Atayal / Tayal｜
The Atayal people are distributed across both sides of the Central Mountain Range in the northern part of Taiwan, spanning Yilan, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, and Nantou, with a vast territory crossing multiple administrative districts. Its tribal life is centered on Gaga (ancestral teachings), where the ancestors’ instructions guide hunting, farming, and community ethics, acting as a combination of law and religion. The Thanksgiving Ceremony (Ryax Smqas Hnuway Utux Kayal) is held between July and August every year. Through the ceremony, the people thank the ancestral spirits for their blessings, share the fruits of hunting and farming, maintain harmony between humans and the ancestral spirits, and ensure that their lives conform to the guidelines of Gaga.
The delegation, consisting of 39 athletes, is led by Yun, Tien-Bao (Director of the Administration of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Hsinchu County Government). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Hsinchu County Government and relevant organizations and agencies.
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Truku｜
The Truku people are primarily distributed in the Hualien and Nantou regions. Its social organization is mainly based on regional hunting groups, emphasizing unity and mutual assistance. The power of traditional leaders or tribal leaders is relatively decentralized. The core of ethnic identity is Utuxrudan (ancestral spirit belief). Facial tattooing (patasan) was once the symbol for crossing the Rainbow Bridge (Hakaw utux), the dwelling place of the ancestral spirits. The traditional clothing features a white base with red and black lines, and the woven patterns are plain and simple. Important ceremonial events include the Seed Planting Ritual (gaya tmukuy) and the Harvest Festival (Mgay Bari), both centered on the growth cycle of millet. The guidance of the ancestral spirits is sought through bird divination (psisil) or dream divination.
The delegation, consisting of 57 athletes, is led by Yungping Saku (General Secretary of the Xiulin Township Truku Hunters Association). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Hualien County Government and relevant organizations and agencies.
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Seejiq / Sediq / Seediq｜
The Seediq people are primarily distributed in the Nantou and Hualien regions. The core of ethnic identity is Gaya (ancestral teachings and law), which serves as concrete and actionable social norms. In the social structure, leaders (oring) emphasize strength and leadership. Facial tattooing (pateh) is a strict coming-of-age ceremony; those without facial tattoos cannot cross the Rainbow Bridge (hongu waga) after death. With a base of white, deep blue, or black, the traditional clothing is adorned with woven fabric featuring geometric lines and diamond patterns. Important ceremonial events include the Seed Planting Ritual (Mahonu), the Harvest Festival (Maho), and the Ancestral Spirit Ritual (Sasi). Among these, the Ancestral Spirit Ritual is the most significant, where the people report to the ancestral spirits on their adherence to Gaya; it is usually held after the autumn harvest and is a strictly kinship-based ceremony.
The delegation, consisting of 53 athletes, is led by Lin, Ting-Yu (Acting Director of the Indigenous Peoples Department, Nantou County Government). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Nantou County Government and relevant organizations and agencies.
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SaiSiyat｜
The SaiSiyat tribe is primarily distributed across the Hsinchu and Miaoli regions. The challenge to their cultural continuity lies in the long cycle and intermittency of the Dwarf Spirit Ritual (PaSta’ay). It is the tribe’s most important ceremonial event. A minor ritual is held every two years, and a major ritual is held every ten years, taking place in November. The ceremony involves complex ritual songs and dances. Through the ritual, the people both mourn and drive away the Dwarf Spirits, with profound meanings of reconciliation and caution. It is a representation of the tribe’s historical trauma and ethics of boundaries.
The delegation, consisting of 33 athletes, is led by Fung, Jhih-Shiung (Councilor of the Nanzhuang Township Representative Council, Miaoli County). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Miaoli County Government and relevant organizations and agencies.
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We sincerely hope the athletes break through their personal limits on the field and leave behind a legacy unique to Taiwan’s indigenous peoples. We look forward to all the ethnic teams going all out in the competition, demonstrating their strength and achieving excellent results!
#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