1.    Northern Indigenous Community Center: Closes on April 3 to April 6.

2.    Ketagalan Culture Center: Opens on April 3 to April 5;and closed on April 6.

This exhibition begins with ancient love myths and invites you into a world woven with layers of emotion. In this world, elders softly sing, where youth sweat in the name of love, where melodies are drawn from distant places, and where the young generation reinterpret their care for culture, language, and kin through new creations that embody what "love" means to them.

So, what does LOVE look like to you?

Chapter 1: Love as a Mythical Romance Spoken by Our Ancestors

The glimmer of glazed beads carries considerated thoughts;

the fragrance of lilies lingers with tenderness and endurance;

the sharp taste of betel nut speaks of boldness and daring.

For Indigenous peoples, mythology is not merely an ancient text, but a form of lived wisdom—like the voice of an elder sit beside us, telling stories slowly, with care. These fantastical and moving love tales are more than just expressions of emotion; they hold within them a people’s understanding of the world and their pursuit of life’s deeper meanings. 

At times, they tell of love between humans and spirits or deities; at others, of animals taking human form to experience love. These stories suggest one simple truth: love has never had a fixed shape. It is fluid, transforming, often unexpected—yet always deeply felt.

Chapter 2: Love as a Deep Sense of Longing

A softly hummed melody, a love token, or silent acts of care—each gesture is a way to be noticed by the one they love—and accepted by their family. The path of pursuing love is often filled with bittersweet, yet it is that heartfelt devotion and quiet perseverance that give life its tender, unforgettable moments.

Action as Language

Forming a family is no easy task. Men had to prove they could provide for an entire household. Women, in turn, were expected to master weaving in order to be seen as ideal partners for marriage. Ease and passivity didn’t win hearts. At gatherings like rituals or work exchanges, youth joined in through labor, showing their skills and integrating into the community. And often, it is during these moments—while working together, exchanging glances, and singing playful duets—that subtle feelings quietly begin to bloom.

Ancient Songs and Ballads

Before love could be sent by written, songs served as a vital means of emotional expression among Indigenous peoples. More than just melodies, they carried personal thoughts and collective memories—messages embedded in breath. Each Indigenous group has its own distinct musical traditions, passed down orally from generation to generation, without the use of written scores or lyrics. These songs are a reflection of everyday life, infused with emotional weight—unspoken thoughts, daily joys and struggles, all folded into music. They are not only outlets for emotion but also testimonies to how people lived and loved in times past.

The Silent Helper

In a time when love was quietly expressed, a man who could skillfully play a moving melody often captured someone’s heart. Music carried unspoken of feelings—longing, excitement, desire—composed into every note, softly heard but deeply felt. The exchange of love tokens served as a meaningful promise between two people. One such token was the alofo (lover’s pouch), hand-sewn by a mother when her child reached marriageable age. Imbued with blessings and care, it was then offered by the child as a sincere gesture of love.

Chapter 3: Love as That Song Rewound Again and Again

After the war, Taiwan’s swift social and economic changes gently reshaped the traditional rhythms of Indigenous life. Many left their homelands in search of work, stepping into a faster pace that offered little time to reflect on the past. What stayed with them were tender memories—of home-cooked meals and the smiles of loved ones left behind. As they worked, they softly hummed distinctive indigenous folk song carrying traces of hope, gentle humor, and quiet perseverance. Meanwhile, the women who stayed in the village sang in return, weaving their longing into melodies that reached out to those striving far away.These songs carry the shared memories of a generation that toiled for survival, finding resilience through music.

Chapter 4: Love as the Trace of Flowing Time

Today, the younger generation of Indigenous peoples expresses emotions more freely and in diverse ways, carrying forward the subtle wisdom of their ancestors while giving it new meaning. Three artists, Daong Cinceng, Vava Isingkaunan, and Sutipau Tjaruzaljum, carefully preserve the roots of their culture through creative work in their native languages, along with the study and practice of traditional instruments. Their deep respect for heritage and bold dedication to cultural expression reflect a profound love for their own identities.

Chapter 5: Love as…

When we speak of “love” today, we often picture roses, poetry, and longing gazes. But in Indigenous life, love was never absent—it simply took other forms: the hardworking hands for family, a ritual observed with respect for tradition, the hope passed down to he next generation, or the quiet strength in protecting the community.

As times changed, Western ideas of emotion gradually met Indigenous traditions. Through art, research, and daily life, people began expressing long-held feelings in new ways—reimagining their love for culture and building bridges between tradition and the present.

And so, as you step into this exhibition—what is the deepest love you hold? 

Can you feel the moment—When love shape itself and find its sound?

I. Northern Indigenous Community Center: Closes on October 10 to October 12.

II. Ketagalan Culture Center: Opens on October 10 to October 12. 

1. Northern Indigenous Community Center: Closes on October 4 to October 6.

2. Ketagalan Culture Center: Opens on October 4 to October 5; and closed on October 6.

　　In addition to the cultures of the 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes, we incorporated the cultural characteristics of the plains indigenous tribes into the program in the hope that the program could cultivate children’s awareness of cultures and enhance their identification with their ethnic groups. Additionally, during the summer vacation before the program started, we held two sessions for the event of parent-child co-learning to enhance interaction between parents and their children through sports activities. Moreover, they learned about traditional plants of indigenous peoples from picture books and grew plants by themselves. The activity has enabled parents and children to plant the seed of hope for the future.

　　The achievement exhibition will only show children’s learning achievements, but also display various works, which they have created in class, featuring tribal languages, traditional songs and dances, handicrafts and cultural stories. The program enables children to learn to respect and know more about diverse ethnic groups through interaction. Moreover, the program provided 40 hours of training for instructors this year to cultivate seed teachers for preschooler courses in the future. We will award these teachers the certificate of completion on the day of the achievement exhibition, and we hope that these teachers will dedicate themselves to teaching in the future, taking on the mission of passing down tribal languages and cultures.

　　We hope that parents can deeply enjoy the fun and meanings of the program through both dance performances and the exhibition of children’s works. We sincerely invite all parents and participating guests to admire the great achievements of children at the event.

1. Location and Transportation:

I. Address: AOM Studio (Address: Basement 1, No. 12, Lane 52, Sec. 1, Daan Road, Daan District, Taipei City)

II. Transportation:

(i).Driving: You may park your car in a parking lot close to SOGO Department Store (Zhongxiao Store; Fuxing Store).

(ii).By MRT: Walk for around 8 minutes from Exit No. 4 of MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing Station.

2. Schedule:

3. If you have any question, please feel free to contact Ms. Zhang at 0965-386-056.

• Schedule.pdf

　　New Century Culture Arts Group was invited to perform indigenous dances to show the features of indigenous cultures at the event. The group kicked off Taipei Indigenous Games by performing the dance of the Falangaw tribe along with the healthy warm-up exercise and by leading participating guests, participants and athletes to warm up joyfully to welcome a day of competitions. In the interval, the renowned group of Black 2 Storm put on a lively and cheerful performance on the stage to add boisterous atmosphere to the event! For detailed information, please check the website of 2024 Taipei Indigenous Games.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086021883001&locale=zh_TW

Located in Taipei City near the MRT, the Ketagalan Culture Center provides a convenient option for international professionals with tight schedules, challenging expatriates' impression that they must travel to the east or south to gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan's indigenous cultures. Through the rich exhibitions and collections in the Center, participants can easily explore the culture of Taiwan's indigenous peoples.

