Kaidagelan Cultural Center Introduction
The Ketagalan Culture Center documents the historical context related to the Pingpu people, as well as contemporary indigenous art and artifacts. Besides hot springs, Beitou offers a unique indigenous atmosphere. The name "Beitou" is derived from the Ketagalan language, meaning "witch," and it was once the dwelling place of the Ketagalan people over four hundred years ago. To preserve and promote indigenous cultural arts, the Ketagalan Culture Center was established in November 2002 by the Indigenous Peoples Commission of the Taipei City Government, with the entire building designed to exhibit indigenous cultural arts, providing an exclusive space for urban indigenous people for cultural transmission and skills training. Before entering the culture center, visitors will see a row of wooden piers decorated with various expressive tin sculptures, symbolizing the fusion of ethnic groups through hand-holding gestures, representing the idea that we are all one family. The interior of the center is organized by themes across different floors, showcasing the historical cultural context of indigenous people through lively and engaging routes, making it a recreational spot for close encounters with indigenous culture. The ten-story main building features a facade of clearly arranged slate materials, resembling a house that breathes, with a strong minimalist design that resonates with the surrounding hot spring hotels and Beitou Hot Spring Park. The spacious and bright lobby on the first floor is adorned with colorful tribal woven mosaic tiles, leading visitors into the embrace of the tribes. Intriguing stone carvings with historical flavor and striking wooden sculptures captivate the attention, while various hunting tools hang on the walls, allowing visitors to imagine the traditional lives of indigenous people chasing water deer and wild boars. Every scene and object in the culture center reflects the traces of indigenous life! Floors one to three not only exhibit indigenous artifacts and important treasures from the Pingpu people, but the public spaces of the culture center also serve as venues for performances, activities, gatherings, and skills workshops, becoming a place for urban indigenous people to bond emotionally. The culture center also provides reading services for indigenous-themed literature, with diverse collections enhancing visitors' appreciation and understanding of indigenous culture and arts, inspiring students to explore and learn about various ethnic groups. Taiwan’s mountainous terrain and plains have nurtured a diverse culture among multiple indigenous groups. The Ketagalan Culture Center preserves rituals, festivals, and life customs related to nature worship, allowing visitors to learn about these groups, the earliest inhabitants of Taiwan, and the incredible wisdom of their ancestors. If fortunate, one may even encounter indigenous groups in traditional attire gathering or performing at the culture center, showcasing their genuine passion. Since its inauguration, the Ketagalan Culture Center has hosted numerous series of indigenous cultural events and traditional craft exhibitions, showcasing works by various indigenous artists, thus blending the indigenous homeland with urban life, and fusing tradition with modernity, fulfilling the significant purpose of the culture center. Taiwan’s diverse ethnic groups contribute to a vibrant cultural tapestry, making the culture center not only a repository of national indigenous cultural heritage but also a multifunctional learning center for indigenous arts and culture. Located in the New Beitou hot spring area, after immersing oneself in rich arts and culture, visitors might as well take a stroll through the misty hot spring town to continue tracing the footsteps of the Ketagalan people!
