The Yami people, also known as the Tao people, are a Taiwanese aboriginal peoples native to the tiny outlying Orchid Island of Taiwan. These indigenous peoples have been more commonly recognized as the Yami people, following a Japanese anthropologist's coining of the name. However, as a collective, these Orchid Island inhabitants typically prefer Tao people as their group identifier. They are part of the Austronesian family, and designated members of the Taiwanese aborigines. Despite being linked to both Taiwan and the Philippines indigenous populations, the Tao people remain unique in their customs and cultural practices. Composed of approximately 3,100 individuals, the island populace relies heavily on fishing for survival. The Tao people's emphasis on fishing and ocean culture reflects their intense connection to the sea as being about much more than survival; they use fishing and the building of boats as an extension of themselves, and as a way to honor their spiritual beliefs. Their ways of life have been threatened by the continued emigration to the mainland of Taiwan in search of jobs and education. As a result, the continuation of past traditions has been hindered. In addition to threatened cultural practices, the Tao people have been advocating for the removal of the nuclear waste plant imposed on their land by the Taiwanese government in 1982. Due to growing health concerns and the mutation of their fish, the Tao people have worked to establish a clear governmental division between themselves and the Taiwanese government.

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