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Seminar looks for ways to improve Aboriginal centers

A two-day Council of Indigenous Peoples seminar on improving the nation's 29 Aboriginal cultural centers began yesterday.

The seminar, the first for the council, was held at the National Taiwan Museum in the Taipei 228 Memorial Park.

Council Chairman Icyang Parod said the nation's Aboriginal cultural centers were not properly operated, a situation he attributed to insufficient management personnel, lack of involvement by communities and lack of funds.

Poor management

Poor management of the cultural centers had failed to create business opportunities for local people, Parod said at the seminar, titled "Old Wine, New Bottles."

He said three of the 29 centers were still under construction, of which 19 were open to the public. Some, he said, were unable to start operations because of lack of facilities, even though construction had already been completed.

The council invited experts such as National Taiwan University of Arts president Huang Kuan-nan (黃光南) to suggest possible improvements.

focus

Parod said the centers should focus on arts and crafts preservation, protection, research and interpretation of Aboriginal culture, exhibitions, activity planning and entertainment.

The centers should also record the development of the various tribes in the country, hold educational activities, promote cultural identification among indigenous people and encourage community participation, he said.

Parod said he hoped the seminar would provide ideas for marketing featured products and promoting tourism in order to create job opportunities and boost the economy.

A second seminar will be held at the Aboriginal Culture Park in Pingtung County on Aug. 6 and Aug. 7, while a third will be held at the National Museum of Prehistory in Taitung County on Aug. 20 and Aug. 21.
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