This international exchange event is part of the Ketagalan Culture Center's 2024 programs and is in conjunction with the Res Artis Conference, an international conference that attracts hundreds of professionals. The four-day conference features expert lectures and workshops, and on the final day, a guided tour of Taipei's art and culture has been organized. The Ketagalan Culture Center has opened its doors to further introduce how it promotes the culture of the indigenous peoples as a local cultural museum in Beitau through exhibitions, tours and lectures.

Participants of this event are mainly from the arts-in-residence field, specializing in visual arts and performing arts, and have experience in cross-disciplinary exchanges, such as focusing on social issues, identity, land justice and environmental sustainability, etc. In the course of the visit, participants are expected to gain an in-depth understanding of the Center's development over the years and its outlook for the future, as well as to explore how it can collaborate with other cultural museums in the Beitou area to develop a unique business model.

In addition, the Center also arranges for participants to visit the special exhibition "adihay ko foting Bless You with Many Fish" and the permanent exhibition "Mythic Space: The Origin" to learn more about the maritime culture and beliefs of Taiwan's indigenous peoples. Through these exhibitions, participants can learn more about the Ketagalan Culture Center's diverse efforts in promoting indigenous cultures.

The exchange event on September 9 is themed “How to convey multiculturalism through exhibitions, activities, art and collections, and to establish a sustainable relationship between the Center or exhibition and its audience”. Li Hsiao-Wen, Director of the Operations Department of the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, is invited to be the moderator, and experts and scholars such as the Executive Director and Art Director of the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos (CCA Lagos) in Nigeria; PA, Tang Chih-Chiang, the Head of the Education and Culture Section of the Taipei City Government's Indigenous Peoples Commission; and Ali Istanda, Hu Jia-Yu, a Bunun, the First Prize winner of the Kaohsiung Prize 2024, are also invited to talk about exhibitions, art, and the future of cultural inheritance.

In this international exchange event, the Ketagalan Culture Center demonstrates its unique role as a local museum in Beitou, and through the promotion of Taiwan's indigenous peoples' culture, deepens its connection with international professionals, and jointly explores the diversity of cultures and the possibilities for future development.

2.For detailed information about “The 2nd Indigenous Language Proficiency Certification Test for 2024”, please visit the official website at (https://exam.sce.ntnu.edu.tw/abst/). Test-takers can also contact the service hotlines at (02) 7749-3664 and 0800-699-566 (toll-free). Additionally, stay informed with the latest updates by following the official LINE account for the certification: @107abst.

　　Taipei City’s unique August 1 Indigenous Peoples Week activities will be officially launched at the Xinzhongshan Linear Park adjacent to Zhongshan MRT Station on the 27th. The organizer, the Indigenous Peoples Commission of Taipei City Government (hereinafter referred to as the Commission), stated that August 1, 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of renaming Taiwan's original inhabitants as “indigenous peoples”, giving this year’s August 1 Indigenous Peoples Day exceptional historical significance. This is why the August 1 Indigenous Peoples Week activities have been expanded this year to include daily celebrations from July 27 through August 4. Everyone is welcome to join this grand event.

　　This year, the August 1 Indigenous Peoples Week activities are celebrating their second year under the theme “SALAMA! Urban Indigenous Cultural Festival with Fun”. Apart from the large installation artworks that showcase the origins of Indigenous Peoples Day, the 16 major indigenous ethnic groups, and their traditional rituals, this festival also features a special runway show at Xinzhongshan Linear Park in collaboration with students from the Department of Fashion Design at Shih Chien University. This show combines traditional indigenous costumes with contemporary design elements, featuring over 20 models and showcasing an “urban chic indigenous style”.

　　Moreover, the organizer has invited several indigenous pop singers and music groups to perform during this two-day event, giving attendees the opportunity to experience some of the most moving indigenous music. The nearby Jazz Square will host DIY workshops, allowing participants to engage with authentic indigenous culture. Moreover, an indigenous peoples' market featuring 60 stalls from across the country will offer classic steamed bamboo rice, Makao lemon tea, millet-marinated meat, handmade traditional accessories, and even fresh vegetables and fruits from indigenous villages, inviting people to visit the festival to experience the most authentic style of indigenous villages!

　　The Commission stated that, since this year’s August 1 Indigenous Peoples Day is the 30th anniversary of renaming indigenous people, the festival has organized two consecutive days of promotional and interactive activities, including a consumption/quest points-based lottery with accumulated prizes exceeding NT$150,000, to invite more people to join in the celebration and boost surrounding business opportunities. Moreover, it also collaborates with Taipei Metro to launch a promotional activity: visitors can add the Commission as a Line friend, download Taipei Metro’s Go APP, and join the membership. They can then scan the QR code at the activity service desk on July 27 and 28 to receive 50 Go APP points. These points can be used for discounts at the market booths on these two days. People are welcome to participate in this promotional activity and enjoy a joyful Indigenous Peoples Week.

　　” The 2024 August 1 Indigenous Peoples Week”- SALAMA! Urban Indigenous Cultural Festival with Fun of this year will kick off on July 27 and 28 at Xinzhongshan Linear Park (outside Exit 4 of Zhongshan MRT Station). From July 29 to 31, the “Indigenous Peoples Day Special Exhibition and Unplugged Concert” will be held in the atrium on the first floor of Taipei City Hall. Featuring exhibits of indigenous literature and costumes, this event is ideal for the entire family to enjoy a unique cultural experience during the summer. August 1 Indigenous Peoples Day also marks the Taipei City Indigenous Costume Day. The Commission has organized a free indigenous costume experiencing activity in the atrium on the first floor, with the first 100 participants receiving a limited-edition commemorative photo frame. The Commission invites all citizens to join this event and create unforgettable memories for Indigenous Peoples Week.

　　On August 2, the Special Exhibition of Austronesian Culture and Tribal University Achievement Exhibition will be held at the Ketagalan Culture Center. On August 3, a cultural exchange and market themed around the traditional food and culture of Austronesian peoples will take place at Taipei EXPO Park. To celebrate this event, three renowned chefs will present their delicacies and six performing groups will invited to bring to life the dynamic cultural ambiance of the Austronesian peoples, offering attendees an enchanting experience of the Taipei City Indigenous Peoples Cultural Festival. On August 4, indigenous DIY and cultural activities will be held in the main hall on the first floor of the Ketagalan Culture Center, offering visitors a series of engaging and continuous activities. For more information, please visit the Commission’s Facebook page “Indigenous Taipei” for the latest updates on related events.

