To promote the development of Indigenous oceanic culture, the Taitung County Government held the “Tribal Affairs Regional Consultation Meeting and Austronesian Canoe International Exchange Event” on March 12 at the Indigenous Cultural and Creative Industries Park. The event encouraged Indigenous communities to actively participate in the international exchange program scheduled for early May and awarded appointment certificates to 15 committee members of the Marine Culture Learning Center, including Liu Yu-Yi and Zhang Ye-Hai Saman.
Taitung County Magistrate April Yao stated that this event is not only about cultural heritage but also a crucial connection between Taitung and the Austronesian cultural sphere. She hopes for strong participation from Indigenous communities to showcase the uniqueness and vitality of Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples to the world.
Magistrate Yao further emphasized that the county government has been actively promoting generational transmission of marine culture for many years. Last year, the county signed a “Memorandum of Cooperation” with Citong Tribal Village (Fudafudak), establishing a promotion committee to integrate resources for cultural revitalization and innovation.
Additionally, since mid-last year, the county has been assembling members of the Fudafudakan Canoe Group, collaborating at Shanyuan Bay to create an Indigenous Ocean Learning Center. This center supports educational programs and practical learning experiences in maritime traditions. Looking ahead, the county hopes to extend this model to other coastal Indigenous communities, building a broader learning network.
In May 2025, Austronesian canoes from Palau will arrive in Taitung, and a grand welcoming ceremony will be held at sea. Indigenous communities will come together to celebrate this historic voyage, fostering cross-sea exchanges among Austronesian seafaring cultures. During the event, participants will take part in tribal tours and land and sea activities, including marine ecology tours, traditional handicraft workshops, and Indigenous cuisine experiences, offering an immersive cultural experience. Additionally, tribal elders and cultural heritage keepers will host storytelling and knowledge-sharing sessions, introducing tribal history, seafaring traditions, and canoe-building techniques, to further strengthen cultural exchange.
The Taitung County Government hopes that this international exchange will highlight the uniqueness of Taitung’s Indigenous and Austronesian cultures, presenting local Indigenous communities on the global stage. The county warmly invites all those interested in oceanic culture to join this cultural celebration and witness the historic voyage of Austronesian canoes.
