This year’s World Indigenous Traditional Games features 11 international representative teams from nine countries. Among these, the United States has dispatched three representative teams—Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the State of Hawaii—to Taiwan, demonstrating the rich and diverse Austronesian culture and the cultural energy of the indigenous peoples within the U.S. territory. Below, we introduce the background and characteristics of these three representative teams.
USA – Guam
Guam is an overseas territory of the United States. Its capital is Hagåtña. The island has an area of approximately 544 square kilometers, about twice the size of Taipei City, with a population of about 170,000. The main ethnic group is the local Chamorro people.
Guam possesses a profound Chamorro culture. Its traditional language, songs and dances, Latte Stone, weaving crafts, and traditional navigation knowledge hold significant cultural value. The island still preserves numerous historical buildings from the Spanish colonial period, exhibiting a diverse cultural landscape where Austronesian heritage seamlessly intertwines with colonial history. The representative “Håfa Adai Spirit” of the Chamorro people symbolizes their cultural characteristics of warmth, friendliness, community importance, and hospitality, making it Guam’s most distinct cultural feature.
For this year’s Games, 25 representatives led by Mr. Vincent Reyes, Creative Director of the Guam Museum Theatre, have come to Taiwan to compete.
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USA – Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, CNMI
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is a commonwealth of the United States, with its capital being Saipan. The local population is diverse, mainly including the Carolinian and Chamorro peoples.
The CNMI possess a rich Austronesian cultural heritage, including traditional dances, music, weaving crafts, and navigational knowledge. The local residents exhibit strong unity, and traditional festivals and cultural activities remain highly valued, making them the CNMI’s most distinctive cultural assets. The islands feature beautiful natural landscapes; the white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and tropical rainforests, contrast with the cultural and historical relics of World War II, making the CNMI a tourist destination that combines both cultural and natural appeal.
For this year’s Games, 30 representatives led by the Honorable David M. Apatang, Governor of the CNMI, have come to Taiwan to participate.
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State of Hawaii
The capital is Honolulu, composed of eight main islands and multiple smaller islands. The main ethnic groups include Caucasians, Asians (ethnic-Chinese, Japanese, Filipino), Native Hawaiians, and other mixed-race populations. Its geographical location is unique, as it is the only island state outside the mainland United States and is the southernmost state in the United States.
Hawaiian culture is known for the “Aloha Spirit,” symbolizing a life attitude of friendliness, peace, and sharing. Hawaiian traditional music, Hula dance, and traditional maritime culture are all its cultural symbols. Hawaii’s climate is warm and pleasant year-round, characterized as a tropical climate and regulated by trade winds. The island’s ecosystem is extremely rich in biodiversity, featuring active volcanoes (such as Mauna Loa and Kīlauea on Hawaii Island) and coral reefs, and it is regarded as an important global nature conservation area.
For this year’s Games, 19 representatives led by local indigenous artist Umi Kai have come to Taiwan to participate.
#Connecting the World’s Indigenous Peoples
#Let the World See the Strength and Beauty of Indigenous Peoples
December 10–12, 2025
Pingtung County Lai Yi Senior High School • Kaohsiung Lotus Pond Area