Paiwan community, Academia Sinica formalize cultural alliance

In the heart of Pingtung County's Taiwu Township, a profound cultural alliance was forged yesterday between Academia Sinica’s Institute of Ethnology and the Kaviyangan community. Through a traditional Paiwan masanvetjek ceremony, both entities pledged to regard each other as siblings, marking a significant step in recognizing and honoring indigenous heritage.

The Kaviyangan community, represented by the Tjerelai family, donated 36 reels of audio recordings to the institute. These recordings are a vital resource, documenting key moments in the community's history and ensuring the preservation and transmission of its cultural legacy for future generations.

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The connection between the Institute of Ethnology and Kaviyangan Village dates back to their shared effort to safeguard a national treasure, the “mulitan” ancestral pillar.

This formal alliance deepens a relationship that began with a shared commitment to safeguarding the "mulitan" ancestral pillar. Academia Sinica President Chen Chien-jen highlighted the six years of collaboration, including joint exhibitions, which have fostered trust and a strong fellowship between the institute and the Kaviyangan community.

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Since the joint curation of the “Returning Home: Recalling kaviyangan’s Records of Art” exhibition in 2020, the two sides accumulated six years of collaboration in holding physical and online exhibitions, building trust and deep fellowship.

The ceremony itself was a vibrant display of Paiwan tradition, led by the Zingrur family. It involved ancient chants, celebratory gunfire, and an emayam ritual to bless and verify the gifts exchanged. The Zingrur family bestowed the house name Vavulengan upon the Institute of Ethnology, symbolizing academic prestige and the peaceful presence of the ancestral spirit pillar.

Institute of Ethnology director Jou Yuh-huey emphasized the importance of integrating these oral recordings into the public cultural preservation system. This, she stated, will sustain the cultural vitality of indigenous people through research, archiving, and reinterpretation, ensuring their stories and traditions continue to thrive in contemporary society.

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Once the oral recordings enter the public cultural preservation system, the cultural vitality of indigenous people in contemporary society can be sustained through research, archiving and reinterpretation.