Bunun｜
The Bunun people are distributed across the high-altitude mountain regions on both sides of the Central Mountain Range, spanning multiple cities and counties, including Hualien, Taitung, Nantou, and Taichung. Centered on the clan, their social structure emphasizes the division of agricultural labor and strict hunting ethics, and they are world-renowned for their polyphonic chorus, pasibutbut. The weaving patterns and leather decorations on their clothing carry the imagery of the mountains and forests, showcasing the group’s aesthetic. The most important ceremonial event is the Ear Shooting Festival (Malahtangia), held from March to May each year, where archery is used to train the courage of youth, confirm social status, and symbolize tribal unity and the passing down of responsibility.
The delegation, consisting of 41 athletes, is led by Hung, Yu-Shan (Chairperson of the Indigenous Peoples Commission, Kaohsiung City Government). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Kaohsiung City Government and relevant organizations and agencies.
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Paiwan｜
The Paiwan people are mainly distributed across twelve townships in Pingtung and Taitung. The ethnic group is known for its hereditary aristocratic class system. The leadership and kinship systems deeply influence resource distribution and marriage relations. Glass beads, Hundred Pacer snake pattern embroidery, and wood carving art are cultural symbols, showcasing nobility and aesthetic beauty. The Millet Harvest Festival (Masalut or Masuvaqu) is held from July to September. The people offer sacrifices to the Millet spirits, pray for a good harvest in the coming year, and demonstrate the authority of the leader, symbolizing the legitimacy of the class society and the passing down of agricultural ethics.
The delegation, consisting of 62 athletes, is led by Chen, Mei-Ling (Director of the Department of Indigenous Peoples, Pingtung County Government). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Pingtung County Government and relevant organizations and agencies.
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Ngungadrekai｜
The Rukai people’s population is mainly distributed in Pingtung and Taitung. The Rukai are characterized by a hereditary aristocratic class system (Drekay), where the stratification of classes is evident across marriage, resource allocation, and material culture. Glass beads, the Hundred Pacer snake, head figure embroidery, and wood carving art are all important cultural symbols of the ethnic group. The most important ceremonial event is the Millet Ritual (Kalabecengane). In addition, the Duona Village in Pingtung holds the Black Millet Ritual (Tabesengane). Both are held between July and August per year, during which the people offer sacrifices to the millet spirits and ancestral spirits, confirm the authority of their leaders, and demonstrate the social class order.
The delegation, consisting of 50 athletes, is led by Tu, Cheng-Chi, Chairman of the Rukai Tribal Council (Kadaenganeta ka Ngungadrekai). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Pingtung County Government and relevant organizations and agencies.
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Pinuyumayan｜
The Puyuma people are mainly distributed across the East Longitudinal Valley and coastal plains of Taitung, and its people are also widely dispersed throughout metropolitan areas. They are known for their age-grade organization (karuma or bardadaw) and unique meeting house system, which includes the junior men’s house (takuban) and the senior men’s house (palakuwan). Both systems are core to social operations and historical military action. The most important ceremonial event is the Great Hunter Ritual (Mangayaw, which is part of the annual ritual, Pusaram). Its significance transcends hunting itself, as the ritual achieves goals such as education and promotion, the consolidation of ethnic identity, and the passing down of ecological ethics.
The delegation, consisting of 32 athletes, is led by Kuo, Tsung-Yi (Mayor of Beinan Township, Taitung County). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Taitung County Government and relevant organizations and agencies.
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Yami / Tao｜
The Yami people primarily live on Lanyu (Orchid Island), Taitung. The ethnic group is known for its maritime wisdom. The technique of building plank boats (tatala) showcases highly complex carpentry craftsmanship, and the vahay (semi-subterranean houses) are wind-resistant structures designed to withstand typhoons. The Flying Fish Festival is the core of their life, regulating the order of consumption, distribution, and taboos. The Flying Fish Collection Ritual (Mangayag or Aminiya) is generally held around the seventh or eighth lunar month, celebrating the end of the Flying Fish Festival and symbolizing a prayer for the sustainability of marine resources. The Boat Launch Ceremony (Milingilingi), especially for the large plank boat (tatara), is broadly considered a harvest festival, symbolizing the fruits of resources, techniques, and social status.
The delegation, consisting of 40 athletes, is led by Hsieh, Chun-Ying (Secretary of the Lanyu Township Office, Taitung County). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Taitung County Government and relevant organizations and agencies.
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We anticipate every team will exchange skills on the competition field and, in their pursuit of excellence, break through personal limits to achieve outstanding results, showcasing the resilience of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples to the world.
#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