Communities in Greater Tainan are working together with the Greater Tainan Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau to present a series of summer programs to offer the public the chance to learn about the history and culture of the Siraya Aborigines from southern Taiwan’s lowland areas.
The programs include courses on how to make traditional handicrafts, Siraya music concerts, participating in ritual celebration, visits to cultural centers and Siraya language classes.
The events are to run from this month until October, when Tainan’s Siraya communities hold their traditional “night festival” to celebrate the year’s harvest and to mark the passage of seasons.
Photo: Wang Han-ping, Taipei Times
Cultural Affairs Bureau Chief Secretary Huang Ming-heng (黃名亨) said a total of 31 events and programs have been planned, including a Siraya school for children and traditional Siraya dress weaving.
“We welcome visitors from other cities and counties to partake in these programs and immerse them in the authentic Siraya experience. Through these programs, our society can get to know the diversity and wide scope of the Siraya people’s culture and traditional lifestyle,” Huang said.
Meanwhile, Tuan Hung-kun (段洪坤), chairman of the Tainan Siraya Community Development Association, appealed to the central government to give official “Aboriginal” status to Siraya people.
“The Siraya tribe has one of the biggest populations of all Taiwanese Aboriginal groups. However, the central government has not officially recognized our tribe, causing us to suffer unequal and unjust treatment. We request that the government right these wrongs and address this important issue right now,” Tuan said.
He also appealed to the Greater Tainan Government to expand the Siraya National Scenic Park to include the Jibeishua (吉貝耍) community in Dongshan District (東山).
“With its inclusion, Jibeishua villagers would be able to better promote their cultural activities and partake in the tourism programs, which would allow them to revitalize the community, stimulate their local economy and help preserve the area’s Siraya traditions,” he said.
Siraya and some other Pingpu Aborigine groups are not officially recognized by the government, and are not covered by the Council of Indigenous Peoples’ welfare and assistance programs.
They are a cultural minority and experts say their languages and traditions are eroding fast.
Along with the Siraya, the nation’s main Pingpu groups are the Babuza, Hoanya, Kaxabu, Ketagalan, Makatao, Papora, Pazeh, Taokas and Tavorlong.
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