• The 2024 August 1 Indigenous Peoples Week Series Activities.pdf

“Speak Kari nami Loudly”

Welcome everyone to join us in this grand event

　　To provide indigenous children aged 3 to 6 years old living in urban areas with a diverse learning environment, and to introduce them to their own indigenous culture and language during their crucial early developmental years, the Indigenous Peoples' Commission of the Taipei City Government has organized the First Indigenous People’s Holidays Preschool Curriculum for 2024 at Beiyuan Community Center in Nanguang District, running from March 9 to June 29, 2024. The Commission also schedules to organize the achievement exhibition and performance event on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at 1:30 pm at the Social Innovation Lab (No. 99, Section 3, Ren'ai Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City).

　　The curriculum for this period has not only included the cultural and linguistic learning of Taiwan’s legally recognized indigenous ethnic groups but also integrated Plains Indigenous peoples (Siraya, Tokas) into the teaching content. This enables the children to learn about the diverse Austronesian ethnic groups, while enhancing their ethnic identity and cultural sensitivity. Themed on “Speak Kari nami Loudly”, the curriculum for this term emphasizes young children’s ability to speak in their respective indigenous languages. It is our aspiration that every child will, through this holiday preschool curriculum, speak more confidently and courageously in their mother tongue.

　　The upcoming exhibition and performance event will showcase children's lively musical and dance performances, along with indigenous folk songs and displays of their creative works developed during the curriculum. The venue will feature interactive family booths, extending the theme of the 16-week program and offering themed activities for parents and children to enjoy together. Videos documenting the children's learning journey and highlights from this term will also be presented, providing insight into their progress for both children and guests to appreciate.

　　Whether it is the lively dancing and singing performances or the static exhibition of their works, we hope parents will deeply appreciate the joy and significance of this indigenous holiday preschool curriculum. We sincerely invite parents and guests to join us in witnessing the children's fruitful achievements.

1.    Event location and transportation:

(1)    Location: Social Innovation Lab (No. 99, Section 3, Ren'ai Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City)

(2)    Transportation: 

i.    By driving: Few parking lots are available on Section 3, Ren’ai Road and Lane 248, Section 3, Zhongxiao East Road.

ii.    By MRT: Walk from Exit 2 of MRT Zhongxiao-Fuxing Station for approximately 8 minutes.

2.    Event rundown:

3.    If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by calling the service hotline: 0965-386-056 (Ms. Chang).

• Event Rundown.pdf

　　To promote and revive indigenous languages, Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) will hold the “9th Taipei City Indigenous Vocabulary Competition” at 9AM on April 13, 2024 (Saturday) in the Gong-Cheng Building of University of Taipei (Bo-Ai Campus). Learning the vocabulary of indigenous peoples will enable contestants to learn more about and memorize the vocabulary of indigenous peoples to naturally improve their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in tribal languages. Additionally, Taipei City citizens will be more familiar with indigenous languages, which will help reach the goals of learning and passing down these languages. 

　　The competition has been divided into the elementary school and junior high school groups. Unlike other counties and cities in Taiwan, Taipei City does not have any indigenous tribes, and it does not offer an environment for a single ethnic group. Therefore, to encourage the citizens of Taipei City to participate in the competition, the Commission provides great awards: NT$30,000 for the first prize in each group, NT$20,000 for the second prize, and NT$10,000 for the third prize. We hope that contestants will actively learn tribal languages and show their excellent achievements to strive for these awards.

　　A total of 12 outstanding teams from the Amis, Paiwan and Atayal will compete for the awards in the groups of elementary schools and junior high schools. Additionally, the top two teams from each group will participate in the national finals in May this year on behalf of Taipei City. The events are spectacular. Therefore, people from all walks of life and reporters are welcome to attend the grand occasion.

namapuzangal amen tua nu pazazekatj! (Paiwan language: Everyone is welcome to attend the event!) 

The schedule is as follows:

Location: Gong-Cheng Building at University of Taipei (Bo-Ai Campus) (Address: No. 1, Aiguo West Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City).

• Schedule.pdf

Dr. Chiang Wan-An, mayor of Taipei City, held his inauguration anniversary press conference at the Taipei Dome today. The latest satisfaction survey on Chiang’s administration from the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, Taipei City Government just came out. The satisfaction with the mayor increased from 39% when he took office to 60% last month and reached 60% to 65% this month, and the citizens are most satisfied with traffic improvement. In order to create a "Sustainable Integration and Hope Capital", the mayor has spared no effort in promoting innovative policies for indigenous peoples to create a new native culture and a new future for the indigenous peoples in Taipei City!

Stepping out of the confinement of the past, Mayor Chiang Wan-An came up with six new policies for the indigenous peoples in culture, education, economy and social welfare in response to the needs of the city's indigenous peoples in all aspects of life:

1.The "Indigenous Peoples Committee of Taipei City Government" was founded to uphold the rights and interests of Taipei City's indigenous peoples and provide policy consultation and planning suggestions.

2.To celebrate the "Indigenous Peoples Day" on Aug 1, the country's first "August 1 Indigenous Peoples Week" series of activities were organized to express gratitude for what the indigenous peoples have done for the country, hoping that all citizens will respect and like the indigenous cultures.

3.In order to promote the "Autonomy Rules of Taipei City on Promoting the Economic Development of Indigenous Peoples", the "Taipei City Indigenous Peoples Employment and Business Startup Consultation Station" was established by recruiting more indigenous people, employment matchmaking, and vocational training, thus providing one-stop service for employment and business startup by indigenous people.

4.The "Taipei City Indigenous Business Support Plan" was launched to support the robust economic development and stable business operations of the city's indigenous cooperatives and indigenous businesses. In 2023, there were several successful examples, including "Tree of Life Energy Workshop" and " "Prosper Media Co., Ltd.", "The Cabin at Maokong" and "Startnest Café and Bar", all of which are businesses run by indigenous people here in Taipei. Thanks to the Plan’s support, all four businesses saw increases in revenues between 15% and 48%.

5.The "Taipei City Government's Indigenous Employment Incentive Program" was developed to encourage indigenous participation in public affairs in Taipei, and facilitate the employment of Indigenous people. Driven by the “Autonomy Rules of Taipei City for Indigenous Employment” and "Taipei City Government's Indigenous Employment Incentive Program", the city hall hired 618 indigenous people as of December 2023, 24 more than 2022.

6.The "Taipei City’s Subsidy Plan for Indigenous Clothing Purchase " was developed and funds prepared for implementation in 2024. It is designed to improve the cultural and ethnic identity of the Indigenous people in Taipei City and promote the traditional clothing culture of the Indigenous people. 

In the future, Mayor Chiang Wan-An will continue to promote indigenous policies, protect the rights of the city's indigenous people, add a diverse look to the city's indigenous culture, make Taipei City proud of them, and continue to go full throttle to create a " Sustainable Integration and Hope Capital".

　　To provide indigenous preschoolers aged between 3 and 6 with a diverse learning environment for them to learn more about their cultures and tribal languages during their development and learning stage, Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government (hereinafter referred to as Indigenous Peoples Commission) offered the 2023-2024 Second Indigenous Peoples Holiday Program for Preschoolers between September 2 and November 26, 2023 at Jing Xin Non-Profit Preschool in Wenshan District, Taipei City, and has planned on organizing an achievement exhibition at 1:30PM on December 2, 2023 at Social Innovation Lab (Address: No. 99, Sec. 3, Renai Road, Daan District, Taipei City).

