Taiwanese indigenous music and dance performance "paqeneqenetju aken (remember me)" by the Ravar group of the Paiwan people was premiered at the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park (TIPCP), in celebration of the park's 35th anniversary. The premiere performance not only documents the Paiwan culture, but also presents the most vivid voice of the Ravar group.
In a press release, the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Development Center stated that "paqeneqenetju aken" was performed by nearly hundreds of people from the Ravar group. As the descendent, they conveyed the meaning of life of the Ravar group through the interpretation of myths, social class, spiritual needs, and discrete emotions, among others. Accompanied by Indigenous songs, the show combined animation and performance art featuring the techniques of traditional embroidery, weaving and knitting, as well as integrated olfactory art, elevating the performance to the next level.
The Deputy Minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples, Calivat Gadu, mentioned that since its inception, TIPCP has been aiming to preserve, continue and promote indigenous cultures, and it has contributed greatly to the promotion of indigenous art and dance performance, art exhibition, collection of cultural relics, traditional architecture, and cultures. Calivat added that the performance by the Ravar group shows the necessity of establishing a national music and dance troupe. He expressed his hopes for relevant laws and regulations to be formulated soon so as to better promote Taiwan's indigenous culture of music and dance.
According to the Council of Indigenous Peoples, the Paiwan people separate themselves by lineage, custom, and ethnicity into the Ravar and the Vuculj subgroups. The Ravar is led by the Tavaran/Tavaljan community in Sandimen (Santji) Township, with the Tavaran/Tavaljan being the tribal origin.
TIPCP will be celebrating its anniversary with free admissions from July 16 to 31. For more information, please visit the official website.
(Photo credit: Indigenous Peoples Cultural Development Center)
