Taipei City yesterday opened a museum that could "serve as a home" to the city's Aboriginal population.
Ketagalan Cultural Museum (
"This museum will serve as a home to the city's Aborigines where they can get together and enhance interaction with each other," Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
According to the council, the museum, next to Peitou Park in Peitou District, is the first of its kind established by a local government to serve as a multi-functional locus for events related to Aboriginal culture.
"With the establishment of this museum, we wish to help promote an appreciation of Aboriginal arts and culture among the public," said council Chairman Kung Wen-chi (
He encouraged everyone, regardless of ethnic background, to visit the museum to get a taste of Aboriginal cultural arts.
The museum, which covers 12 floors, is equipped with a multimedia center, press room, theater, exhibition rooms and educational center, Kung said.
"With all these [facilities] and space provided by the museum, urban Aborigines in Taipei City have a place where they can hold meetings, do research and put on performances and exhibitions," he said.
Although the museum is named after one of Taiwan's Aboriginal tribes, Kung stressed that the museum was established for all Aborigines to use and as a public space for all the city's residents to enjoy.
Aboriginal groups performed folk songs and dances and held a prayer ceremony at the opening ceremony.
A painting exhibit by Aboriginal artists was also opened yesterday on the first floor of the museum.
The establishment of the museum was initiated by President Chen Shui-bian (
However, some members of the Ketagalan tribe have complained that no members of the tribe were consulted when the museum was being planned.
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