　　The theme of the achievement exhibition is “O pitilidan no niyaro' niyam” which means “our tribal classroom” in the language of Amis. Indigenous Peoples Commission has created learning scenarios in the tribal classroom. In addition to daily conversations in tribal languages, the cultural characteristics of 16 ethnic groups, seasonal rituals and ceremonies and artistic expression of indigenous peoples have been blended into the thematic teaching in the hope that it can enhance children’s basic understanding of ethnic characteristics. Moreover, it is hoped that children are able to be familiar with their own ethnic groups, and that the program can cultivate their cultural cognition, helping them show their different learning styles since they are little.

　　The program also welcomed the participation of non-indigenous preschoolers to implement the policy of offering indigenous peoples education to everyone in Taiwan. A total of 33 preschoolers participated in the program, and 8 of them were non-indigenous children. Thanks to the diversity of ethnic groups, children’s cultural sensitivity has been cultivated in the program, and they have learned to admire and respect the beauty and uniqueness of diverse cultures. In addition to presenting everyone with dynamic musical and dance performances and tribal songs, works of art made by the children with their own creativity and ingenuity will be displayed at the achievement exhibition for the second program. Moreover, a parent-child creation experience section will be planned, and parents will be invited to color works with their children at the section. Meanwhile, we will present the features of the program with videos to enable parents and participating guests to learn more about the program. Indigenous Peoples Commission sincerely invites parents and guests to attend the event in person and to find out how much fun their children have had in learning and how precious it is to learn more about different indigenous cultures.

I. Location and Transportation:

(1) Address: Social Innovation Lab (Address: No. 99, Sec. 3, Renai Road, Daan District, Taipei City)

(2) Transportation:

1. Driving: There are few parking spaces on Sec. 3, Renai Road, and Lane 248, Sec. 3, Zhongxiao East Road.

2. By MRT: Walk for around 8 minutes from Exit No. 2 of MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing Station

II. Schedule:

As attached.

III. If you have any question, please feel free to contact Ms. Chen at 0965-370-710.

• Schedule.pdf

The "ceremonial attire" is akin to contemporary formal wear. It is donned by indigenous communities during rituals and festive occasions to showcase themselves and mark their cultural identity. The distinct features of indigenous clothing are showcased through indigenous women's exquisite weaving and embroidery skills. They skillfully transform mythical legends and elements from nature into intricate patterns and embroidered pieces. Over a hundred years of refinement and innovation have made their ceremonial attire more magnificent and precious.

Due to the widespread public response to the "Time of Ceremonial Attire" Taiwan Indigenous Costumes Permanent Exhibition last year (2022), the Ketagalan Culture Center has expanded the core focus of this year's "Time of Ceremonial Attire". Not only does it showcase the Center's collection of clothing accessories and other cultural artifacts, but it also includes traditional Tibetan attire and an introduction to the Ketagalan tribe, jointly interweaving to present the vibrant and diverse cultural spectrum of "Time of Ceremonial Attire II".

The exhibition venue comprises five main areas: "The Era of Plant and Animal Skin", "Time of Ceremonial Attire", "The Transition of Plains Indigenous Peoples' Clothing", "Heritage Crafts", and "About the Ketagalan Tribe". Visiting the Ketagalan Culture Center will give you the sensation of visiting individual tribes. Here, you will have the opportunity to not only witness the cultural symbols and codes passed down by indigenous peoples for centuries and the life aesthetics displayed in the exquisite traditional attire, but also delve deeply into the mythical legends and ethnic culture behind these intricate patterns.

Let’s come and explore the Ketagalan Culture Center now!

Link to related information: https://www.facebook.com/ketagalan.culture.center

｜The 2023 “Kongsuan Taipei” Episode III: Time of Ceremonial Attire II – Taiwan Indigenous Costumes Permanent Exhibition

｜Exhibition Period: October 21, 2023 (Saturday) – June 30, 2024 (Sunday)

｜Exhibition Hours: Mondays to Sundays (closed on Mondays) from 9:00 to 17:00.

｜Exhibition Venue: Permanent Exhibition Area (2F), Ketagalan Culture Center (No. 3-1, Zhongshan Road, Beitou District, Taipei City)

Link to related information: https://www.facebook.com/Taipei.IPC

　　Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government (hereinafter referred to as Indigenous Peoples Commission) organizes the indigenous peoples holiday program for preschoolers. To enable participating parents and preschoolers to have more diverse interaction and learning opportunities, Indigenous Peoples Commission will host this year’s second parent-child co-learning day event on October 15, 2023 (Sunday) at Minquan Sports Park.

　　Indigenous Peoples Commission states that it is hoped that the cognition of preschoolers and parents in the metropolitan area regarding the cultural values of indigenous peoples will be inspired by the parent-child co-learning day. Additionally, they hope to improve parent-child interactions, enabling the seeds of cultures to grow in their houses. The theme of this parent-child co-learning day is “taitamaiti—Have Fun Playing Maori Rugby Outdoors.” “taitamaiti” means “child” in Maori in New Zealand. The event is held to let children who participate in the indigenous peoples holiday program for preschoolers walk outdoors and towards the international stage to learn more about Maori people in New Zealand who are Austronesian-speaking peoples just like indigenous peoples in Taiwan, further enriching children’s cultural vision.

　　This year happens to be the Rugby World Cup that is contested every four years. Therefore, Indigenous Peoples Commission has invited the Maori rugby players of Taipei Baboons, a foreign rugby team in Taiwan, to teach parents and children at the event of the parent-child co-learning day. The Maori players from New Zealand will teach parents and children the skills of playing touch rugby in the bilingual setting to improve preschoolers’ eye-hand coordination. More importantly, it is hoped that the beauty of resplendent diverse cultures will be stirred through the exchange. 

　　If you have any question, please feel free to check our Facebook page of “Indigenous Peoples Holiday Program for Preschoolers” or to contact Miss Chen at 0965-370-710 for more information.

Information for the event is as follows:

1. Date: October 15, 2023 (Sunday)

2. Time: 2:00PM-4:30PM

3. Location: Minquan Sports Park (At the intersection of Alley 2, Lane 359, Fujin Street and Xinzhong Street of Songshan District, Taipei City)

2.For more information and examination brochure, please visit the official website of “The 2nd Indigenous People Language Proficiency Certification Examination in 2023” at (https://exam.sce.ntnu.edu.tw/abst/). You can also reach our free-of-charge examinee service hotline at (02)7749-3664 or 0800-699-566, or stay updated by following the LINE official account of the certification test (@107abst).

Let’s Enjoy Indigenous Peoples Showing Their Charm on Indigenous Culture Festival

　　According to the “Friendliest Cities in the World” announced by the UK insurance company of William Russell in December, 2022, Taipei ranked ninth in the world, and first in Asia. Taipei shows tolerance for diverse ethnic groups and cultures, and people with different nationalities, ethnic backgrounds and genders can live and develop in the city freely, which is one of the reasons why people around the world like it.

　　Taipei would not be able to rise to be an international city today without the efforts of indigenous peoples from all over Taiwan and contributions they have made in the past several decades. Indigenous peoples from other places settle down in the city and introduce the wonderful cultural deposits of their tribes to the bustling metropolis, gradually making Taipei a new hometown with diversity and cultural competency.

