Taiwan Marks Indigenous Rights Milestone With Austronesian Ties
Taiwan is celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day with a weekend festival in New Taipei, bringing together cultural groups from Taiwan, Hawaii, and several Pacific island countries. The event marks 32 years since Taiwan officially replaced derogatory colonial-era terms with the legal designation "Indigenous peoples," while celebrating shared Austronesian heritage. Renowned Hawaiian hula group Ke Kai O Kahiki opened the gathering, highlighting ancestral ties between Taiwan and Hawaii.
Indigenous elders chanted an ancient prayer to bless this festival in New Taipei, marking the anniversary of a major milestone for indigenous rights in Taiwan.
32 years ago, Taiwan replaced the derogatory term "mountain people" with "indigenous" in all of its laws... and two years after, the Council of Indigenous Peoples, a central government body managing indigenous affairs, was established.
This year, Taiwan is celebrating the occasion with Pacific Island countries that share the same Austronesian roots.
LJACU‧ZINGRUR, MINISTER, COUNCIL OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: "We are Austronesian families with the same ocean DNA reuniting here after thousands of years. Through this special occasion on behalf of Premier Cho Jung-tai I would like to express my deepest respect to the heroes who quietly protect Indigenous peoples."
Co-organized by the Hawaii State's representative office in Taipei, the festival also invites renowned Hula dance group Ke Kai O Kahiki to open the event. The group's master teacher, known as the Kumu Hula, says they jumped at the chance to return to Taiwan after a memorable first visit.
LA'AKEA PERRY, KUMU HULA, KE KAI O KAHIKI: "We came here because we wanted to, to share our culture, our hula with Taiwan and the people here. We came here approximately six years ago and we had a wonderful experience. Oh, there's a lot of energy in this crowd tonight. We felt very welcomed."
The Hawaii representative office says Hawaiians' ancestors migrated from Taiwan more than five thousand years ago. It says it's glad to work with Taiwan's Council of Indigenous Peoples to deepen Taiwan-Hawaii connections.
ANDREW KOH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STATE OF HAWAII OFFICE IN TAIPEI: "Not only that, we work together in culture, trade and tourism, but this is a connection between the two peoples, between Hawaii and Taiwan. And this extends all beyond any kind of government activities. Going back to the roots of where we came from, where the Hawaiian people came from, and the Austronesian culture."
Featuring over 20 local and international artist groups and markets... the three-day event highlights the deep ancestral bonds connecting Pacific island cultures. With many of these communities tracing their origins back to Taiwan... they say they hope to continue strengthening ties across the ocean... one performance at a time.
