Having introduced the teams of the World Indigenous Traditional Games, our focus now returns to the Home Team—Team Taiwan!
This event features the joint participation of 17 representative teams from Taiwan, composed of the 16 indigenous groups and the plains indigenous groups. Each group carries a unique cultural heritage and life wisdom, displaying the diverse and vibrant cultural richness of the island. By collectively engaging on the international stage, this not only strengthens the bond among tribal members but also allows the world to see the strength of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples. The Council of Indigenous Peoples team is organized by the Council of Indigenous Peoples in coordination with various city and county governments, along with relevant agencies and organizations, to solicit indigenous athletes to form a team. This symbolizes the close connection between ethnic groups and local communities, and demonstrates the power of Taiwanese indigenous peoples proudly marching forward on the world stage.
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Pangcah / Amis｜
The Amis people are distributed across the coastal plains and hills of Hualien, Taitung, and Pingtung, making them the largest indigenous group by population in Taiwan. Social operations are based on the age-grade organization (selal, kapot, and awid). The most important ceremonial event is the Harvest Festival (Malalikit, Malikoda, Ilisin, or Kiloma’an), which is held between July and September to celebrate the harvest and provide training for the age-grade organization.
The delegation, consisting of 47 athletes, is led by Panay Mulu (Commissioner of the Department of Indigenous Affairs, Taoyuan City Government). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Taoyuan City Government and relevant organizations.
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Kavalan｜
The Kavalan people are distributed along the Hualien and Taitung coast and Yilan, presenting a highly dispersed state. Their language is endangered, and they possess the famous craft of banana fiber weaving. Although specific names for their ceremonial events are absent, the cultural system is being reconstructed through the rescue of the language and the documentation of rituals.
The delegation, consisting of 37 athletes, is led by Li, Kun-Fu (Moli) (Chief of the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Section, Fengbin Township Office). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Hualien County Government and relevant organizations and agencies.
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Sakizaya｜
The Sakizaya people are historically based in the Qilai Plain of Hualien. Their cultural characteristics are deeply influenced by the “Jialiwan Incident”. Their traditional clothing primarily features “earth gold” and “dark red” as main colors, and they possess a strict age-grade system (sa’sa’). The most important festival is the Fire God Ritual (Palamal), currently held on the first Saturday of October or a specific time each year, aimed at commemorating the sacrificed ancestors and the chieftain couple, and solidifying tribal identity.
The delegation, consisting of 31 athletes, is led by Ru-Yi Lala (President of the Taiwan Sakizaya Association). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Hualien County Government and relevant organizations and agencies.
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Plains Indigenous : Siraya / Taivoan / Makatao｜
The plains indigenous groups are a general term for several social communities. Official estimates suggest that the population of descendants with blood ties and potential for cultural revitalization may reach hundreds of thousands. Traditionally, they were widely distributed across the coastal plains of western Taiwan. The core cultural foundation is ancestor worship (carried out via sacred urns and ancestral halls) and the night ceremony (Ta-a-lak or Ma-olau), which venerates ancestral spirits such as Aritt, Alid, and the Great Ancestor (Taizu).
The delegation, consisting of 46 athletes, is led by Tuan, Hong-Kuen (Chairman of the Siraya Tribal Development Association). The organization of the team was coordinated by the Project Management Center for the Plains Indigenous Community Revitalization Program and relevant organizations and agencies.
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“Diversity” is Taiwan’s most unique source of vitality. As the origin of the Austronesian language family, the 17 representative teams from Taiwan’s 16 indigenous groups and the plains indigenous groups will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with indigenous peoples from around the globe at the World Indigenous Traditional Games, exhibiting their respective cultural characteristics and life wisdom. Through joint participation in this international event, we aim not only to let the world see the strength and resilience of island culture but also to use the Austronesian experience to become friendly partners with other Austronesian countries, connecting indigenous peoples worldwide to jointly create a diverse and brilliant future.
#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