NMP promotes exchange between Indigenous Taiwan, Canada musicians

2025/05/07

The National Museum of Prehistory brought together Indigenous artists from Taiwan and Canada May 3 in the southeastern county of Taitung at an event that underscores the facility’s dedication to deepening links between local and international communities.

According to the museum, its Exploration Center is currently home to an exhibit called “Empathy,” which displays documents and stories from Canada, Taiwan and the U.S. that focus on human rights issues such as forced separation from native communities and forced assimilation into other cultures, as well as the treatment of migrant workers.

The Ministry of Culture said that Aysanabee, a Juno Award-winning musician of the Sucker Clan of the Sandy Lake First Nation, gave an overview of Taiwan and Canada’s histories, drawing parallels between Indigenous experiences of violence in both places that contributed to the fragmentation of culture, decline of language and separation of families and communities.

The NMP also invited Indigenous musicians from around Taiwan, including Tao artist Siyan Misega and his son Si Misega, the band Itu Bunun tu minduduaz of the Bunun tribe, and young singers from the Amis tribe. The museum said its goal was to facilitate musical exchange while propelling substantive discussion on social issues, and added that the interactive event drew around 80 participants.

According to the NMP, the Canadian visitors were welcomed at a Paiwan hunters’ school in the county’s Taimali Township May 2 and introduced to traditional methods of education. The delegation went to eastern Taiwan’s Hualien County two days later to gain insight into local Indigenous culture revitalization efforts.

The NMP multifaceted approach to culture is intended to guide audiences at home and abroad into a more profound dialogue with history and the future, the MOC said.


Source:  Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)