　　The events of Taipei City Indigenous Culture Festival are the most significant ones of indigenous peoples in Taipei City, and the festival attracts numerous foreigners, Taiwanese, and indigenous peoples to attend as it presents the diverse cultures and rich looks of indigenous peoples, which is highly praised. This year’s Taipei City Indigenous Culture Festival will extend the theme of “Indigenous Taipei Fabulous Taipei” of 2022, and the popular “3rd Linban Singing Contest” will raise the curtain on the culture festival.

　　On September 16, the 3rd Indigenous Linban Singing Contest which is also a highlight of this year’s event will be held at the open-air theater of Daan Park. “Linban songs” originated in the 1960s when economic growth in Taiwan took off. At that time, indigenous peoples helped open mountains and forests which lasted for around 20 years. In their free time, they sat in a circle, eating, drinking, and singing. Being accompanied with the guitar, they sang about their depression and nostalgia hidden in their hearts. Many impromptu songs have turned into songs which are frequently heard and can be repeated in detail. This is the origin of “Linban songs.”

　　Moreover, themed activities of 2023 Taipei City Indigenous Culture Festival will be held at the Flower Plaza of Taipei Expo Park on October 14. In addition to spectacular singing and dance performances, you can visit a wide variety of indigenous stands at the bazaar, and enjoy the richest indigenous cultures to your heart’s content with traditional food, indigenous art, and handicrafts. The last but the best event of the entire culture festival is the “National Indigenous Games” held in Tianmu Sports Park on November 4, and indigenous athletes from all over Taiwan are invited to participate in the grand sports event exclusively for tribal people. Furthermore, citizens are able to enjoy the charm of colorful cultures of indigenous peoples while participating in cheerful and exciting games!

　　It is time to sign up for the 2023-2024 “Second Indigenous Peoples Holiday Program for Preschoolers” organized by Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government (hereinafter referred to as Indigenous Peoples Commission)! The project is a mixed-age program for preschoolers, which provides indigenous preschoolers aged between 3 and 6 with diverse learning themes and which passes down the cultural characteristics of indigenous peoples, enhancing the learning opportunities of indigenous preschoolers living in the metropolitan area in the inheritance of languages and cultures, the development of diverse intelligences, and interpersonal relationships and interaction.

　　The theme of this program is “O pitilidan no niyaro' niyam” which means “our tribal classroom” in the language of Amis. It is hoped that we can build a venue for indigenous culture and tribal language learning so that preschoolers can learn something new everywhere. Indigenous Peoples Commission actively creates an exclusive space for indigenous preschoolers in the metropolitan area to learn their cultures and languages. We have incorporated the lifestyles and cultural awareness of tribes into the courses. In addition to providing rich content and creating a cultural ambiance, we adopt different themes for “culture courses” and “tribal language courses” to extend our instruction to enable preschoolers to learn and immerse themselves in the life scenarios in their tribal languages as if these preschoolers are learning in the tribes.

　　The program is held on Saturday or Sunday from 8AM to 5PM, starting from September 2, 2023 to November 26, 2023 for a total of 16 sessions. The program will be held in the city’s Jingxin Non-profit Preschool (Address: 2F., No. 151, Jinghou Street, Wenshan District, Taipei City), and a result presentation has been scheduled to be held on December 2, 2023. Two classes of students will be recruited for the program. In addition to indigenous children, four non-indigenous preschoolers will be recruited for the two classes respectively to implement the policy of offering indigenous people’s education to everyone in Taiwan and to enable diverse ethnic groups to learn more about one another.

　　The registration time starts from today to 5PM of September 9, 2023. Preschoolers who meet eligibility requirements are welcome to sign up for the program. Both paper-based and online registration forms are accepted. You may download the registration brochure and fill out the form at the announcement section of “Latest News” on the website of Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government.

　　If you have any question, please check out the Facebook page of “Indigenous Peoples Holiday Program for Preschoolers,” or call Miss Chen at 0965-370-710 for more information.

Achievement Exhibition for 2023-2024 First Indigenous Peoples Holiday Program for Preschoolers

  To provide indigenous preschoolers aged between 3 and 6 with a diverse learning environment for them to learn more about their cultures and tribal languages during their development and learning stage, Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government (hereinafter referred to as Indigenous Peoples Commission) offered a 16-week indigenous peoples holiday program for preschoolers between May 13 and August 6, 2023 at Kang Ning Non-Profit Preschool in Neihu District, Taipei City, and has planned on organizing an achievement exhibition at 3PM on August 12, 2023 at Education, Parenting and Family Lifestyle Club (Address: 5F., No. 126, Sec. 1, Jianguo North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City).

  The theme of the achievement exhibition is “imita tu pasnanavan” which means “our tribal classroom” in the language of Bunun. Indigenous Peoples Commission constantly stresses the importance of creating an indigenous and international learning environment and scenario in the metropolitan area. Therefore, the program has integrated the cultures, characteristics, seasonal rituals and ceremonies and artistic expression of indigenous peoples at home and abroad into the thematic teaching in the hope that it can enhance children’s interest in ethnic education, and enable them to show their different learning styles while inspiring their creativity and imagination.

It is quite precious that the program also welcomed the participation of non-indigenous preschoolers to implement the policy of offering indigenous people’s education to everyone in Taiwan. A total of 28 preschoolers participated in the program, and 6 of them were non-indigenous children. Thanks to the diversity of ethnic groups, children’s cultural sensitivity has been cultivated in the program, and they have learned to admire and respect the beauty and uniqueness of diverse cultures. Moreover, to achieve the goal of bringing tribal languages home from school, the program encouraged these preschoolers to complete the mission of speaking tribal languages with their families every week. Families that have actively participated in the program and completed the mission will be praised at the achievement exhibition as well.

  In addition to presenting everyone with dynamic musical and dance performances at the achievement exhibition, we have also decorated the venue with works created by children in class with their own creativity and ingenuity. Meanwhile, we will present the features of the program with videos to enable parents and participating guests to learn more about the program. We hope that parents would understand how fun the indigenous peoples holiday program for preschoolers was and realize the meaning of the program through dynamic musical and dance performances and the static display of works. Indigenous Peoples Commission sincerely invites parents and guests to attend the event in person and to find out how much fun their children have had in learning and how precious it is to learn more about different cultures.

1.Location and Transportation:

(1)Address: Education, Parenting and Family Lifestyle Club (Address: 5F., No. 126, Sec. 1, Jianguo North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City).

(2)Transportation

<1>.Driving: Parking lot under Jianguo Overpass (Drive along Jianguo North Road to Nanjing East Road, and turn left to find the parking spaces under the overpass).  

<2>.By MRT: Walk for around 8 minutes from Exit No. 5 of MRT Songjiang Nanjing Station (Go to Exit No. 4 for escalator and Exit No. 2 for elevator).

2. Schedule:

3. If you have any question, please feel free to contact Ms. Chen at 0965-370-710.

• Schedule.pdf

　　On July 28, 2023, the Indigenous Peoples Commission of the Taipei City Government presents the 2023 《Kongsuan Taipei》 Part II "Kapa Project-Yukan Yulaw Art Exhibition", which officially launches on the 3rd floor of the Ketagalan Culture Center, with an opening press conference at 11:00 a.m.

