Siraya Culture Festival held in Kaohsiung following official indigenous recognition

The Kaohsiung City Government Indigenous Peoples Affairs Commission hosted the inaugural Siraya Culture Festival at Fongshan Dadong Wetland Park on September 12. The event was organized by six associations to celebrate the Executive Yuan’s July 30 official recognition of the Siraya people as Taiwan’s 17th indigenous group.

The festival featured musical performances depicting historical encounters between the Siraya people and Dr. James Laidlaw Maxwell in 1865, as well as visual records from 1871. Cultural activities included Songjiang performances, Romanization tutorials, hunting culture exhibits, and traditional crafts such as flower garland making and archery.

Abus, Chairperson of the Kaohsiung Indigenous Peoples Affairs Commission, noted that since August 13, service windows have been established in collaboration with 38 district offices to assist with identity recognition. Approximately 1,500 individuals have already applied for recognition, who will be able to register their Siraya identity at household registration offices once central government approval is finalized.