Taiwan Recognizes Siraya as Its 17th Indigenous Group

Taiwan’s Executive Yuan officially approved the Siraya tribe as the country’s 17th recognized indigenous group. Registration for Siraya members is set to open in mid‑August, with an estimated 50,000 people expected to apply for formal indigenous status. The decision follows a 2022 constitutional court ruling that affirmed the rights of Plains indigenous peoples and the passage of the Indigenous Peoples Identity Act last year. New legal protections will apply, including language‑preservation and cultural‑heritage statutes, and a review of over 100 related regulations is planned within three years. The government also announced increased budget allocations for indigenous welfare, education, and employment programmes.

The Siraya people have historically lived in the plains of southern Taiwan, with documented settlements dating back to the Dutch colonial period. Their language and cultural practices have been preserved through community efforts, and the recent recognition marks a significant step in restoring legal and social rights that were long denied.