　　This exhibition is based on the life memories of artist Yukan Yulaw and his family. Yukan, who is from the Wulai Tranan tribe, visited the old tribe of Laga with the youth of his family, and through the oral histories of the elders, on the way to climb the hunting trail, accidentally unearthed the empty bottles and artifacts left behind by their grandparents. Exploring the objects, Yukan imagines the story and path of the migration of the traditional Atayal people.

　　The exhibition is entitled "Kapa Project", "Kapa" means "canvas" in the Atayal language. Yukan continues to use blue and white canvas and synthetic textile fibers, utilizing the common and ordinary texture of canvas and giving it a creative and special spatial installation language to make large-scale installations and creations in the Ketagalan Culture Center. At the same time, he uses materials such as video, synthetic fibers, and tabutabu dyeing to lead the audience into the historical space and time of the Atayal, to see the history and life stories of the Atayal ancestors, and also to show the changes and blurring of cultural boundaries throughout the changing times.

　　This exhibition invites curator Gao Lizhe, who has been deeply engaged in the Wulai tribe in New Taipei City, conducting field surveys and oral histories, researching the traditional cultural knowledge of the Atayal tribe, and learning the weaving craft and language of the tribe, to collaborate with artist Yukan on the "Kapa Project". Artist Yukan creates a dialogue with the public from the week before the exhibition (July 21st) and on the day of the exhibition (July 28th) in the form of on-site creation. Through "interaction" and "participation", the public can not only "enjoy" the artworks, but also interact and talk with the artist on site, participate in the weaving, and learn about the current cultural situation and views of contemporary indigenous peoples, breaking the stereotypical pattern of the viewers, and establishing a "close relationship". Through "co-creation" and "re-creation," the artist makes the works in the exhibition area full of possibilities and opens up a variety of scenarios and changes in the development of art.

　　The Indigenous Peoples Commission of the Taipei City Government welcomes the public to participate in a series of activities designed by the Ketagalan Culture Center during the exhibition period to learn more about the Atayal people, and to see, learn, play, and make friends. The "Kapa Project - Yukan Yulaw Art Exhibition" is open from July 28, 2023 to November 3, 2023 at the Ketagalan Culture Center.

　　For more information, please visit the Ketagalan Culture Center's fan page or contact 02-28986500. Ketagalan Culture Center's Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/ketagalan.culture.center/

imita tu pasnanavan

  The Taipei City Government Indigenous Peoples Affairs Commission is now accepting applications for the "First Indigenous Holiday Preschool Course" for the year 2023. This program offers mixed-age preschool courses with diverse themes and indigenous cultural features for indigenous children aged 3 to 6. It aims to enhance learning opportunities in language and cultural inheritance, multiple intelligence development, and interpersonal interactions for indigenous children in urban areas.

  The theme of this year's course is "imita tu pasnanavan," which means "our classroom" in the Bunun language. The Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government hopes to create a learning environment for indigenous culture and language in urban areas, so that wherever the children go, it is a classroom for learning. The Commission is actively building a space for indigenous children in urban areas to learn about their own culture and language. Through this course, it hopes to make learning more enjoyable for children and allow them to unleash their creativity and imagination.

  The Commission hopes that the children who attend the holiday preschool course can learn practical indigenous language skills and experience and understand the rich indigenous culture together. The course design will incorporate the life and culture of the tribe into the teaching curriculum to create a culturally rich and stimulating learning environment. Different themes will be used to extend teaching in the "cultural curriculum" and "indigenous language curriculum," giving children the opportunity to immerse themselves in indigenous language and lifestyle scenarios and feel the joy of learning.

  The course runs from May 13 to August 6, 2023, on Saturdays or Sundays from 8 am to 5 pm, with a total of 16 sessions. The course will be held at the Kanning Non-Profit Preschool (address: 1F, No. 18, Alley 93, Lane 189, Section 3, Kangning Road, Neihu District, Taipei City), and an achievement exhibition will be held on August 12, 2023. Two classes will be offered, with up to four non-indigenous children accepted per class to promote indigenous culture to non-indigenous families.

  Applications will be accepted until 12 pm on May 12, 2023. Eligible parents are encouraged to apply for their children through either the paper brochure or the online application form, which can be downloaded from the "latest news" section of the Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government website or accessed through this URL: https://reurl.cc/Ge5XNx.

  For any inquiries, please contact the "Indigenous Holiday Preschool Course" Facebook page or call Ms. Chen at 0965-370-710.

　　The Muse Awards is an international competition hosted by the International Awards Association (IAA) and is the most influential international award in the global creative design field. The award-winning artwork “The Path to Dialogue with Ancestral Spirits,” which received the highest honor of the Platinum Award, was created by Iyo Kacaw, an Amis indigenous artist, who used the indigenous spiritual symbol “fire pit (heap)” as the main form. The artwork is 15 meters long, 7 meters high, and allows for 360-degree viewing of the lighting. He used nearly a hundred tons of Taiwanese camphor wood. The artwork was hand-cut, polished, and assembled over a period of nearly two months. It was accompanied by a theatrical sound and light show created by a Golden Melody-level producer, creating an impressive and majestic atmosphere. It received high praise from visitors during the lantern festival and became one of the must-see works in the exhibition area.

　　The “Yuan Exhibition Area” was the most talked-about and most artistic area of the lantern festival, and it received two Platinum and two Gold Awards in the Creative Awards for the indigenous lantern area, the new resident lantern area, and the Hakka lantern area. Especially, the Baroque Garden in the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, where the indigenous works were located, radiated the brightest light.

　　Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government, expressed its gratitude for all the units that participated in the lantern festival, including the full support of the Council of Indigenous Peoples, as well as various indigenous artists, performance groups, volunteers, and others. The goal for the future is to “create a new indigenous community in Taipei,” and through the Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taipei, not only to showcase the vitality and creativity of Taiwan's indigenous culture to international and domestic audiences but also receive recognition from international awards, as well as to attract more attention to the beauty of Taiwan's indigenous culture and art in the future.

The highlight artwork of the Indigenous Lantern Area, “The Path of Dialogue with Ancestral Spirits,” has been recognized with the MUSE Platinum Award

The indigenous artwork at The Baroque Garden in the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park radiated the brightest light

“The Path of Dialogue with Ancestral Spirits” was exhibited at the Baroque Garden in the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park

“The Path for Dialogue with Ancestral Spirits” can be viewed day and night

Theme poster

　　The Siraya tribe had a traditional habit of “walking day and night without rest.” There was a story about a father and his son. The father was the “flying” indigenous person Tien-Yu Cheng, who “could walk as fast as flying and run faster than horses” . . . 

　　The first special exhibition of the Ketagalan Cultural Center in 2023 started on April 14th. Beginning with the “running” ritual activity of the Siraya tribe, the exhibition adopts the display method of the “Kuwu” (ancestral hall) at the belief center of the Kabuasua (Gibalashao) tribe in Dongshan District, Tainan City. Visitors can easily enter the world of the Siraya tribe and get to know their way of life, ethnicity, and characteristics as if they were visiting a tribe.

