Taiwan's indigenous groups

The Indigenous groups in Taiwan

The indigenous people in Taiwan have 2% out of the total populations in Taiwan. There are many different indigenous groups in Taiwan which comprises Atayal, Truku, Saisiyat, Bunun, Tsou, Thao, Rukai and Paiwan, Amis, Pinuyumayan, Kavalan, Yami and others more. All these indigenous tribal groups are officially recognized as the indigenous people in Taiwan. Some rituals of the indigenous people in Taiwan are “prettify” themselves with tattoos, build elevated houses and using bamboo or rattan in their dances.

Amis is known as the largest Taiwan’s indigenous groups. They are very famous with their Ilisin harvest festival whereby they sing and dance throughout this festival. However, there are many subgroups of Amis which they have different dialects, rituals, practices and even their style of dress are also different.  

The Saisiyat people in Taiwan are very well-known for their Pastaai ceremony that singing and dancing for four nights. This is to remember the spirits of a short-statured and darker skinned people who said they are the earliest population who stayed in Taiwan and they passed on their customs and skills to the Saisiyat.