Kaidagelan Cultural Center Introduction
The Ketagalan Culture Center documents the historical context of the Pingpu people, as well as contemporary Indigenous art and artifacts. In addition to hot springs, Beitou also offers a unique Indigenous atmosphere. The name "Beitou" is derived from the Ketagalan language, meaning "witch." Over 400 years ago, it was the primary residence of the Ketagalan people. To preserve and promote Indigenous cultural arts, the Ketagalan Culture Center, established by the Taipei City Government Indigenous Peoples Commission in November 2002, aims to showcase Indigenous cultural arts and provide a dedicated space for urban Indigenous residents to engage in cultural inheritance and skills training. In front of the culture center, a row of wooden stakes adorned with various expressive tin sculptures stands along the roadside. These sculptures depict hand-holding gestures symbolizing the fusion of ethnic groups, representing the idea that we are all one family. The various floors inside the center are thematically planned to display the historical and cultural context of Indigenous peoples, providing a close-up experience with Indigenous culture and serving as a recreational destination. The ten-story main building features a façade made of unevenly placed stone materials, resembling a house that breathes. The design is strongly minimalist and harmonizes with the surrounding hot spring hotels and Beitou Hot Spring Park. The bright and spacious first-floor lobby, with its colorful totem mosaic tiles, invites visitors into the embrace of the tribe. The interior also features captivating stone carvings and striking wooden sculptures, along with various hunting tools hanging on the walls, allowing visitors to imagine the traditional life of Indigenous peoples pursuing Sambar deer and wild boar. Every corner of the culture center reflects the traces of Indigenous life! The first to third floors not only exhibit important collections of Indigenous artifacts and Pingpu groups, but the public spaces of the culture center also serve as venues for performances, activities, gatherings, and skills training, fostering emotional ties among urban Indigenous communities. The culture center also provides reading services focused on Indigenous themes, with a diverse collection of books that can enhance visitors' appreciation and understanding of Indigenous culture and arts, inspiring students to explore and recognize diverse ethnic cultures. Taiwan's majestic mountains and fertile plains have nurtured diverse cultures among its Indigenous peoples, and the Ketagalan Culture Center preserves the rituals and customs of their nature worship, allowing visitors to learn about the earliest groups living in Taiwan. There is still much remarkable ancestral wisdom rooted in this land, and if you're lucky, you might even encounter Indigenous groups dressed in traditional clothing meeting or performing at the culture center, showcasing their pure and passionate side. Since its opening, the Ketagalan Culture Center has hosted numerous series of Indigenous cultural activities and traditional handicraft exhibitions, showcasing the works of various Indigenous artists. This fusion of homeland and urban, tradition and modernity, embodies the significant meaning of the culture center. Taiwan's diverse ethnic groups have developed vibrant cultural colors, and the culture center is not only a treasure trove of Indigenous cultural collections but also a multifunctional training center for Indigenous arts. Located in the Xin Beitou Hot Spring area, after experiencing the rich culture and arts, visitors can take a leisurely stroll through the misty hot spring town to continue exploring the footprints of the Ketagalan people!
