In the Japanese occupation era, mountain villagers were forced to relocate to the foothills, away from traditional hunting grounds. The modern economy has further undermined village life, with most people leaving to work in the cities and even aboriginal languages being lost. There are but few aboriginals left living in their tribal villages and living by hunting alone; at best, hunting is a sideline.
近百年來台灣原住民開始脫離獵耕生活，日據時期部落被迫遷山腳、離開傳統獵區，加上現代經濟制度衝擊，人口外流、母語失續。