　　This exhibition specially invites Mr. Hong-kun Duan, who is dedicated to reviving the Siraya language, culture, and history, as the curator. He hopes to tell everyone that the traditional Siraya night rituals and ancient songs still exist, and the Siraya people have not been “assimilated into  Han culture and disappeared”!

　　The exhibition consists of six main areas, including “Who is Siraya,” “Si'uma,” “Mata,” “About Ta-ai,” “Filial Sea - Looking at the sea and memorizing ancestors,” and “Siraya Culture Interactive Zone.” With the unique theme of walking toward culture, the exhibition takes visitors from the shallow to the deep, guiding them to understand the living conditions of the Siraya tribe and their journey towards recognition.

┃Curator Introduction┃ Hongkun Duan (Alak Akatuang) / Siraya from Kabuasua (Gibalashao Village)

Curator

　　Alak Akatuang, also known as Hongkun Duan, was born in the Kabuasua (Gibalashao Village) of Dongshan District, Tainan City. Although he often heard stories about the tribe from the elders, he didn't fully understand his own culture until he returned to the tribe to settle down after his father passed away. In the 1980s, with the rise of indigenous awareness, the “Pingpu” people began to receive more attention. Getting to know more about Selaya culture, he gradually developed ideals and aspirations for his ethnic group. For over a decade, he has dedicated himself to the tribe and worked tirelessly to revive the language of the tribe, making him a true “activist of ethnic movement.”

┃Real Scenes from the Exhibition Venue of Si'uma٠Special Exhibition about Siraya┃

Siraya Exhibition Venue 1

Siraya Exhibition Venue 2

Siraya Exhibition Venue 3

Siraya Exhibition Venue 4Siraya Exhibition Venue 5

Siraya Exhibition Venue 6

Siraya Exhibition Venue 7

Siraya Exhibition Venue 8

2023《Kongsuan Taipei》Episode I: Si’uma‧Special Exhibition about Siraya

◈Exhibition period: April 14(Fri), 2023 - July 16 (Sun), 2023. 

◈Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays), 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. 

◈Exhibition venue: 3F Special Exhibition Area of Ketagalan Culture Center (No. 3-1, Chungshan Road, Peitou, Taipei City)

Know the People of Siraya

　　The 《Kongsuan Taipei》 Episode 1 – “Si'uma – Special Exhibition about Siraya” starts on Apr 14 2023 at Ketagalan Culture Center of Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government. The opening ceremony press conference is scheduled on the same day. This is the first exhibition featuring the Siraya people in Taiwan ever since an importance verdict was made by the Constitutional Court on Oct 28 2022 to recognize people of Pingpu or their lineal relatives who were registered as “Shou” or “Ping” in the household certificate during the Japanese ruling days as indigenous people. 

　　The Commission points out that Taipei City is an international city that features inclusiveness for ethnic and cultural diversities, which is also a part of the city’s cultural capital. For this, “Kongsuan Taipei,” or beautiful Tapei, is selected as this year’s exhibition topic to share with all citizens the rich and colorful culture and arts of indigenous people. 

　　“Si'uma – Special Exhibition about Siraya” is selected for the topic of this exhibition which is centered on the Siraya’s costume of “Si'uma” that strings up the history, culture, and costume of running in Siraya. Si'uma is literally running, and visitors are given an opportunity to know more about Siraya through running. 

　　Mr. Tuan Hung-Kun from the Siraya Kabuasua Tribe is invited to be the curator of this exhibition where the culture of the people and the tribe is presented in front of the world. Mr. Tuan has been working very hard to bring the life back to Siraya culture and the mother tongue, and he is hoping that more and more of his people will share the heavy burden of displaying cultural diversity. 

　　The venue is designed in the concept of the six kuwas, or ancestral hall, of the Kabuasua Tribe. As visitors are walk into the exhibition, it is like they were walking into the tribe and visiting know the people of Siraya, and get to know the Siraya world from “Who is Siraya?” “Si'uma,” to “Mata and Cheng Tian-Yu, the Feifan.” At the educational promotion area, there are interactions of “Know the Siraya Culture” and “Flip a Card” game to help children to learn who the Siraya people are and what their culture looks like. 

　　The Indigenous Peoples Commission invites all citizens to visit the exhibition and try out some of the Know the Siraya series activities designed at the Ketagalan Culture Center. All citizens are welcomed to watch the exhibition, learn some knowledge, have some fun and make friends. The “Si'uma – Special Exhibition about Siraya” at Ketagalan Culture Center starts from Apr 14 to Jul 16 2023. For more information, visit the fan page of Ketagalan Culture Center or call 02-28986500. 

Visit the Facebook fan page of Ketagalan Culture Center at 

https://www.facebook.com/ketagalan.culture.center/

Tribes with Four Pioneering Highlights

2023 National Indigenous Games, Taipei will grandly start in Taipei City on March 24. Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government invited experts and scholars of indigenous peoples to form a cultural advisory group in the early stage of planning the games to provide suggestions and advice for the games to avoid cultural appropriation and mis-location, further implementing and promoting national indigenous education.

To respect Taipei’s local indigenous peoples, the main visual design of the games has adopted indigenous languages, Mandarin Chinese and English. Among which, “MURPUN U PUTOI TAIWAN AZASAN ANEM UCA” is Basai, the language of the Ketagalan. Additionally, tribal language teachers of each indigenous tribe were invited to translate the games of 2023 National Indigenous Games, Taipei into tribal languages and record audio. People can learn the  trial languages and pronunciations for each game on the official website of National Indigenous Games, Taipei at https://reurl.cc/1eX0nD

Indigenous Peoples Commission, Taipei City Government indicated that there is no indigenous settlement in Taipei City, but about 17,000 indigenous people who have household registration in the city are mostly from indigenous tribes around Taiwan. To magnify the cultural deposits of indigenous people in Taipei City, Indigenous Peoples Commission has specially planned to get mother flames from the sacred land, sacred mountain, place of origin or representative location of indigenous tribes and bring them back to Taipei to form the National Indigenous Games’ sacred flame. The event not only fosters these indigenous people’s connections with the cultures of their tribes, but also serves as a sacred and unprecedented undertaking. On the day of the opening ceremony, traditional tribal chiefs or respected elders will attend the ceremony in person to pray for the games and participants. Let’s wish the games a great success!

The Seediq’s Flame of Divinity was got at the festival ground of the Delugu Tribe in Renai Township. According to the fire fetching custom of the Seediq, the fire has to be divined in a traditional house the precious day, and it is fetched the following day.

The sacrifice offering location for the Amis’ Flame of Sea Ritual was in front of Dulan Nose. The fire fetching team first got fire from a fire pit. Secondly, it was brought to the sea ritual ground and ignited at the sacred flame platform. Following that, the traditional leader led the tribal people to pray to their ancestral spirits by facing Dulan Mountain (Malataw). Then the mother flame was fetched, and escorted to leave the tribe with the dance of brave warriors.

