TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Friday marked the 10th anniversary of Indigenous Peoples Day in Taiwan, a national observance that honors the history, culture, and identity of the country’s Indigenous communities.
The holiday commemorates the success of the name rectification movement, which led to the inclusion of the term “Indigenous” in the Constitution on Aug. 1, 1994. In 1997, the terminology was further revised to emphasize the collective rights of Indigenous groups, according to Taoyuan Enews.
This year, the Council of Indigenous Peoples themed its celebration “tapuluq,” the word for “10” in the Paiwan language, to mark the milestone year. A commemorative event was held Thursday evening in Taipei, where individuals were recognized for their contributions to Indigenous affairs, according to the Council of Indigenous Peoples.
Council Minister Ljaucu‧Zingrur (曾智勇) said “tapuluq” not only marks the 10th anniversary of the holiday but also represents pride in Indigenous identity, language, and heritage.
The opening ceremony featured a cross-generational performance of the Paiwan friendship song “Lalai,” jointly presented by the Puzangalan Children’s Choir and Puyuma singers Sangpuy and Wu Hao-en (吳昊恩) from Taitung. The council said the collaboration underscored the importance of cultural continuity and unity.
Taitung County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴) called Aug. 1 a day of national recognition for Indigenous history. As a cultural hub for many Indigenous communities, local government employees and residents in Taitung wore traditional attire to work as a show of solidarity.
Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples are Austronesian-speaking groups who inhabited Taiwan and its nearby islands before the 17th century. The government currently recognizes 16 Indigenous groups: Amis, Atayal, Bunun, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyat, Thao, Tsou, Yami, Truku, Kavalan, Sakizaya, Seediq, Hla’alua, and Kanakanavu, according to the Council of Indigenous Peoples.
Groups and cultural traditions
- Amis
The largest Indigenous group in Taiwan, the Amis are primarily found in Hualien and Taitung counties and the Hengchun Peninsula in Pingtung. Known for their large village settlements, they celebrate their heritage through vibrant festivals, especially the annual Harvest Festival.
- Atayal
Concentrated in the mountainous areas of central and northern Taiwan, the Atayal are recognized for their facial tattoo traditions and intricate weaving practices.
- Bunun
Living at elevations between 500 and 1,500 meters in the central mountain range, the Bunun have the highest-altitude settlements among Taiwan’s Indigenous groups. Their society is based on extended patrilineal families and has gradually expanded through historical migration.
- Paiwan
Primarily residing in Pingtung and Taitung counties, the Paiwan maintain a hierarchical social structure based on family lineage, which influences political, marital, religious, and artistic life.
- Puyuma
Originating from Beinan Township in Taitung, the Puyuma live in a multiethnic plain area. Despite early contact with other cultures, they retain customs such as a strict age-grade system and a deep spiritual tradition.
- Rukai
Located along both sides of the southern Central Mountain Range in Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Taitung, the Rukai uphold a class-based social system that integrates marriage, politics, religion, and art.
- Saisiyat
Found in northwestern Taiwan, the Saisiyat organize society by clan and center their spiritual life around ancestral worship and rituals honoring little black spirits, especially the Pas-ta’ai ceremony.
- Thao
Based in Nantou County, the Thao uphold traditional ancestor worship, symbolized by the Ulalaluan — a sacred ancestral basket typically kept in the home.
- Tsou
Inhabiting the Alishan highlands of central Taiwan, the Tsou are known for two major ceremonies: the millet harvest festival homeyaya, and the war ritual mayasvi, which honors martial valor.
- Yami
Living on Lanyu off Taitung, the Yami have a maritime culture rich in oral mythology and seasonal ceremonies tied closely to the ocean.
- Truku
Based in Hualien, the Truku are known for weaving and facial tattooing. Their practices are guided by ancestral teachings, or gaya, which shape social and spiritual life.
- Kavalan
Native to Yilan County, the Kavalan traditionally lived in raised wooden dwellings and are renowned for banana-fiber weaving techniques reflecting Southeast Asian influences.
- Sakizaya
Mainly residing in Hualien County, the Sakizaya are known for their vibrant clothing and the Fire God Festival, which commemorates ancestors and reinforces group identity.
- Seediq
Living in central Taiwan’s mountains, the Seediq share weaving and facial tattoo traditions with the Atayal. Their society also follows gaya, with a strong emphasis on ritual and spiritual observance.
- Hla'alua
Primarily located in Kaohsiung, the Hla’alua focus on agricultural rites. Their miatungusu, or sacred shell ceremony, honors the shell god, their primary totem.
- Kanakanavu
Also based in Kaohsiung, the Kanakanavu have distinct linguistic and cultural characteristics that differ from the Tsou group, from which they were once categorized.
On June 26, 2014, the Taiwanese government officially recognized the Hla’alua and Kanakanavu as the 15th and 16th Indigenous groups, respectively. Their acknowledgment followed sustained efforts to highlight unique cultural and linguistic identities previously grouped under the broader Tsou category.
