Kaidagelan Cultural Center Introduction
The Ketagalan Culture Center records the historical context related to the Pingpu people and showcases contemporary Indigenous art and artifacts. Besides hot springs, Beitou also offers a unique Indigenous atmosphere. The name "Beitou" is transliterated from the Ketagalan language, meaning "witch," and was the living source of the Ketagalan people over four hundred years ago. To preserve and promote Indigenous cultural arts, the Ketagalan Culture Center was completed in November 2002 under the Taipei City Government’s Indigenous Peoples Commission. The entire building is designed for showcasing Indigenous culture and arts, providing Indigenous urban residents with a dedicated space for cultural transmission and skills learning. As you approach the culture center, a row of wooden stakes stands alongside the road, adorned with various expressive tin sculptures, symbolizing the hand-holding gesture of ethnic fusion, which represents the idea that we are all one family. The internal floors are thematically planned, displaying the historical and cultural context of Indigenous peoples through vibrant and lively guided pathways, making it a recreational site for close encounters with Indigenous culture. The ten-story main building features an exterior of distinct stone materials, resembling a breathing house, with a strong minimalistic design that resonates with the surrounding hot spring hotels and Beitou Hot Spring Park. The bright and spacious first-floor lobby welcomes visitors with a magnificent ethnic mosaic tile that leads them into the embrace of the tribe. The historical stone carvings and striking wooden sculptures are captivating, with various hunting tools hanging on the walls, allowing one to imagine the traditional lives of Indigenous peoples pursuing deer and wild boars. Every scene and object within the culture center reflects the traces of Indigenous life! Floors one to three not only exhibit important artifacts of the Pingpu people but also serve as public spaces for performances, events, meetings, and skills workshops, fostering a sense of community among urban Indigenous peoples. The center also offers reading services with an Indigenous-themed library, enriching visitors' appreciation and understanding of Indigenous cultural arts and inspiring students to explore and recognize diverse ethnic groups. Taiwan's towering mountains and plains have nurtured a rich mosaic of Indigenous cultures. The Ketagalan Culture Center preserves natural worship rituals, festivals, and customs, allowing visitors to learn about the earliest inhabitants of Taiwan. There is much remarkable ancestral wisdom on this land, and if luck allows, one might encounter Indigenous groups in traditional clothing gathering or performing at the culture center, showcasing their genuine and passionate selves. Since its opening, the Ketagalan Culture Center has hosted numerous series of Indigenous cultural events and traditional craft exhibitions, featuring the works of many Indigenous artists, merging the rural with the urban and tradition with modernity, emphasizing the center's significant role. Taiwan's diverse ethnic groups have developed vibrant cultural colors, and the culture center serves not only as a treasure trove of the nation’s Indigenous cultural collections but also as a multifunctional learning center for Indigenous cultural arts. Located in the New Beitou Hot Spring area, after experiencing the rich culture and arts, one can leisurely stroll through the misty hot spring town in search of traces of the Ketagalan people!
