues – arouse people’s awareness and sense of belonging to their home
2. Turn to economic and political aspects and community services
一九九七年: 木屐產業回歸
1997: Comeback of Wooden Clogs Handicraft
一九九九年: 成立白米社區合作社
1999: Establishment of Baimi Community Co-operative
社區發展協會在耆老聊天訪談中，發現大家對舊時木屐有著特別深刻的記憶，於是社區推動「文化產業化、產業文化化」，從而展開木屐產業。在一九九七年時,以社區營造的方式，將木屐重新展現出來。透過師傅的巧思和創意，白米木屐不僅可以穿、彩繪、遊戲、跳舞、更可以轉化成生活工藝品。每一雙木屐的背後都有著不同的感人故事，也都是藝師們的努力成果。可是過程並不如意，困難重重。
1. 社區居民對未來社會發展決策舉棋不定
社區發展協會在宜蘭建立了"保證責任"社區合作社。其成員希望可以成立一個非營利組織保衛這裡的居民的權利而不是為了經濟發展。
2. 招聘具有操作技術的員工
為了讓木屐產業恢復昔日的光輝，陳信雄先生被聘請擔當白米社區的木屐師傅直到他離世。
建立木屐文化館耗了大約二千萬至三千萬台幣。 在一九九七年，木屐注入了新時代的創新想法，它們不只是普通的鞋子，也是遊戲與跳舞的新工具。這樣不僅可以保存傳統手藝，也可以從中提升社區的經濟發展。
During a committee meeting, the members realized the affection they have towards wooden clogs and led to the idea of reviving the traditional clog culture. A business model was developed to energize the locals based on its community industry. The process was not easy and the committee faced many challenges:
1. Difficult for collective decision-making by residents for the future of the community
The Association established the first "guaranteed responsibility" community cooperative in Yilan. Members wished to achieve a non-profit organization, to create a cooperative focused on people rather than economic profit.
2. Recruit staff with operational skills and craftsmanship
To relive the art, Mr. Chen Hsin-hsiung was selected for his craftsmanship in clog-making and had worked in Baimi Community till the day he passed on.
NT$20 – NT$30 million was injected into the construction of the Wooden Clog Museum. In 1997, the masters' innovation led to the re-emergence and development of wooden clogs to be used in games and dances. This not only helped to preserve the traditional handicraft, but also enabled the locals to reap the rewards of modern economic development through effective business management.
白米社區合作社在一九九九年成立。參考了台灣與日本不同規模企業的案例，其成員希望可以建造平等收穫、美好的世界。
他們會採用下至上的方式，並視人力為物資，來壯大及平穩整個環境。
發展木屐文化不是為了提升經濟，而是為了把村民都集合起來。通過專注於環境與文化的問題，當地的村民賦予權力以及一些發展社會的技能。因此，通過不同的方式，例如研究、製造和營銷復興白米社區。
In 1999, Baimi Community Co-Operative (白米社區合作社) was established. With assistance from the small and medium enterprise administration and good case examples in Taiwan and Japan, members hoped to build a better world through co-operation where there would be equal say in organizational planning and sharing of profits.
A bottom-up approach was adopted where people are seen as real assets and they would grow and work in a stable environment with fair treatment.
Developing a wooden clog culture was not to boost the economy but rather, to bring people together to improve their community. By focusing on environmental and cultural issues, empowerment of the locals and development of skills, the community was revived by research and development, manufacturing and marketing.
二十一世紀初 - 二零一零年: 社區企業的成長
From 2000 - 2010: Growth of Community Enterprise
在二十一世紀初，白米社區有與別的社區進行交流，並效仿其他社區的良好做法。此外，白米社區還從政府部門那邊吸收了寶貴的專業知識來建立更完善的組織。
在二零一零年，把社區轉換成社區企業的計畫突然萌生，讓這個社區有足夠的能力自行營運而不是只靠贈款或者是公共資金來運作。此外，社區企業更像是一個響應當地社會和經濟需求的直接管道。
From 2000, the community interacted with other communities to learn from good practices and had also received invaluable professional knowledge from governmental sections to run the organization.
In 2010, there was a decision to conduct the community to a community enterprise with a sustainable business plan that would enable it to be self-sufficient, and not depend on grants or public funding. It would be able to act as a channel to directly respond to local social and economic need or opportunities.
從二零一一年: 未來進展
From 2011: Future Progression
白米社區的改變足足花了將近二十年！在這幾年，生態環境迅速發展，例如猴猴坑溪、一畝田和一些自行車路線。所有的一切是為了恢復社區過去擁有的生態環境。
白米社區有意把這個地方轉變成適合一家大小的理想地點。由於很多年輕人都往外遷移，被留在這個社區的老年人有需要被保護、被關懷，所以白米社區合作社鼓勵還留在這個社區的年輕人積極參與志願服務和建立對這個社區的歸屬感。當所有的一切計畫都被劃為行動，白米社區的未來將不再是問題，白米木屐村的文化也會繼續被世人們傳承下去。
This transformation had taken 20 years, and in recent years, there had been rapid progression towards promoting biodiversity taking control over local sites such as Houhou Gengxi (猴猴坑溪), Yimutian (一畝田) and some cycling routes. All of which is to revive the biodiversity that the community used to have.
The community aims to transform the area into an ideal location for a family with its casual residence. Seeing its senior members aging, there is a need to ensure that they are taken care of in the future. Hence, the Association is encouraging youths' participation through volunteer services, and establishing a sense of belonging. This way, they will find themselves wanting to sustain this beautiful place. When the time comes, there would not be a need to worry about the future of the community and the legend of Baimi Wooden Clog Village will continue.