The Paiwan’s Flame of Dignity was got from Padain, Majia Township, Pingtung County. The flame was ignited by traditional leaders and given to the Township Director who then got the mother flame and delivered it to the fire fetching team. Last, brave warriors danced the dance of brave warriors to complete the mission of fetching the mother fire. 

The flame fetching ritual for Taipei’s local Flame of Same Origin was held at Ketagalan Culture Center in Beitou District, Taipei City. The elder first fetched fire to ignite the torch, and then passed it to the members of the fire fetching team. Last, the members of the fire fetching team ignited the sacred fire lamp to complete the fire fetching ceremony.

The Bunun’s Flame of Jade Mountain was got in the square in front of Dongpu Suspension Bridge at the foot of Jade Mountain, and Dongguang tribal people, the only Bunun tribe in Yushan National Park, carried out the ceremony of blessings for the event.

The pronunciations for the indigenous games can be found on 2023 National Indigenous Games’ official website.

Applications will be accepted from March 20th, 2023!

　　Indigenous People Commission of Taipei City Government has announced an increase in incentives for ethnic language certification to encourage and cultivate indigenous language inheritance and teaching talents from Year 2023. In addition to continuing the policies that participants are not restricted to indigenous people, those who pass the proficiency tests on High and Advanced Levels can apply for personal rewards and families which pass the ethnic language certificates can obtain rewards, the rewards for High and Advanced Levels have been increased now.

　　Indigenous People Commission of Taipei City Government stated that, after the announcement on the implementation of Indigenous Languages Development Act and Development of National Languages Act, various policies on ethnic language promotion are turning closely related to the daily life of all ethnic groups. Moreover, since 2022 school year, the new indigenous language curriculum has taken effect. Ethnic language courses have been extended from elementary school to middle school. Thus, expanding the teaching talent pool is time critical. Taipei City lacks indigenous tribes but gathers diverse ethnic groups, making it relatively challenging to use and inherit ethnic languages. Therefore, in order to expand the use of ethnic languages and enhance mutual respect and understanding among various ethnic groups for multicultural existence and prosperity, boost the willingness to participate in certification and encourage indigenous people to challenge the professional certification levels, the Commission raises the amounts of the rewards this year. Those who pass the High Level will be rewarded with NTD 30,000 (formerly NTD 20,000), and those who pass the Advanced Level will receive NTD 50,000 (formerly NTD 30,000).

　　Citizens who have registered in Taipei City for more than four months are welcome to apply. To apply, log in to the City's "Citizen Service Platform" (https://service.gov.taipei/) between March 20th and July 31st of the current year after the announcement of the ethnic language certification results. Please search for “Rewards for Taipei Indigenous Language Proficiency Test”, fill in the information of the applicant and prepare proper documentation. After that, your application is completed.

Your participation is welcome

　　Indigenous People Commission of Taipei City Government has announced the launch of the 8th Taipei City Annual Indigenous Language Word Contest to promote and revitalize indigenous languages. The Contest will be hold at University of Taipei (Bo-Ai Campus) at 9:00 a.m. on March 18th, 2023 (Saturday). This contest aims to encourage contestants to learn ethnic language words and, through games, recognize and memorize them so that they can eventually enhance their abilities to listen, speak, read and write in ethnic languages in the natural manner and gain a better understanding and familiarity with the indigenous languages for language learning and inheritance.

　　The Contest is divided into Elementary School Group and Junior High School Group. Compared with other counties and cities, Taipei City does not have indigenous  areas and thus lacks an environment for the gathering of homogenous ethnic groups. Hence, Indigenous People Commission of Taipei City Government offer generous prizes to encourage citizens’ participation. The first prize of each group will be NTD 30,000, the second prize will be NTD 20,000, and the third prize will be NTD10,000. It is expected that these high prizes can motivate participants to eagerly learn their indigenous language words and manifest exceptional results. 

　　As many as eight strong teams from Amis, Paiwan, and Atayal participated in the Contest this year. In addition to competing for various awards in Elementary School Group and Junior High School Group, the top two winning teams in each group will also represent Taipei in National Finals this May. The Contest promises to be exciting. All guests and journalists are sincerely invited to attend this grand event.

Namapuzangal amen tua nu pazazekatj！ (It means ‘Everyone is welcome’in Paiwan)

Indigenous-themed works are located in the Baroque Garden, Royal Palm Boulevard, and Men's Bathhouse (P-L-A-C-E) in the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. The exhibition area contains a total of six physical works and one digital work. Truku artist Lin Jiewen (Labay Eyong, Truku) created a pair of giant tribal women's legs with his sophisticated weaving technique. Located on the second floor of the Men's Bathhouse (P-L-A-C-E), this piece "Women's Minds Outside the Men's Bathhouse" is inspired by the image of tribal women sitting around the fire and chatting relaxedly, responding humorously and interestingly. It can also be viewed from different perspectives in the corridors on the first and second floors, bringing different feelings to the public.

Walking into the Baroque Garden, you will find the bright lighting on the Central Platform, "the Path with the Ancestral Spirits." Artist Iyo Kacaw (Amis) uses "bonfire" as the main design. The construction is 15 meters long and 7 meters high with a 360-degree transparent view, which is visually astonishing. At the same time, golden music-level music is produced. From 17:15, there will be a theatrical sound and light show every half an hour, which is bound to let the public experience the majestic original style of the lantern festival.

The other two works in the garden, "Aura of Stealth" (Tuwak Tuyaw, Kavalan, Chen Shuyan), were created based on the ancient fantasy stories of tribal elders by the fire. The lamps in the shape of ancient creatures, which look like fish but not fish, have a sense of the famous movie Avatar-The Way of Water. And "Vaavaaw Keeps the Heart Beating" (Malay Makakazuwan, Puyuma, Huang Jincheng), the artist is creating a vivid giant heart. With the light and shade expressing the sense of heartbeat, it blesses the people to work hard in the urban area with their original culture to continue to shine and glow.

There are also "Ancestral Spirit No. 6" (Reretan Pavavaljung, Paiwan) and "Friends in the Forests" (Pacake Taugadhu, Drekay) on Coconut Grove Avenue. "Ancestral Spirit No. 6" uses the Paiwan ancestral pillar as an image and presents it with a combination of three parts: the stove, the umbilical cord, and the ancestral pillar. It symbolizes the nutrients in the ups and downs of various civilizations, which are transported to the ancestral pillar. Through this carrier, the connection between the past and the present is found. "Friends in the Forests," full of Taiwan's native animals, is a digital interactive work. The cute animals appear alive in Songyan. It is hoped that the people who watch the lanterns will pass on the wisdom of the Indigenous Peoples in the mountains and forests and the concept of ecological conservation while having fun.

In addition, a digital work, "Lita kana da GO," scans the QR CODE through the mobile phone to cheer for the players in the upcoming 2023 National Indigenous Games. The public can freely choose the mascot Bear BRAVO! Icon with cheering words of various ethnic groups to create their unique photo of the Taiwan Lantern Festival and exchange limited-edition gifts. From physical offline to virtual online, Indigenous-themed works are brilliant and rich, with endless topics. It is hoped that people from all over the country who come to Taipei to watch lanterns can feel the style and characteristics of "Taipei Xinyuan Township."