Paiwan 'paparevetjek' Alliance Celebrates Shared Prosperity — 'TAKAO Fengchao' Showcases Vibrant Paiwan Culture

The 2026 'TAKAO Fengchao' Indigenous Peoples Series held its third event, 'Paiwan paparevetjek: Alliance of Shared Goodness – The Colors of Paiwan,' yesterday (15th) at Daitung Wetland Park. Despite unstable weather, members of the Paiwan community braved wind and rain to gather and proudly showcase their cultural identity and unity.

The event opened with a performance by Paiwan double-pipe nose flute apprentice Hsieh Cheng-nan, followed by a blessing ritual conducted by a spiritual medium from Tuyou Village, Daren Township, Taitung County. A stage play by the Indigenous Student Resource Center of Fooyin University then unfolded, portraying the journey of Paiwan youth who leave their mountain villages for urban life, forming bonds and supporting one another. The evening culminated in a vibrant performance by Golden Melody Award-winning singer Dakao Nao, bringing the event to a jubilant close.

Legislator Lai Jui-lung, Kaohsiung City Councilors Chen Hsing-fu, Kao Chung-te, and Wang Yi-hsiung, along with local representatives and township leaders from Pingtung and Taitung, attended the event, collectively witnessing Kaohsiung’s annual cultural celebration of the Paiwan people.

'Paparevetjek' in the Paiwan language signifies a ceremonial alliance of mutual commitment, embodying the ancestral witness, shared endurance through hardship, and resource sharing. Many Paiwan people have left their familiar mountain villages in Pingtung and Taitung to study, work, and live in Kaohsiung. Though originating from different tribes and families, they rebuild connections through culture, supporting and relying on one another in urban life.

This event centered on the theme of 'shared alliance,' using rituals, performances, and cultural experiences to re-strengthen bonds among Paiwan people across regions and to introduce their culture to the broader public. The stage play by Fooyin University’s Indigenous Resource Center offered a youth perspective on the challenges and solidarity of urban migration, highlighting intergenerational cultural continuity.

Cultural workshops featured 'leather keychains,' integrating traditional Paiwan wood carving and textile motifs into leather crafts. Designs were inspired by ceremonial pottery and featured the culturally significant primary colors of yellow, green, and red, allowing participants to engage hands-on with Paiwan aesthetics and storytelling.

Additionally, traditional skill competitions such as log sawing, tire rolling, and love-wood relay were co-organized by the Kaohsiung Indigenous Affairs Commission and Paiwan community groups. These fun, team-based events emphasized cooperation and ensured the transmission of ancestral skills and collective memory.

A 60-stall Indigenous market offered specialty foods like grilled meat platters, Paiwan kinavu (steamed millet cake), and aiyu coffee, alongside creative merchandise including handwoven bags, phone pouches, ethnic fashion, and earrings. Shoppers spending over NT$300 received a NT$50 Fengle voucher, encouraging economic support for Indigenous enterprises.

Abus, Director of the Kaohsiung Indigenous Affairs Commission, reported that as of the end of July this year, Kaohsiung’s Indigenous population exceeded 42,000, with the Paiwan community surpassing 11,000—making it the city’s second-largest Indigenous group. A total of 11 Paiwan community groups participated, and the cultural advisory committee was primarily composed of youth, reflecting the new generation’s active role in cultural promotion.

Abus expressed deep emotion at the community’s determination to uphold their annual cultural festival despite adverse weather. 'Seeing everyone stand together, protecting their culture regardless of rain, is truly moving,' he said, thanking guests from Pingtung and Taitung for their cross-county participation, which strengthened inter-regional cultural exchange.

The Kaohsiung Indigenous Affairs Commission remains committed to promoting Indigenous cultures in urban settings, integrating diverse cultural expressions into everyday civic life. The next 'TAKAO Fengchao' event, the 'Taivoan Cultural Festival,' will be held on August 22 at Daitung Wetland Park, inviting the public to once again experience the rich tapestry of Kaohsiung’s multicultural heritage.